Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

50 p.c. fall in farm production likely

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore March 5. The Minister for Agriculture, V.S. Koujalgi, has said that agricultural production in the current year will come down drastically because the State faced one of the most severe droughts in its history.

In a written reply to P. Ramiah (nominated member), he said the Government anticipated that the fall in agricultural production would be around 40 to 50 per cent. Several initiatives had been taken to protect the interests of small farmers, including supply of agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers at subsidised rates during the kharif season, he added.

Mr. Koujalgi said the Government was aware of the shortcomings of agriculture marketing facilities, and had decided to set up food parks with private participation. Six good parks would come up at Bagalkot, Belgaum, Chitradurga , Malur, Maddur, and Jewargi, he added.

Earlier, replying to a question from M.P. Nadagouda during Question Hour, the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Ramalinga Reddy, said consumers' fora had been set up in 23 districts, and they would shortly be set up in the new districts of Bagalkot, Chamarajanagar, Davangere, Gadag, Haveri, Koppal, and Udupi.

The appointment of chairmen to the new fora was in progress.

Replying to a question from B.S. Yediyurappa, Mr. Reddy said the Government could not lift the entire foodgrain allocation made to it because of the poor response from

the `Above Poverty Line' category.

The price of wheat sold through ration shops was almost the same as that in the market, and this was obviously the reason for the poor response.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment |

Stories in this Section

• BSNL ready to meet demand for SIM cards
• `Child marriages will be prevented'
• Pensioners asked to submit certificates
• Housing scheme advance may be cut
• Protocol: Plaint sent to privileges panel
• Ghorpade draws flak over maintenance of ZP roads
• 50 p.c. fall in farm production likely
• Speaker, minister differ on discussion

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu