The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Enhance production to ensure food security, says Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 19, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Enhance production to ensure food security, says Minister

Staff Reporter

34 farmers, including 17 women, were felicitated at the Krishimela

State Agriculture Management Society
to be launched
Food grain production in State has increased to 110 lakh tonnes in 2006-2007

— Photo: Murali Kumar K.

Drawing interest: Crowds thronged the Krishimela at G.K.V.K. Agricultural College in Bangalore on Sunday.

BANGALORE: Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajashekaran on Sunday said that the annual growth rate of the agriculture sector should increase to at least 4 per cent to ensure food security for the growing population of India.

Delivering the presidential address at the award distribution ceremony to progressive farmers during the Krishimela, organised by University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, the Minister said the present growth rate was between 1.8 and 2 per cent. “Though the country had made great progress in agriculture, taking the annual production from 51 million tonnes from the time of independence to 216 million tonnes today, many areas still needed to be focused upon,” he said.

Mr. Rajashekaran also said that the agriculture productivity needed to be improved to address problems in the sector. He said: “Farmers should also take up allied activities to boost their income.”

Agro society

The Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, A. Ramaswamy, said that the State was preparing to launch the State Agriculture Management Society to improve the sector. “We will utilise funds allocated to the State Government under the Food Security Mission and other schemes for setting up the society,” he added.

Mr. Ramaswamy also said that the production of food grains in the State has gone up from 66 lakh tonnes in 2002-2003 to 110 lakh tonnes in 2006-2007. The production of pulses in the State stood at 9.28 lakh tonnes while 17 million tonnes of oil seeds were produced during 2006-2007.

“Karnataka stood first in productivity of maize. It produced 3,157 kg an acre whereas the national average stood at 1,841 kg,” he said.

Funds needed

Earlier, UAS Vice-Chancellor P.G. Chengappa urged the Union Minister to allocate funds for organising similar Krishimelas at district levels and popularise organic farming among farmers. More than two lakh people have visited the mela so far, he added.

Principal Secretary to Government (Finance) M.R. Srinivasmurthy was present on the occasion.

The book “Vegetable Crops-Improvement and Production”, co-authored by Dr. Premnath, the former Assistant Director General of Food and Agriculture Organisation, along with Dr. V.K. Srivastava, Dr. O.P Datta and Dr. K.R.M. Swamy was released. As many as 34 progressive farmers, including 17 women, who have implemented innovative techniques to boost production, water harvesting methods and others, were felicitated.

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