Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, May 2: Karnataka stands first among the states, which opened food processing units as soon as the lockdown was announced to safeguard the interests of the farmers.

Speaking to the press Vandita Sharma, additional chief secretary and development commissioner, said, "Government officers are working 24x7 in order to resolve the issues faced by agriculturists and industrialists in the state.

"Agriculture and farm produce in large numbers is exported to other parts of the country as well as overseas. Help was provided to farmers by allowing the transportation of necessary goods by trucks within few days of implementation of lockdown.

"As all the inter-district and inter-state borders were closed, it was difficult to ship fruits and vegetables outside the state. However, we convinced the other states who buy fruits and vegetables from us to allow our trucks to enter their state.

"Delhi is the biggest market for the pineapples that are grown in the state. However, Azadpur market in still closed. Kerala buys bananas and grapes in huge quantities. However, transportation is an issue. We convinced Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa to allow our trucks to enter.

"A war room is opened to address the issues of farmers. 75 food processing units are opened. They are given passes and care is taken that their functioning is not affected. 300 mobile HOPCOMs are also working. 1,500 metric tonnes of vegetables and fruits were exported to gulf countries from Kempegowda international airport during the lockdown period."