GULBARGA: A study group appointed by the Government for the development of 39 most backward taluks, identified by the High Power Committee for Redressal of Regional Imbalances, has come out with a master plan.

Official sources told The Hindu here on Wednesday that the study group had suggested that more attention be given to watershed development activities, which would help in water conservation and create a natural resource base for increasing the grain output.

Agricultural activities

The group had also suggested to the Government that it take up agricultural activities and rural industrialisation, which could use local resources and thereby also provide employment to people in villages.

Horticulture

It had said the Government should also promote horticulture and cultivation of crops that would consume less water, the sources said.

The Government should first focus on attracting investments to the backward taluks, as this would help in their growth, the group had said, according to the official sources.

The general development strategies recommended by the study group for the taluks included watershed management, dry land horticulture, composite animal farming, micro-irrigation for floriculture, homestead gardening, cultivation of pulses, promotion of dal industries, sugarcane cultivation, composite animal farming in Bhalki taluk, bio-ethanol production from sugarcane, dairying and sericulture.

Taluk programmes

For nine out of the 10 taluks, the study group has recommended programmes such as integrated management of red gram, bengal gram, cotton and groundnut crops, setting up of mini dal mills, hi-tech horticultural development and development of agro-based industries.

Package

It has come out with a package of development programmes involving agricultural activities for Kustagi and Yalburga in Koppal district, Sindhanur, Manvi, Lingasugur, and Deodurga taluks of Raichur, Biligi in Bagalkot district, Muddebhihal, Basavanabagewadi, Indi and Sindagi in Bijapur taluk, Kanakapura and Magadi in Bangalore Rural district, Hosadurga and Holalkere in Chitradurga, Harapanahalli in Davangere, Bagepalli in Kolar district, Kunigal, Madhugiri, Gubbi, Sira and Pavagada in Tumkur district, Chamarajanagar in Chamarajagar district and HD Kore in Mysore district.

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