The Hindu : Karnataka News : Panel to look into agrarian crisis

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Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Panel to look into agrarian crisis

Special Correspondent

Have confidence in us, don’t resort to suicide, Yeddyurappa tells farmers

Says he will take a delegation to Delhi today to press for more fertilizers
“Only 1,00,410 tonnes supplied against demand of 1,54,000 tonnes”

BANGALORE: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa offered hope for farmers who came in large numbers from all over the State to list their grievances.

He constantly reminded them of the reasons for the shortage of fertilizers in the State and blamed the Centre for delay and inadequate supply of the State quota.

“I will take a delegation to Delhi on Wednesday to seek more supply of fertilizers from the Centre,” he said.

He appealed to the farmers in distress not to take the extreme step, but to have confidence in his government. Any farmer could contact him directly for redressal of his problem.

A committee of experts would be set up to look into the agrarian problems.

“We require 95,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer for this month. But we got only 45,000 tonnes of DAP,” he said.

The Centre had supplied 1,00,410 tonnes of complex fertilizers against the State’s demand for 1,54,000 tonnes. Lack of preparations to get the input during the President’s rule and delayed response from the Centre had aggravated the crisis, he said.

During the three-hour interaction with leaders of farmers, former Ministers and experts, Mr. Yeddyurappa reassured them of the priority the Government would accord to address their concerns.

More funds would be allocated for promoting organic farming in all taluks and steps would be taken to put an end to the problems posed by middlemen in Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee yards, he said.

Farmers’ demand

A majority of the farmers demanded that the government evolve scientific methods to fix prices of farm produce, provide insurance for all crops, free power supply, timely distribution of farm inputs, higher allocation to the Revolving Fund, subsidy to take up organic farming, and launch awareness campaigns on various schemes.

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