Farmers in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka are expressing deep anger and frustration after receiving what they call shockingly low compensation for crop losses suffered due to recent heavy rainfall in the Malnad region. The core of their grievance lies in the fact that for many, the compensation amount is even less than the insurance premium they paid, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the safety net.
Faulty Rain Gauges and Data Discrepancies Under Fire
The handling of crop insurance claims by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has come under intense scrutiny. A major point of contention is the alleged non-functioning of several rain gauge stations in the area. Critics argue that this has led to incorrect assessments of rainfall and crop damage, as data is being taken from stations located far from the affected farms.
Shivamogga MP BY Raghavendra directly blamed the state government for the poor maintenance of rain mapping equipment. He also questioned the government's selection of the insurance company handling the claims. "The state govt still owes over Rs 100 crore to the Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency for crop insurance distribution," he alleged, highlighting a backlog in payments.
Raghavendra has promised to escalate the matter, stating, "I will raise this issue in Parliament. The DC should inspect the non-functional rain gauge stations and report within a week. If this isn't addressed, farmers will face further injustice."
Farmers' Plight: Compensation Falls Far Short of Loss
The human impact of this systemic failure is stark. Mahesh Hindlemane, a farmer from Hosanagara taluk, shared his distressing experience. Despite his crops being devastated by rain, he received negligible compensation. The reason cited was faulty rain mapping data pulled from a station approximately 30 kilometers away from his farm.
"My crop was completely damaged, but I got very little compensation. It's unfair," Hindlemane lamented, echoing the sentiment of countless others in the district.
Official Response and the Basis Risk Challenge
Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegde acknowledged the problem, stating that he is in discussions with concerned officers to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, a senior horticulture department official offered a different perspective, noting, "Crop compensation is not a guarantee, it's an insurance, and those who received substantial amounts in previous years expected similar outcomes this year."
It is important to note that the weather-based crop insurance scheme (WBCIS) has provided benefits to lakhs of people across Malnad district. Under this scheme, farmers pay a nominal premium—2% for kharif crops, 1.5% for rabi crops, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops—with the government subsidising the remainder.
However, the scheme is not without its flaws. Basis risk remains a primary concern. This refers to the gap between the actual loss suffered by a farmer and the compensation triggered by weather data from a nearby station. When that station's data is inaccurate or from a distant location, as alleged in Shivamogga, the compensation fails to match the ground reality, leading to the current wave of protests and dissatisfaction among the farming community.
