The Department of Agriculture will set up additional 250 centres this year for providing farm machineries on low rent for the benefit of farmers to take up sustainable farming, according to Krishna Byre Gowda, Minister of State for Agriculture.
Speaking after inaugurating a centre and Krishi Abhiyaan at Mariyammanahalli in Hosapete taluk on Tuesday, Mr. Byre Gowda said that 324 centres were functioning in as many hoblis and the government had approved a proposal to open 250 more such centres. He appealed to farmers to take full advantage of the facilities provided and reap good harvest. “Keeping in view the shortage of agricultural labour and increasing wages, the government thought of extending a helping hand to farmers by promoting farm mechanisation by way of letting out various farm machineries at lower rent. This has not only saved time in completing agricultural operations but is also cost effective,” he said.
During his visit to Garag-Naglapur in Hagari Bommanahalli Assembly constituency to see the implementation of the Krishi Bhagya scheme aimed at helping farmers in rain-fed areas, he said that so far 1.76 lakh Krishi Hondas had been formed all over the State, which have come as a boon to farmers as they were able to protect their crops when rain failed, and got good returns.
Mr. Byre Gowda, after visiting a farm where minor millets were cultivated, said that the State government had accorded priority to popularise cultivating minor millets under its Siri Dhanya scheme besides providing market, and exhorted farmers to bring large areas under these crops.
“As a result of the thrust and the campaign undertaken, minor millets are being cultivated in 20,000 hectares as against the earlier 6,500 hectares in Ballari district alone. In the State, we expect it to touch 34 lakh hectares. This year, ₹ 130 crore had been set aside for Krishi Prerana to encourage cultivation of minor millets in a big way and also to extend help to farmers using water judiciously among other things,” he said.
Bagina at Bannikoppa
At Koppal, Mr. Byre Gowda, after seeing the Krishi Hondas filled to the brim following good rain, said that the Krishi Bhagya scheme of the government has served its purpose.
He said that he was happy to see the glee in the eyes of farmers of getting good yield with the help of water stored in the ponds.
He also offered bagina at one of the Krishi Hondas in Bannikoppa, besides declaring it as a model village for utilising Krishi Bhagya scheme by constructing 350 Krishi Hondas.
Rajshekar Hitnal, zilla panchayat president, Venkataraja, Chief Executive Officer, were among other elected representatives and officers to accompany the Minister in Koppal.
