The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Research is key to development of agricultural sector, says Ashok

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Research is key to development of agricultural sector, says Ashok

Staff Reporter

35 progressive farmers from 17 districts felicitated at Krishi Mela

— Photo K. Murali Kumar

Proud moment: Some of the progressive farmers who were felicitated at the Krishi Mela 2009 in Bangalore on Saturday.

Bangalore: As many as 35 progressive farmers from 17 districts in the State were felicitated for their achievements at the Krishi Mela 2009.

Of the 35 farmers, two of them — Mahabala Bhayari from Kundapur taluk and Sharadamma from Alur taluk — received the Corp Award instituted by Corporation Bank.

Minister for Transport R. Ashok, who participated in the felicitation programme on behalf of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, said that the State Government was keen on promoting organic farming and had earmarked Rs. 100 crore in this regard. “The Government, with the intention of learning from China’s best practices, had sent 775 farmers to that country,” he said.

Rs. 20 crore earmarked

Mr. Ashok said that the Government had also earmarked Rs. 20 crore to set up a horticulture university in Bagalkot and another agriculture research university in Raichur. “We need more research to improve production of foodgrains. It is important as the improvement of the agriculture sector is essential for the progress of the State and nation,” he said.

Stressed

Minister for Excise and IT Katta Subramanya Naidu, who spoke earlier, stressed on the need to integrate IT and agriculture. “Farmers can use IT and the latest technology to their benefit and improve the sector,” he said.

He said that the annual Krishi Mela had been able to attract people even from urban areas.

“The mela has been able to provide an insight into the life of a farmer and rural life to students from many schools in the city,” he added.

Byatarayanapura MLA Krishna Byre Gowda suggested that instead of having separate universities for animal husbandry, horticulture and agriculture, the Government could instead have one university for all the branches.

The farmers who were felicitated include N.C. Basavaraju and Nirmala (Bangalore Urban district); Uttanalappa and Ratnamma (Bangalore Rural); B.M. Mahadevaswamy and Ratnamma (Chamarajanagar); R. Krishnamurthy and M.R. Sumalatha (Chikmagalur); B.S. Raghunath and B.C. Sabitha (Chitradurga); John Vegas and M. Jayanthi (Dakshina Kannada); Malagodu Anjinappa and Mamatha N. Shivaraj (Davangere); H.L. Naresh and Kamalamma (Hassan), B.V. Muddaiah and Vasanthi Appachu (Kodagu); H.R. Munireddy and Padmavathamma (Kolar); C.K. Chandrashekhar (Mandya); Chikkadevaiah and R. Rajeshwari (Mysore); N. Rajappa and S.L. Chandramma (Shimoga); Ganesh Shettagara and Shubada Sharma (Udupi); H.K. Thammaiah and Kamalamma (Ramanagar); Patel and M. Renuka (Chikkaballapur); K. Ramanujam and Ashwini Koushik (Tumkur).

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