Sharad Pawar announces Rs 175 cr aid to areca growers in state

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 23: Union Agriculture and Food Processing Minister Sharad Pawar has announced a Rs 175 crore Central financial assistance under the National Horticulture Mission for areca farmers of Karnataka, who suffered severe loss due to rot disease of areca crops in the last few months.

He was speaking after inaugurating the three day 8th National Conference of Krishi Vigyan Kendra-2013, jointly organized by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore at GKVK campus, Bangalore.

''Every farmer in this country is hard working. His hard work gave confidence to the government to implement Food Security Act,” he said pointing out that the capacity of farmers can be enhanced through education and training which was being done by the Krishi Vigyan Kendras throughout the country.

Mechanization has become inevitable to maintain sustainability in the agricultural sector, he said stressing the need for adopting inventional practices to achieve agricultural growth.

The national food-grain productivity level of 2059 kg/ha in 2011-12 is 34 percent higher than the productivity level of 2002-03.
Productivity level of small millet and core cereals has increased tremendously.

The food grain production was barely touching 200 million tons in 2005 with rice production stagnating at 90 million tons and wheat at 70 million tons.

The cotton production was around 17 million bales, pulses around 14 million tons and sugar around 18 million tons. The cotton production has doubled to 35 million bales and pulses production has been above 18 million tons.

''Today, we have been now consistently producing 250 million plus tons food grains, with rice 100 million plus tons and wheat 90 million plus tons,” he said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that there are 634 Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the country, which are acting as knowledge hubs in the rural India.

Today 85 per cent of operational agricultural holdings are owned by small farmers, he said emphasizing the need for capacity building of these farmers to enhance productivity the CM said.

State Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj, who was the chief gues, said that after 60 years of Independence farmers remain as the poorest of our society. Country needs to work for their welfare as they are our backbone.

Karnataka’s Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation and Animal Husbandry Minister T B Jayachandra, Agricultural Marketing and Horticulture Minister Shamanoor Shivashankarappa, D B Chandre Gowda, MP, Bangalore North and others were present on the occasion.

An exhibition of agricultural instruments and technical sessions on agricultural themes have also been organized as part of the conference.