With 50% of the crops damaged owing to scarce rainfall in Dharwaddistrict, the administration has submitted a detailed report to the state government, seeking adequate funds to tackle drought. Out of the 2.97 lakh hectares of sowingarea, crops on about 1.40 lakh hectares have been destroyed. The district has received only 368.3mm of rainfall instead of the expected 497.7mm during monsoon. Farmers are facing severe drought for the second consecutive year and struggling to get sufficient fodder for their livestock. Onion growers in the district are facing 73% of crop loss. Their problem has aggravated as prices have plunged to a nominal amount. Deputy commissioner, S B Bommanahalli informed that rain shortfall in the district during the 2016-17 monsoon is 26%. There has been drastic loss of crops like maize, groundnut, onion, paddy, chili, soya and moong beans. Bommanahalli said that Navalgund taluk is the most affected. "We are waiting for grants to take up drought relief works in the district," he said. Bommanahalli said that the district administration had distributed input subsidy to farmers of all taluks. "Still, Rs 96.63 lakh input subsidy has to be distributed to farmers of Kunadagol and Navalagund taluks," he said. The DC said that Navalgund taluk is the most affected, registering a crop loss on 58,448 hectares of sowing area. Kalghatagi was least affected in the district with 10,559 hectares of crop loss. "Dharwad taluk has suffered crop loss in 10,947 hectares, Hubballi taluk in 28,548 hectares and Kundagol taluk in 32,120 hectares. We are waiting for grants to take up drought relief works in the district," he added. Bommanahalli said that 1,370 farmers from Navalagunda taluk and 1,713 from Kundagol taluk have not provided their bank account details yet. He advised that farmers not to panic due to crop loss as the district administration will provide adequate compensation to them. "We have also convinced the central drought assessment team on the situation in the district," he said. "The condition of farmers has worsened due to scanty rainfall. The state and Union governments should release adequate funds for compensation," said Nijalingappa Savadi, a farmer from Ingalagundi village Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com