Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SS)

Mangaluru, Jun 18: Farmers of Dakshina Kannada (DK) who had started growing horticultural crops, arecanut and rubber are now turning to cultivating paddy in a big way in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

Paddy cultivation which had witnessed a decline over a period of time is now witnessing renewed interest in cultivation among the farmers. In Puttur taluk, the area under paddy cultivation has grown to 440 hectares from 360 hectares last year.

Youngsters have evinced interest in farming activity following the pandemic. More and more youngsters are returning to their villages to resume agricultural activity. About 44 hectares of land were marked under the Hadilu Bhoomi programme of the government to cultivate paddy.

In the last five years the area under paddy cultivation has risen considerably due to renewed interest among youngsters in agricultural activity.

Paddy cultivation had declined in the past due to lower prices, labour issues, lower yield and inability to use agricultural implements. Besides, cultivating paddy was labour intensive and less remunerative for farmers.

No support price

Farmers are complaining of lower support price or no support price for cultivating paddy. Many government schemes had not reached paddy cultivators. Now, seeds are available at farmers contact centres and are likely to get support price in MO 4 and Jyothi varieties of the seeds.

Farmers can buy seeds at the rate of 25 kg for every acre of cultivated land up to 5 acres. The MO 4 variety of paddy seeds are available at Rs 41.50 and Jyothi at Rs 43 while it is available for small farmers and SC/STs at Rs 8 and Rs 12 respectively, according to assistant director of agriculture department Narayana Shetty.