Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Expert advice may be made available to farmers at raitha kendras

Staff Correspondent

This will help in improving the agricultural practices for better yield

DHARWAD: Bandeppa Kashempur, Minister for Agriculture, said here on Monday that the Government was planning to use the services of experts from agricultural colleges at Raitha Samparka Kendras to guide the farmers.

He was speaking after releasing the souvenir "Guru Smarane" brought out on the occasion of the inauguration of the Dr. S.W. Mensinakai Memorial Education and Research Foundation. It has been set up by students of Mensinkai to promote research through a chair at the University of Agricultural Sciences. Mr. Kashempur said the State Government was chalking out programmes on the "Pancha Sutras" enunciated by agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan.

"One of the main `sutras' given by Dr. Swaminathan is taking the laboratory to the land. In other words, reaching the benefits of research to the farmers. And in this endeavour the role of the agricultural colleges is crucial," he said.

He said the availability of experts at the kendras would benefit the farmers in improving the agricultural practices for better yield.

The State Government would also be expanding the "seed village bank" programme, he said.

Mr. Kashempur promised that he would try to ensure that a one-time grant of Rs. 50 lakh was given to the foundation.

The students of Mensinkai have already contributed Rs. 20 lakh to the foundation, which was inaugurated by Governor T.N. Chaturvedi.

Earlier, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti had made an appeal to the Agriculture Minister to provide grants to the foundation. Mr. Horatti said Mensinakai was a role model not only for the students but also to his colleagues at the agricultural college.

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