Pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Dec 12: Progressive farmer, Padaru Ramakrishna Shastri, called upon the farmers to be stay vigilant against getting deceived by rosy pictures being painted by colourful campaigns of capitalists, who are out to acquire farm lands.
He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Krishi Utsava – 2011’ being held under the joint aegis of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), Krishi Utsava organizing committee, Rotary Club, Pragati Bandhu Union of Self Help Groups, and local organizations, at M Dasa Rai Ground in Jakribettu near here on Sunday December 11.
He said that the capitalists and their mediators have the capacity to make the agriculturists believe what they say. Calling upon farmers not to get deceived by the lucrative offers made by capitalists, he expressed apprehension about the unstable indications this phenomenon has been creating in the field of agriculture.
He advised farmers to choose a combination of crops, rather than depending on a single crop, advising them that the other crops will come to the rescue of farmers when the price of one of the crops crashes. He expressed concern over the trend of the farmers choosing to grow cash crops like areca nut and rubber to the detriment of food crops. “The youth is not interested in the family tradition of agriculture. Perhaps, farm mechanization is the only way out of the present imbroglio. Even in this sector, there is a dearth of expert technicians in the field of repairing and servicing farm machinery. Students in social service courses should be allowed to given training in agricultural activities, he demanded.
MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, who was the chief guest, said that agriculture in the past used to be like a religious vow and not a mere way of earning money. He praised the farmers of the district for staying away from the phenomenon committing suicides, and making changes in cropping pattern when they faced financial crisis. He felt that programmes like Krishi Utsava have the potential of instilling self confidence among farmers.
Municipal president, Dinesh Bhandary, presided, Rotary assistant governor, Kiran Hegde, zilla panchayat member, Mamata Gatti, SKDRDP director, Mahavir Ajri, Rotary Club president, Satyshankar Shetty, APMC president, Ronald D’Souza, organizing committee honorary president, Erakala Raghunath Somayaji, and others were present.
Organizing committee president, Prakash Karant, welcomed. Joint secretary, Gireeesh K, proposed vote of thanks. Manju Vittal presented the programme.