Karnataka will provide an immediate Rs 2,500 input subsidy to each farmer affected by drought, with the first phase expected to benefit 45-50 lakh farmers at a cost of about Rs 1,250 crore. Further assistance will be considered after the Centre’s assessment and response under disaster-relief norms.
Bengaluru, Sept 2026 : The Karnataka government will provide an immediate input subsidy of Rs 2,500 to each drought-hit farmer, with further relief measures to be decided based on assistance received from the Centre, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said.
The first phase of the assistance is expected to benefit around 45-50 lakh farmers and cost the state exchequer approximately Rs 1,250 crore. The announcement came as Karnataka continues to seek financial assistance from the Centre to address widespread drought-related crop losses.
Responding to criticism that the relief amount was inadequate, Parameshwara said the state had decided to provide immediate assistance while awaiting funds under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
“Although assistance from the National Disaster Response Force from the Central government is yet to arrive, our government is providing immediate relief considering the difficulties faced by farmers,” he said.
Parameshwara said the state would decide on additional relief after receiving greater clarity on the Centre’s assistance. He added that it was not possible at this stage to commit to a revised amount.
“The first-phase assistance of Rs 1,250 crore is not a small amount. Further measures will be taken in the coming days based on the relief received from the Central government,” he said, while accusing the Opposition of politicising the issue by describing the package as inadequate.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the total losses caused by drought across Karnataka could exceed Rs 40,000 crore. The state has already submitted a memorandum seeking central assistance and plans to send additional memoranda as assessments are completed.
Karnataka has also sought early central assistance for drought relief. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has sought the release of part of the assistance requested by the state, while the government continues to assess the extent of drought across taluks. Recent reports put the number of drought-affected taluks at 177, with the government indicating that the figure could rise further.
Parameshwara said the final assessment would determine the amount the state could seek under NDRF guidelines. A Central team is also expected to visit Karnataka to assess the drought situation and the resulting losses. The date of the team’s visit had not been finalised when he spoke.
The state government, he added, was already extending other forms of assistance to farmers, including substantial electricity subsidies for agricultural pump sets. The government has also been discussing measures to provide additional financial relief to farmers affected by the prolonged rainfall deficit.
All-Party Delegation to Delhi
On the proposal to send an all-party delegation to New Delhi, Parameshwara said Chief Minister Shivakumar had already made his position clear in the Legislative Assembly.
“An all-party meeting will be held, everyone will be taken into confidence and the delegation will be taken to New Delhi,” he said.
The proposed delegation is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister and Union Agriculture Minister to present Karnataka’s drought situation and seek additional assistance for affected farmers.
Parameshwara said Opposition members would also be welcome to join the delegation if they wished to do so. The date of the proposed visit has not yet been finalised.
The Karnataka government has maintained that the immediate subsidy is intended to provide some support to farmers while the state awaits the Centre’s assessment and financial assistance. Further measures are expected to be considered once the extent of the drought and eligible relief under central guidelines become clearer.
