Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi(HB)
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Udupi, Feb 3: The annual ‘Raitha Samavesha-2019’ organised by Udupi District Farmers Association was inaugurated at Sharada Mantap, Kunjibettu on Sunday, February 3.
T H Gowda, agriculture extension officer, Shivamogga University inaugurated the programme.
“There are problems in farming. Though we understand the problems, we are not able to solve them. Government is the reason for it. Sometimes natural calamity and social issues can be the cause. Most of the time, farmers have to do adjust with the situation. The association is helping them build self-confidence. Today MO-4 rice breed has become a solution for low yield. A new rice breed ‘MO12’ is about to release which needs short duration to grow and it needs less water. It can be a solution during delay in rains. In coastal area, rice is the core of agriculture. Cashew is the main crop here,” he said.
“Today we see that people are moving away from farming, because of its poor result. Let’s use machines and technology in the farming to get high yield. Rice is a tradition crop of Southern part. Farmers are themselves losing interest in farming activities. Let the government provide necessary facilities to farmers which help them to lead normal life like others. There is need to encourage and promote them. They are not getting fixed price for their yield,” he said.
"Farmers should fix the price for their crops and not middlemen. Farmers do not have a feel of unity. I do not know when that day will come. Let the government order for uniform policy for agriculture. An integrated agriculture system is the answer to imbalances of agro-sector. Policies and decisions should come out from the farmers. Then it should executed by the government. People should not ignore cultivation. Let us adjust to changing situations. Let the people make use of government facilities,” said T H Gowda.
“The recent developments show that today’s younger generation are getting into farming and this is a good sign,” he added.
Shrikant Shetty delivering the keynote address said, “Indians have capabilities to do anything. Lots of revolutionary innovations are taking place in all other fields, but still we are lagging behind in improving agriculture. Why are we not able to grow organic based farming? Let’s get back to organic cultivation to get healthy life. This will help build a strong and independent India.”
Ramakrishna Sharma Bantakallu, president of KS presided over the programme.
Narayandasa Udupa (Bailur), Jayalakshmi Acharya (Bailur), Jerome Castelino, (Pambur Shirva), Dayananda Suvarna (Manipur), Prakash Shetty (Perdur) were honoured on the occasion for their achievement in agriculture field.
Varieties of medicinal plants, decorative saplings, plantation crops, fruits, flower saplings, were displayed at the exhibition. Agro machineries of various types stole the show. Machineries that were exhibited demonstrated traditional farming patterns, besides introducing mechanisation for higher yields. Organic fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides were displayed. Books offering knowledge on different types of cultivation like seasonal cultivation, traditional cultivation, and herbal product were put on sale. Stem feed for Coconut tree technique attracted the farmers more.
Another guest, K R Ravichandran, regional manager, Vijay Bank Udupi, was present. Srinivas Bhat, Kudi, general secretary, UDKS presented annual report.
Raveendra Poojary, Gujjarbettu secretary of UDKS delivered the agenda of this programme.
Srinivas Ballal, Mallampalli, vice president, UDKS extended the welcome.