In the wake of various initiatives taken by the government, the State had emerged as a major pulse-growing centre in the country, Minister for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda has said.
Formally inaugurating the annual Krishi Mela organised by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, on Sunday evening, he said that of the total agriculture produce, pulses accounted for 40 per cent.
The Minister said that hitherto various pulses, including Bengal gram, tur, green gram and black gram, were cultivated in over 7.5 lakh hectares in the State annually. But the cultivation area under pulses had increased to 12 lakh hectares this year.
Referring to the slump in the market at the time of arrivals in the market, Mr. Krishna Byre Gowda said that green gram grown extensively during kharif season faced a price drop this year and to protect farmers, the State government announced minimum support price.
He said that procurement centres had also been set up to procure green gram from farmers.
Considering the forecast that tur and Bengal gram might undergo a similar phase, the State government had initiated a process to protect the interests of farmers, he said.
He said that soon minimum support price would be announced for tur and Bengal gram and procurement centres would be set up to procure them from farmers.
Mr. Byre Gowda said that to encourage farmers to take up cultivation of jowar for the rabi season, the government would announce a support price of Rs. 2,100 and after procurement, it would be distributed through the Public Distribution System.
Launching the Climate Farm Mobile Application conceptualised by H. Venkatesh and developed by UAS, Dharwad, Minister for Mines and Geology and District-in-charge Vinay Kulkarni emphasised the need for suitable adaptation of technology in farming and allied activities. He also highlighted the need for having farm ponds and said that 3,400 farm ponds had been constructed in Dharwad district.
Various books related to farm sciences were released on the occasion.
MLA B.R. Yavagal, MLC Srinivas Mane, the former MP I.G. Sanadi, president of the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat Chaitra Shirur, Vice-Chancellor of UAS, Dharwad, D.P. Biradar and others were present.
The Krishi Mela is attracting people in large numbers and the police had a difficult time on Sunday evening in streamlining the vehicular movement on the roads leading to the venue.