Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Dec 23: “Farmers associations should be aware of the issues faced by the farmers. If politics is kept away success will be ours. Udupi district farmers’ association is efficiently marching forward under honest and powerful leader K Pratapchandra Shetty,” said retired joint director of horticultural department Jayasheela Shetty.

Jayasheela was speaking after inaugurating the National farmers day at R N Shetty auditorium of the city on December 23.

Jayasheela further said, “Former minister Chowdhuri Charan Singh upheld the concerns of farmers on the highest level. We have to remember Lal Bahadur Shastri who made an honest attempt to uplift the farmers of the country.”

Presiding over the function, K Pratapchandra Shetty, president of Udupi district farmers’ association, said, “Though all governments are implementing many schemes for the farmers, it is also a fact that farmers are ignored. Though facilities are available, they do not reach eligible farmers. Farmer who honestly grows the paddy is not getting the support price. Earlier there were gram sevaks in every village. Now one sevak is there for one Hobali. Not finding efficient solutions for destruction of crop by monkeys and wild animals dampens the spirits of farmers. This may lead to the extinction of farmers.

“Today vented dams are searching farmers and ponds. Though this is a good development, local farmers should pay attention to this. If the construction is of bad quality, then the farmers will have to regreat as the water does not get stored in it and gets wasted. So the farmers have to be concerned during construction of vented dam also.”

Seetharama Ganiga was the chief guest. S Raju Poojary, M Mahesh Hegde, Jayaram Shetty Surgoli, Sanjeeva Shetty Sampigedi, Deenapala Shetty and presidents of all zones of farmers association were present.

Achievers like Udayakumara Shetty, Dr Atul Kumar Shetty Chittoor, Basavaraj Poojary Koravadi, Chittaranjan Rao Halady, Chandrashekara Udupa Maswadi, Jayakara Shetty, Lalita Shetty, S Prakashchandra Shetty, Prasad Hegde, B Ratnakara Shetty, Sukesha Shetty, Satish Shetty and Venkata Poojary were felicitated.

Calendar for the year 2023 of farmers association was released on the occasion. Belve Satish Kini welcomed the gathering. Vikas Hegde did the introductory speech. Ashok Shetty Choradi rendered vote of thanks. Journalist Subramanya Padukone compered the event.