Karnataka on Thursday demanded a Rs 5,064-crore relief package to offset the crop loss due to drought in most parts of the state and excess rain in three districts. Karnataka Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa and Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and submitted a memorandum seeking a Rs 4,702-crore relief package for loss of kharif crop this season. The ministers also sought Rs 362 crore in Central relief to help farmers whose crops were affected due to excess rain in Bidar, Kalaburagi and Yadgir districts. Gowda said farmers in Karnataka did not face any difficulty in sowing for the rabi crop in the aftermath of demonetisation. However, farmers were unable to sell their kharif produce in wholesale markets due to poor demand. “Trade transactions have fallen by about 30-35%,” Gowda told reporters here. He said transport activities have slowed down due to cash shortage after demonetisation which has affected supply of vegetables to neighbouring states such as Maharashtra and Goa. Gowda said the state government has asked Nafed to intensify purchase of tur dal and copra at minimum support price after prices nosedived due to excess availability of the crop. Karnataka has been facing severe drought for the past six years. The drought in 2016-17 was the worst in 40 years. The state has declared 139 taluks out of 176 as drought-hit. Source - http://www.deccanherald.com