Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore (SN/SP)

Mangalore, Jan 8: The extended session of the Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat was held at the zilla panchayat (ZP) auditorium here  on Tuesday January 6.

Speaking on the occasion, ZP president K P Sucharita Shetty said that the agricultural and dairy farming activities are on the wane in the Dakshina Kannada district. The cows are being sold to the neighbouring districts like Hassan as people here find it uneconomical to pursue dairy farming. The people, in consultation and with the participation of the authorities concerned, must involve themselves with the formulation of schemes towards making agriculture lucrative, instead of blaming the officials for the decline in these activities, he felt.

"Various programmes that are being implemented through the department of agriculture are failing to achieve their objectives. The officials are solely responsible for the failure of such programmes," opined Tungappa Bangera, ZP member.

Most of the people quit the profession of dairy farming due to the lack of fodder and oil cakes. These should be distributed through ration shops, suggested Satish Kumar speaking on the occasion.

Though 38 posts in horticulture department and 107 in the agricultural department remain vacant, the government has not taken any measures to fill the vacancies, charged Sundara Gowda Ichila.
 
An investigation must be ordered into the alleged transfer of fertilizers by cooperative societies to other districts. Reasons for the shortage of fertilizers in the district should be pinpointed through this probe, demanded Tungappa Bangera.

P Shivashankar, chief executive officer, conducted the meeting.

Krishna Shetty Kadaba, standing committee chairman, Santosh Kumar Bhandary and Venkat Dambekody were present.