From Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, MAY 4: Karnataka is all set to await the arrival of monsoon. If the rain-gods smile and bless the state with bountiful rains, the B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP regime has taken all steps to ensure adequate and timely supply of fertilisers as well as agricultural seeds for the 2009 khariff season.

In a bid to prevent the recurrence of the widespread agitations by farmers all over the state due to shortage of fertilisers and agricultural seeds during last year which resulted in violent protests and police firing in Haveri district killing two farmers soon after Yeddyurappa government assumed charge, the chief minister has already taken steps to ensure the 22.19 lakh tonnes of fertilisers during the ensuing khariff season.

The chief minister, who chaired a high-level meeting with state agriculture minister S A Ravindrananth and senior officials on Monday, said the government was fully geared to ensure adequate and timely supply of all types of fertilisers till September.

"We hope the state receives bountiful rains so that the farmers will be happy and state will be in a comfortable position. We are prepared to take all steps to ensure that the interests of farmers are looked after,'' Yeddyurappa said.

Karnataka Agricultural Marketing Federation has already been released a sum of Rs 400 crore to purchase fertilisers to meet the target of sowing in 76.95 lakh hectares for producing 118 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in khariff and rabi seasons of 2009-10, the chief minister said.

Out of 22.19 lakh tonnes of fertilizers, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) constituted 4.45 lakh tonnes, muriate of potash (MoP) 2.90 lakh tonnes, NPK 5.70 lakh tonnes, urea  8 lakh tonnes and other fertilizers 1.14 lakh tonnes.

The Government has decided to supply 2.66 lakh tonnes of DAP, MoP, NPK, urea and other fertilizers in May, 435 lakh tonnes in June, 4.45 lakh tonnes in June, 4.45 lakh tonnes in July, 4.45 lakh in August, 452150 tonnes in September.

Agriculture minister Ravindrananth said the state had a stock of 2.80 lakh tonnes of all types of fertilizers now.

The Centre has promised to supply 1.65 lakh tonnes of DAP, 73,180 tonnes of  NPK, 25,000 tonnes of MoP and 56,380 tonnes of urea in May, the minister said.

In April 2008, the state had stock of 3,821 tonnes of DAP and  9,409 tonnes of NKP.  As there was more demand for  NPK fertilizers, Agriculture Department officials have been directed to supply the input as per the demand in different districts during the sowing season.

The State needed 10.03 lakh quintals of certified seeds for the 2009-10 agricultural operations. About 7.20 lakh quintals and 2.83 lakh quintals of seeds respectively would be required for the khariff and the rabi seasons of  2009-10. As many as 7.73 lakh quintals of seeds had been procured from different agencies against the demand for 7.20 lakh quintals in the kharif season.

A sum of Rs. 50 crore would be required for distribution of seeds at 50 per cent subsidy for farmers, the Chief Minister said. (EOM)