Mysore/Mysuru: Due to the lockdown imposed following a surge in COVID-19 positive cases during the second wave, the loss Karnataka farmers have incurred was estimated at Rs. 1 lakh crore, said Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) President Badagalapura Nagendra.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he urged that the State Government should announce a special package. The lockdown restrictions are forcing farmers to sell their products at a lower price. In some places, they are losing because of the absence of a market and some farmers were forced to dump their produce on the road as the price they get will not meet even transportation and labour charges.

He said according to the statistics available, the farmers lost around Rs. 1 lakh crore since the lockdown was announced. Paddy harvesting is over and the government should open procurement centres and buy them at the minimum support price. Farmers who have already sold paddy, ragi, jowar and other crops to procurement centres should get their due immediately, he urged.