From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, May 8: Karnataka Agriculture Umesh Katti termed the farmers protest in Haveri seeking a Kanaka variety of cotton seeds as ''politically motivated.”

The minister has sought a report from the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police on the police lathi-charge on protesting farmers.

The Haveri district administration in association with the Agriculture department has made arrangements to supply the much-sought-after Mahyco Research (Kanaka) BT cotton seeds to growers on ''first come first serves” basis from Tuesday.

To avail seeds, growers stood in a queue from Monday night at the Haveri APMC yard.

Following shortage in the supply of Kanaka variety of seeds by the Agriculture Department officials, the farmers staged protests in Haveri.

In a bid to control the situation when the farmers got restive, police resorted to lathi-charge on farmers.

Katti said 30,000 packets of 450 gram each of Kanaka variety BT cotton was supplied to the district against the demand for 1.50 lakh.

A total of 1.54 lakh packets of seeds were supplied to the entire State last year.

The Minister said all steps have been taken to ensure all variety of seeds and fertilizers to farmers.

Some forces were behind the farmers’ stir, the minister said and urged the farmers to maintain peace to ensure smooth supply of seeds to all farmers.

Farmers are expected to take up BT cotton on 4.90 lakh hectare during the 2012 kharif season in the State. The department had targeted to sow cotton on 1,07,400 hectares in Haveri district, he added.