Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)

Mangalore, Nov 7: A seminar on “Rural development - Dharmasthala model” was organized by Mangalore University to celebrate its foundation day at the New Senate Hall in Mangalagangothri here, on Tuesday Nov 6.

Delivering the keynote oration, the resource person on the occasion D Veerendra Heggade, president of Shree Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) exhorted dairy farmers to try and improve the quality of the milk produce, by feeding the right fodder to their animals.

Heggade assured farmers that SKDRDP will prioritize production of milk and will soon extend its services to all districts of the state, as currently it is already active in Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga and Chikmagalur districts through its various SHGs.

Elaborating on this, he informed that Dakshina Kannada produced approximately three lac litres of milk per day. Shimoga produced 50,000 litres of milk per day while Chikmagalur also did not produce much milk. All the micro dairy development projects should be planned to give thrust on milk production in these two districts, he added.

According to him SKDRDP was started on an experimental basis in 1982 and it “empowers the poor villagers by teaching self-management,” he declared. He said that farmers much not look for immediate returns like other business whereas returns from it would sustain for long time. Farmers through proper guidance can improve their agricultural productivity, he added.

The project has covered 10 lac persons under health insurance. It has formed 58,700 SHGs in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. Moreover, in all the project has provided employment opportunities for around 6,000 women, informed Hegadde proudly.

K M Kaveriappa, vice-chancellor presided. Heggade’s wife Hemavathi, University registrar K Sundar Nayak, Kannada dept head Prof Chinnappa Gowda, finance officer R S Yedapadithaya and registrar (evaluation) K K Achar were present.