Bengaluru, 21 Nov 

Former chief minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai has flagged major lapses in the State government’s crop compensation survey, noting that the survey had claimed that there was no damage to some taluks, “which was far from the truth”. The survey was undertaken after rain-induced floods wreaked havoc in several districts. 

Sharing a letter he wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Bommai wrote on X:“Just recently, we all noticed that you submitted a request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” 

“Agriculture, revenue, and statistics department officials have submitted reports to the government without conducting extensive inspections of farmers' lands,” the BJP leader alleged. “As a result, reports have come in several taluks stating that only about 10 per cent of the total sown area has experienced crop damage. This is far from the truth, and in some taluks, reports claim no damage at all, which is far from the truth.” 

Bommai noted that farmers have suffered loss over the past two years with crops maize, soybean, groundnut, and onion being destroyed due to the rains. He said that no compensation was given last year despite this. 

 “For example, in Mundargi taluk of Gadag district, there has been significant crop damage, yet the report states that there has been no damage. This needs to be rectified immediately across the State, and crop compensation must be provided to all affected farmers,” he added. 

Curb maize imports to stabilise prices: Karnataka CM to Centre 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the State government would urge the Centre to immediately curb maize imports to stabilise prices, as he chaired a meeting on the millet farmer’s protests in North Karnataka. 

“Maize production has increased in both Karnataka and the rest of the country,” he said in a statement. “Despite this, the Union Government has imported 70 lakh metric tonnes of maize, placing a heavy burden on farmers nationwide.”

“The quota allotted to Karnataka for producing ethanol from maize is extremely low, resulting in reduced procurement by distilleries,” he added. 

He said that Union Food Ministry had issued guidelines for NAFED/NCCF to procure maize for ethanol production, but the agencies had not done so. 

“Distilleries had stockpiled maize earlier when prices were low, and are now unwilling to buy. This is a clear violation of norms — distilleries must resume procurement as required,” he said. 

He said the State government would demand that the NAFED/NCCF begin procurement to stabilise the prices.

“We will write to the Centre urging restrictions on the 70 lakh MT maize import,”  Siddaramaiah said, adding that the government would convene a meeting with major distilleries and the poultry industry.