The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Rs. 1,000 each for 50 lakh dry-land farmers in State

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Saturday, Jul 19, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rs. 1,000 each for 50 lakh dry-land farmers in State

Nagesh Prabhu

Rs. 2,000 to be given to families adopting organic farming methods

BANGALORE: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who presented the State Budget for 2008-09, has proposed to provide Rs. 1,000 for all small and marginal farmers who are completely dependent on dry-land farming.

Small and marginal farmers accounted for 72.9 per cent of the total holdings, cultivating only 34.4 per cent of the total cultivable area. Seventy-three per cent cultivable land in the State is rainfed.

According to Agricultural Census (2007), the marginal holdings, which constituted less than one hectare, accounted for 48.2 per cent of the total holdings, followed by small holdings (1 to 2 hectares) — 26.60 per cent; semi-medium holdings (2 to 4 hectares) — 16.9 per cent; medium holdings (4 to 10 hectares) — 7.30 per cent; and large holdings (10 hectares and above) — one per cent.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said the condition of the farmers of dry-land areas was precarious. The farmers had already lost the seeds sown and fertilizers used owing to weak and erratic monsoon. Monson was weak in three-fourths of the taluks in the State.

For preparing the fields again, the Government would provide Rs. 1,000 each to about 50 lakh dry-land farmers to buy seeds and fertilizers. A sum of Rs. 500 crore was needed for providing inputs and the assistance would be disbursed through their bank accounts, he said.

The total allocation for agriculture and allied activities, including irrigation touched Rs. 8,000 crore for 2008-09.

Organic farming

To promote organic farming and production of organic manure, he said Rs. 2,000 each would be given to those families that adopted organic farming methods. A sum of Rs. 100 crore had been earmarked to cover at least 1,000 villages. So far, the Government was promoting organic farming on 100 hectares in each taluk.

Mission

Mr. Yeddyurappa said a “Karnataka Agriculture Mission” under his chairmanship would be set up to integrate and coordinate the development activities in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and sericulture.

The high-power committee under the mission would have scientists, progressive farmers, and NGO representatives apart from Ministers and senior officers of the departments concerned.

A sum of Rs. 500 crore had been earmarked for a revolving fund. The budget also proposed to set up information kiosks in all gram panchayats with private participation to provide market information to farmers.

The interest subsidy being paid on agriculture loans would be increased to facilitate availing of loans at the rate of 3 per cent from cooperative societies.

The facility would be extended to fishermen and weavers also.

Stating that a single agency would be established to provide 75 per cent subsidy for drip irrigation for agriculture, horticulture, and sericulture crops, he said Rs. 175 crore of subsidy would be given to farmers.

Besides providing subsidy of 25 per cent for establishing cold storage and constructing warehouses in rural areas, the budget proposed to establish a university of agricultural sciences in Raichur at a cost of Rs. 5 crore. In order to promote horticulture, a separate agricultural university would be established in Bagalkot, he said.

The budget has provided Rs. 1,974 crore for the agricultural sector, which is 64 per cent more than the allocation made in 2007-08.

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