Koppal Drought: All Seven Taluks Declared Drought-Affected
Karnataka Deputy CM G Parameshwara reviews Koppal's drought crisis as rainfall deficit hits 45% and crop losses soar to Rs 2,174 crore.
In a significant development for the farming community in Karnataka, all seven taluks in the Koppal district have been officially declared drought-affected. The decision follows a severe monsoon deficit and catastrophic crop losses that have left the region in a state of agricultural crisis.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara chaired a high-level progress review meeting at the Koppal Deputy Commissioner’s Office on Thursday to address the escalating Koppal drought situation. The meeting focused on the critical intersection of rainfall deficits, massive crop damage, and the looming threat to drinking water and livestock survival.
Massive Rainfall Deficit and Crop Devastation
The Koppal district has faced a punishing monsoon season, recording a staggering 45 per cent rainfall deficit. The impact varies significantly across the region, with some areas suffering even more acutely:
- Gangavathi: 71 per cent deficit
- Karatagi: 60 per cent deficit
- Kanakagiri: 44 per cent deficit
This lack of rain was compounded by continuous dry spells lasting between three and six weeks between June and September. The consequences have been devastating for local agriculture. Field inspections conducted across 37 villages revealed that in 99 per cent of the sample plots, crop loss exceeded 50 per cent.
The scale of the damage is immense. While the district targeted sowing across 3,49,892 hectares, nearly 3,02,664 hectares of crops—including essential staples like maize, tur, pearl millet, and onion—have been damaged. Officials estimate the total crop loss in the district at approximately Rs 2,174.55 crore. Consequently, a report has been submitted seeking an input subsidy of Rs 289.45 crore for the affected farmers.
Water Crisis Looms for 109 Gram Panchayats
As the drought intensifies, groundwater levels have plummeted, declining by between 1.51 metres and 3.95 metres. The situation regarding local water bodies is dire: out of 131 tanks under the Minor Irrigation Department, 14 have completely dried up. Currently, only 21 tanks maintain water storage levels between 51 per cent and 99 per cent.
The Deputy Chief Minister warned that the drinking water crisis could become much more severe in the coming months. Approximately 109 Gram Panchayats are expected to face acute water shortages during the summer. To mitigate this, 358 drinking water works have been approved under the Task Force, though 91 of these remain in progress. Parameshwara directed officials to expedite these works and use available disaster-management funds immediately to prevent shortages in both rural and urban areas.
Livestock and Fodder Scarcity
The drought is also threatening the livelihoods of livestock owners. While the district currently holds 4.53 lakh tonnes of fodder—enough for about 30 to 31 weeks—a severe shortage is expected after December. The market price of dry fodder has already spiked to roughly Rs 7,000 per tonne.
A worrying trend has emerged: the number of farmers selling their livestock has increased by 34.56 per cent compared to last year, driven by financial distress and the inability to feed animals. Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwara expressed deep concern over this trend and instructed officials to take preemptive measures, including the distribution of fodder seed kits, to ensure farmers are not forced to liquidate their assets.