Bandeppa Khashempur urges government to provide minimum ₹25,000 per acre as compensation to farmers

Former Minister and senior JD(S) leader Bandeppa Khashempur has urged the government to provide immediate compensation of at least ₹25,000 per acre to farmers whose crops have been damaged by continuous rains.

Mr. Khashempur, accompanied by officials from the agriculture department, inspected the affected fields in villages including Budhera, Mallik Marjapur, and Khashempur P. of Bidar South constituency on Friday. Speaking after the visit, he said that heavy rains have led to waterlogging in farmlands, resulting in severe damage to crops of soybeans, green gram, pigeon peas, sugarcane, and black gram, along with other horticultural produce.

He pointed out that in several areas, including farmland along the national highway, standing crops had been completely submerged, leaving farmers in distress. “The government must immediately release compensation to support those who have lost their crops,” he emphasised.

The former Minister further demanded that agriculture and revenue officials conduct joint surveys at the earliest and submit reports to the government recommending enhanced compensation. He also pressed crop insurance companies to release payouts without delay, noting that farmers in the region, who were almost entirely dependent on agriculture, were in a deep crisis.

“I will write to the Chief Minister urging him to promptly announce crop compensation, which will instil hope and courage among the affected farmers,” Mr. Khashempur said.

Joint Director of Agriculture Devika R. Rani, Deputy Director of Agriculture M.A.K. Ansari, Agricultural Officers Shatrugna, Sangamesh (Bagdal), Vijaykumar (Mannalli), and several local farmers, including Manik Bhimanna Machkuri, Bakkappa Chandappa, Krishna Satyanarayan, Vikram Sharanappa, Sharanappa Khashampur, and others, were present during the inspection.