Farmers take out tractor rally in Dharwad seeking drought relief measures

Hundreds of farmers took out a tractor rally and padayatra in Dharwad on Saturday (October 3), urging the State government to address various issues, including compensation for crop losses, regular power supply to agricultural pump sets and waiver of farm loans.

The rally, organised by various farmers’ organisations with the support of the BJP, began from Durgadevi temple in Shivalli village in Dharwad taluk. Amrut Desai, Former MLA, flagged off the tractor rally and drove a tractor along the route to Dharwad.

The rally, comprising tractors and bullock carts, passed through Hebballi, Kanakoor, Talavayi, Kavalagi and Amminabhavi before reaching Jubilee Circle in Dharwad.  From Murugha Math, Mr. Desai along with other leaders and farmers took out a padayatra to Jubilee Circle.

The protesters raised slogans against the Congress government in the State and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and a memorandum was later submitted to the tahsildar at Jubilee Circle.

The farmers demanded ₹50,000 per acre as kharif crop-loss compensation, adequate electricity supply to agricultural pump sets and complete waiver of crop loans. They also sought free fodder for cattle belonging to farmers in areas facing fodder shortage.

Along with Mr. Desai, BJP leaders Gangadhar Patil Kulkarni, former Dharwad mayor Iresh Anchatageri and Shankar Kmaradesai addressed the gathering and lambasted the state government for its failure to mitigate the farmers’ suffering during the drought.

The movement caused traffic congestion in parts of Dharwad as a large number of tractors entered the city. Traffic was diverted through alternative routes.