From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Apr 2: After making frequent announcements about the State Government’s decision to hold a global meet to attract investments in the crucial agricultural sector in June, the B S Yeddyurappa regime has now developed cold feet and is considering almost a six months delay.
Karnataka Agriculture Minister Umesh V Katti, who gave an indication of the Government’s intention to postpone the global agro-investment meet to attract investment in the sector may be held in October or November 2011.
He, however, declined to give the reasons for the postponement or whether it would be definitely held in October or November.
The BJP Government had planned to hold the meet to strengthen agriculture and horticulture sectors in the State.
``It is our ardent desire to bring rapid changes in the agriculture, horticulture, dairy and agriculture marketing sectors by bringing in private investment,” the minister said.
It may be recalled that the State government had organised global investors meet for attracting investment in industry in last June, which proved quite a big hit attracting a large number of domestic and foreign industrialists and entrepreneurs with 600 plus proposals for which MoUs were signed.
Apart from the number of MoUs signed during the GIM held last year, the total investments mopped up were of the order of over Rs 5 lac crore.
Katti said Tech Mahidra has been asked to prepare a report on holding global investors’ meet in the farm sector, adding: The estimated cost for holding the event would be Rs. 25 crore.
Several agro-firms have expressed their interest to invest about Rs 65,000 crore in the State, he said.
A sum of Rs. 500 crore would be given to the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) for acquisition of lands in districts.
He said State government set a target for coverage of 73 lac hectares during the coming kharif season and has taken steps to supply eight lac quintals of seeds for the season at subsidised prices.
Food production target for 2011-12 is 140 lac tonnes
The foodgrain production target for the 2011-12 has been set at 140 lac tonnes against the production of 128 lac tonnes in 2010-11. The State set a target of 125 lac tonnes for 2010-11.
The Agriculture Minister held a meeting with Department officials on Saturday and later told reporters that all arrangements have been made to supply seeds and fertilizers to all taluk headquarters by May 15.
The State has buffer stock of 4.5 lac tonnes of fertilizers of various types. The requirement of fertilizer for the entire 2011-12 would be 29 lac tonnes, he said.
Certified seeds and hybrid seeds of various crops would be distributed through Raitha Samparka Kedras across the State at subsidised prices.
Seeds would be supplied to Mysore and Chamarajangar districts in April as both districts received early showers while other districts would be supplied by May 15, he said.
While 50 per cent subsidy has been fixed for certified seeds, it is 25 per cent for hybrid variety of seeds.
2 lac tonnes of seeds to be distributed
About 12 lac tonnes of seeds of various crops would be distributed to farmers both kharif and rabi seasons, he said.
The agriculture sector recorded spectacular growth (5.7 per cent) and it is higher than the national level in 2010-11.
The increase is mainly on account of good monsoon and higher production of foodgrains especially pulses (31.63 per cent), oilseeds (32.14 per cent) and sugarcane (6.63 per cent), he said.
Pointing out that implementation of Bhoo Chetana programme led to increase in soil fertility and the yield, Katti said the programme would be extended to all districts from this kharif season.
Under the programme, the farmer and the government would share the cost equally. A sum of Rs 40 crore has been set aside for extending the ‘Bhoo Chethana’ (soil enrichment) programme, he added.