The farmers are from districts of Chikkballapur, Kolar, Tumkur and Bengaluru Rural.
The road to the Bengaluru airport was blocked for almost three hours on Thursday afternoon, with thousands of farmers from several districts of drought-hit Karnataka arriving in the capital to stage a protest in front of the state secretariat.
The protesters, who drove into Bengaluru from Chikkballapur, Kolar, Tumkur and Bengaluru Rural districts, allege a lack of support from the state government at a time of acute farmer distress and say they want a permanent solution to the irrigation crisis in the state.
When the police stopped the entry of their tractors and lorries into the city, the farmers attempted to reach the Vidhan Souda, where the legislature is in session, on foot and down city roads, blocking them and throwing Bengaluru's already difficult traffic into chaos for several hours.
The police used batons to clear blockades.
Police have cleared the blockades by the protesters by charging batons.
The protesters, however, succeeded in drawing the attention of political leaders - both houses in Karnataka discussed the water crisis this evening.
The farmers say they have pinned their hopes on the Yettinahole Irrigation Project, which will divert water from the Netravathi River towards the thirsty districts, but people who live near the river have protested against the project saying it will cause ecological damage. Land has been allotted for the project, but no work has begun yet.
With an estimated crop loss in 70 per cent of the sown area, Karnataka was the first state in the country to declare drought in the Rabi season this year. It has sought Rs 1,400 crore in central aid.
Last year more than 1,000 farmers committed suicide in the state, the highest in a decade. Even well-irrigated areas like Mandya reported several suicides.
This year looks set to be worse, say the farmers.