Bengaluru, 5 November 2026 – Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara announced on Tuesday that every farmer who meets the eligibility criteria will receive a minimum drought assistance of Rs 5,000. He clarified that those who obtained Rs 2,000 or Rs 2,500 in the first instalment will be paid the balance in subsequent rounds, ensuring the total reaches the promised amount.
Parameshwara referred to a government order dated 23 October 2026 that authorised an initial input subsidy of Rs 2,500 per eligible farmer. Under that directive the state released Rs 17.43 crore to 1,06,462 farmers in Yadgir district on 5 November as part of the broader drought‑relief programme. After reviewing complaints – especially from small‑holder cultivators who received only Rs 2,000 – the minister said the early payment does not represent the final entitlement.
Current Union guidelines under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) set minimum assistance at Rs 1,500 for rain‑fed crops, Rs 2,600 for irrigated crops and Rs 3,200 for perennial crops. Parameshwara explained that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his office have chosen to exceed those thresholds, fixing Rs 5,000 as the floor for all eligible growers regardless of land size. “A farmer with half an acre faces the same drought stress as one with several acres; the size of the holding should never dictate the compassion of the government,” he asserted.
Farmers who received Rs 2,000 will now obtain an additional Rs 3,000, while those who got Rs 2,500 will receive another Rs 2,500, bringing each beneficiary to the Rs 5,000 floor. Depending on the extent of crop loss, the input subsidy can rise to between Rs 5,000 and Rs 60,000. The deputy chief minister directed officials to maintain transparency, accelerate pending instalments and guarantee that no eligible farmer is left without the support due to them.
Image: mangalorean.com
📰 Source: Mangalorean News