The Hindu : Cabinet will finalise farm policies soon, says Patil

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Cabinet will finalise farm policies soon, says Patil

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JAN. 17. The Minister for Agriculture, H.K. Patil, today said the Cabinet would soon finalise the draft agricultural policies and action plans for 27 districts.

He told presspersons that a "bottom-to-top" approach had been adopted for each district in the policies and action plans to tackle drought and increase foodgrain production. The plans, which included drought-proofing measures, would be implemented in five years.

The policies and plans prepared by the two universities of agricultural sciences, involving scientists, representatives of farmers and the zilla panchayats and non-governmental organisations, were presented to the Minister today.

The university in Dharwad prepared the plans for 12 districts, while that in Bangalore prepared them for 15 districts.

Mr. Patil said the plans would be discussed at the Cabinet meeting soon and the Union Government approached for funds for the execution of various programmes proposed in them.

The State would require Rs. 5,200 crore for developing river basins, he added.

Mr. Patil said the "bottom-to-top" approach remained only on paper so far, and the State Government wanted it to be translated into a reality. The scientists, with the assistance of the zilla panchayat representatives, had prepared the plans in accordance with the local farming and weather conditions. There were 10 climatic zones in the State which differed in crop yield. Integrated farming in dry-land areas, increase of per capita income, and making the best use of water were among the key issues covered in the plans.

Nada Gowda and Rame Gowda, scientists from the universities, said the plans identified special problems and came out with specific solutions for each district that would lead to income and employment generation and poverty alleviation.

Shantanu Consul, Principal Secretary to the Agriculture Department, said the plans would make out "good cases" for additional grants from the Centre and help focus on schemes in a "more meaningful manner" that best suited the needs of each district.

Prof. Nada Gowda said issues such as management of watersheds, tanks, and rainwater harvesting had been given priority in the plans for some districts in North Karnataka.

Mobile beekeeping in sunflower crops, cultivation of drought-resistant crops, and planting of trees in dry land would increase the income of farmers, he said.

The State Government issued the order to initiate the process of drafting the policy and action plan for each district on December 24, 2003.

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