Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that thrust would be given to post harvest management under Comprehensive Agriculture Policy.
The CM who launched the ambitious CM Raitha Nidhi Scholarship program organised at the Banquet Hall, Vidhana soudha, today said that efforts will be made to get better prices for the crops grown by the farmer through scientific storage of agricultural produce, transportation, marketing facilities and other amenities.
Agricultural Universities must successfully grow the plant variety which are researched in the farmers fields. Universities must come out of their premises to the fields, the CM opined.
Appreciating PM Narendra Modi’s determination to double the income of farmers, the CM said that though it is a challenge the Prime Minister has accepted the challenge and has charted out a plan. He also added that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Scheme was implemented to provide security to farmer’s lives. The State Government too added Rs.4000 additional assistance when B.S.Yediyurappa took charge as CM, he said.
Explaining the background of the scholarship scheme, the CM said that upon his visits to villages, he noticed many instances where the farmers children have cut short their education due to lack of money. If the farmers children too are educated, the situation of the farmers too would be improved and therefore the scheme is being implemented, he said. The Scholarship will be provided to students who join different courses after SSLC. The amount will be disbursed through DBT to about 17 lakh students, he said.
Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister said that Rs 6800 crore has been provided to establish Farmers Produce Organizations and other activities. Rs 1.5 lakh crore has been provided under Aathma Nirbhar Scheme to prevent the agricultural produces being wasted due to lack of basic facilities.
Government of Karnataka is a progressive State and has been a model to others states because of several innovative schemes in the field of Agriculture. He said that Digital models will be presented in the Chief Ministers Meeting and Seminar organized to all Agriculture Ministers of the Country.
Union minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shobha Karandlaje said that small farmers will be supported through establishing 750 Farmers Produce Organizations in the State.
The Union Government, in order to promote export of agricultural produces has formulated ‘One District, One Product’ policy. Apart from the programmes for the development of basic infrastructure for agriculture, one lakh crore has been allocated, she added.
B.C.Patil, Minister for Agriculture, Prabhu Chouhan, Minister for Animal Husbandary, M.Munirathna, Minister for Horticulture, B.C.Nagesh, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, A.S.Anand, President, Organic Agriculture, M.Ps and MLAs and senior officials were present.
