DK Shivakumar Asks Officials To Prepare For Drought And Heavy Rainfall In Karnataka

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has directed state officials to be fully prepared to handle both drought-like conditions and excess rainfall during the upcoming agricultural season. The instructions were issued during a high-level review meeting with officials from the agriculture, horticulture, sericulture and fisheries departments held in Bengaluru on Monday.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need to ensure timely availability of seeds and fertilisers for farmers ahead of the sowing season. He said that uninterrupted access to essential inputs would be crucial in safeguarding agricultural productivity, especially in the face of unpredictable weather patterns affecting different parts of the state.

Shivakumar also instructed officials to keep farmers regularly informed about weather forecasts, crop management practices and government welfare schemes. He stressed the importance of integrating modern technologies such as drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency in farming operations and enhance overall agricultural output across Karnataka.

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Highlighting administrative gaps, the Chief Minister directed departments to fill vacancies at taluk and hobli levels without delay. He also called for better equipment support to farmers, particularly for spraying pesticides, in order to reduce labour burden and improve operational effectiveness in the field.

Expressing concern over rising incidents of drowning in farm ponds, Shivakumar asked officials to take preventive measures, including fencing of water bodies and exploring financial assistance mechanisms for safety infrastructure. He also sought detailed reports on storage facilities, warehouses, subsidy utilisation and other agricultural support systems to assess their effectiveness.

In addition, the Chief Minister reviewed the performance of the Cooperation Department and directed officials to secure Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) lands and ensure smooth functioning of agricultural markets. He also raised concerns regarding the misuse of interest-free loans provided through cooperative banks and instructed authorities to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to prevent financial irregularities.

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