Pic: Farmers of various organisations stage a protest in Belagavi on MondayBelagavi: Farmers from various organisations, including the Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti and the Flood Victims Welfare Samiti, led by RTI activist Bhimappa Gadad, staged a protest in Belagavi on Monday. They demanded appropriate compensation for crop loss due to heavy rains in Belagavi district. They submitted a memorandum to the govt in this regard.The protesters gathered on the DC office premises, and raised slogans against chief minister Siddaramaiah and the state govt.The incessant rains across the Western Ghats and Belagavi district caused floods, damaging agricultural and horticultural crops to a large extent. Many crops, including soybean, tur, black gram, paddy, groundnut, and sugarcane, were damaged, leaving farmers in distress. The houses of many farmers were destroyed in the flood. People and a large number of livestock died, they said and demanded that the state govt take immediate action to provide relief.Farmers, who are above 60 years of age, and own at least two acres should be given Rs 5,000 per month. Free electricity should be supplied to farmers’ pumpsets for 10 hours every day. Those who have one acre should be given Rs 25,000 to buy fertilisers every year . At least Rs 5,000 should be fixed for every tonne of sugarcane, and the loans of farmers who are in trouble due to heavy rains should be completely waived, they demanded.Rashtriya Krishika Samaj state president Manik Chillur, Adivesh Itagi, Srikanth Madhu Baramannavar, Mahantesh Shellikeri, and Mahesh Patil participated.
