The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Marketing federation to be set up for horticultural crops

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Marketing federation to be set up for horticultural crops

Special Correspondent

Amendments to APMC Act will benefit farmers, says Kumaraswamy

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Special occasion: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy inspecting the guard of honour at the 60th Independence Day celebrations at the Mankeshaw Parade Ground in Bangalore on Wednesday.

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has rekindled hopes on creation of Yadgir and Chikkodi districts by bifurcating Gulbarga and Belgaum districts, respectively.

He also announced establishment of a marketing federation for horticultural crops and enhancement of the revolving fund to Rs. 1,000 crore for the market intervention scheme to avoid distress sale of farm produce.

Speaking after hoisting the national flag at Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground here on Wednesday on the occasion of Independence Day, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the Government recently bifurcated Bangalore Rural and Kolar districts and created Ramangaram and Chickballapur districts, respectively.

The process of creation of Yadgir and Chikkodi districts had been delayed due to some reasons, he said and added that the new districts would come into being.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said an exclusive federation on the lines of the Karnataka Milk Federation to market fruits and vegetables would be set up soon.

He defended the amendments to the APMC Act and said the new legislation would help farmers.

The Government proposed to increase allocation for the revolving fund to Rs. 1,000 crore and demanded that the Centre share 50 per cent of the burden.

Admitting that disbursement of cooperative loans at 4 per cent interest, loan waiver and input subsidies alone would not address farmers’ problems, the Chief Minister said a farmer would be happy only when he got a reasonable price for the produce in the market.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the achievements of the coalition Government in various sectors.

The Government had implemented several pro-people schemes. “My Government has adopted a two-pronged strategy that will boost physical development and social progress of people”, he said.

To maintain peace in the Malnad region, he said the Government was open to holding talks with naxalites only on an ideological plane. The Government would not tolerate any violence by naxals in the region, he declared.

The State had announced a new agricultural policy (2006), second in 11 years, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had appreciated it. Under the Suvarna Farm Pond programmes, 44,000 farm ponds had been constructed. A sum of Rs. 250 crore had been set aide for construction of 2.5 lakh ponds, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

A sum of Rs. 3,925 crore had been earmarked for completion of irrigation projects. During the last 18 months’ rule of the coalition Government, work on 35 of the 39 projects had been completed. Irrigation facility had been extended to 23.3 lakh hectares and the Minor Irrigation Department had taken up 1,131 works at a cost of Rs. 458 crore, he said.

Stating that an all-time record had been achieved in the education sector, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the process had commenced to recruit 15,000 teachers in the current year. “My desire is to establish engineering colleges in all districts,” he said and added that Rs. 500 crore had been set aside for building schools and colleges.

A 5,000-capacity student hostel would be constructed in Beggars’ Colony on Magadi Road in Bangalore and work would be launched soon.

A residential complex and a rehabilitation centre would be built in the same colony for providing housing to 1,000 working women and 1,000 beggars, respectively. Hostels would also be constructed in Belgaum, Davangere, Dharwad, Shimoga, Hassan, Gulbarga, Mysore and Haveri districts to provide accommodation to 4,000 students at an estimated cost of Rs. 250 crore, he announced.

A blueprint had been readied to develop tourist spots such as Jog Falls, Nandi Hills, Shimsha, Gokak, Badami, Pattadakal and Hampi on public-private partnership. The Government had fulfilled several of its promises made during the last 18 months. “Overall, the coalition Government has responded to the aspirations of the people” Mr. Kumaraswamy added.

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