Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jun 11: Udupi MLA K Raghupati has promised to take up the issue of setting up of an agricultural college in the spacious campus of Brahmavar Agricultural Science Reserarch Station in Brahmavar to ensure speedy realization of this long pending proposal.
He was speaking after inaugurating the symposium of Udupi taluk farmers and an exhibition, organized at the research station on Tuesday June 10, under the joint aegis of Udupi zilla panchayat, Brahmavar Agricultural Science Research Station and the taluk agricultural technology management association (ATMA) implementation committee .
Claiming that giving a new lease of life to the once defunct Brahmavar sugar factory by entrusting its management to private enterpreneurs has encouraged farmers to take up sugarcane cultivation again, Bhat said that he would also discuss with the chief minister the issue of repayment of the dues of the factory to cooperative institutions, factory workers and the farmers who had supplied sugarcane to it. He exhorted the scientists to find out alternative methods of cultivation to make it profitable, as the agriculturists in the twin districts are increasingly inclined to discard agriculture which they feel is not profitable and look for other avenues for generating income.
Bangalore University of Agriculture's board of regents chairman S D Sampat Samrajya who released the techological report of the Brahmavar Agricultural Science Research Station warned that India is most likely to face food crisis by the year 2020 because of the dwindling quantity of food production over the years. To overcome this, there is a need to scientifically fix prices for agricultural produce, as cost of living and agricultural expenses are sky-rocketting as against prices of farm produce that are on the decline, he explained.
A compensation amount of one lac rupees was disbursed to the family of Manna Ganiga who had committed suicide being unable to repay loans. Zilla panchayat member Bhujanga Shetty released a handbook of ATMA. Udupi zilla panchayat member B N Shankar Poojary participataed as chief guest.