Justin D’Silva

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Jun 18: Agriculture is the lifeline and backbone of livelihood, said Udupi Catholic diocese bishop Dr Gerald Isac Lobo.

Nearly 50 acre of barren land at Kallianpur gram panchayat limits is being cultivated under agriculture on a barren land project by Kederotpana Trust. The bishop addressed a gathering after setting in motion sowing of paddy seeds on 20 acre of barren land near the residence of Sadhu Poojary on Friday June 18.

“India is a country of villages and agriculture is the main occupation here. We have believed that farmers are the backbone of our nation. The cultivation on barren land getting done by Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat is sacred work. We have a close relationship between agriculture and us. While Shivamogga in Karnataka is being called the wasp of paddy, the undivided Dakshina Kannada district gets the second position in agriculture,” he said.

Agriculture on barren land will help rainwater remain on 1500 acre of fields during the next four months. It will help in increasing the groundwater level. The efforts of the MLA in this direction are commendable,” he said.

Kallianpur Venkataramana temple managing trustee Padmanabha Kini, Mount Rosary Church priest Fr Leslie D’Souza, Milagres Cathedral rector Fr Valerian Mendonca, Fr Romeo Louis, Udupi district builders association president Jerry Vincent Dais, Udupi MLA K Raghupathi Bhat, Kallianpur gram panchayat president Krishna Devadiga, vice-president Uday Poojary, Kederotpana Trust chief secretary Murali Kadekar, treasurer Raghavendra Kini, member Dinaker Babu, locals Sadhu Poojary, Kallianpur gram panchayat members, former members, agriculture and horticulture University Shivamogga and Zonal Agriculture and Horticulture Research Centre Brahmavar senior officer Shanker, panchayat development officer Yogita, members of local associations, farmers and party workers were present.