Karnataka   

Take to organic farming: Minister

DAVANGERE: S.A. Ravindranath, Minister for Agriculture, has called upon farmers to go in for organic farming instead of chemical farming. He said many serious illnesses were caused on account of using chemical fertilizers.

Inaugurating the “Jana Samparaka Sabe” at Mayakonda here on Saturday, the Minister underlined the importance of organic farming and told farmers to use vermin compost and bio-fertilizer in place of chemical fertilizers. He said the Government had decided to give Rs. 2,000 each to 100 farmers in 1,000 villages across the State to encourage organic farming. There had been good rain in all parts of the State, he said and added that the rains had given farmers hope of better crop. Mr. Ravindranath said the State Government would send 1,000 select farmers from different parts of the State to Israel to learn how farmers there raised crops. He said they would be taught several agriculture-related issues. He said he had seen six Chief Ministers while being MLA, but regretted that none of them had concern for farmers as shown by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. He said Mr. Yeddyurappa had sanctioned 10 HP worth free power to farmers as well as Rs. 1,000 to small and marginal farmers so that they could undertake agricultural activities. The Chief Minister had earmarked Rs.100 crore to help them buy agricultural implements, he added.

There was a time when the people had to wait in queues for hours together to get work done in a government office, Mr. Ravindranath said and added that the system had now undergone a sea-change. The district administration would visit the people and get their work done through the “Jana Samparaka Sabe.”

Chief Whip in the Legislative Council Dr. A.H. Shivayogiswamy and Mayakonda MLA Basavaraja Naika spoke. Deputy Commissioner K. Amaranarayana, Chief Executive Officer of the Davangere Zilla Panchayat Guthi Jamboonath and Assistant Commissioner Janaki were present.

As many as 659 applications received from Mayakonda and surrounding villages for different benefits under various government schemes were disposed of on the occasion. Over 500 people seeking pension under the Sandya Suraksha programme were given orders, while 20 women were given Bhagyalakshmi bonds for their new female children.

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