: K.M. Udupa, Managing Trustee of Bharatiya Vikas Trust, said on Friday that farmers should use scientific farming techniques to increase their produce.
He was speaking at the inaugural function of the one-day agricultural awareness programme and “Ksehtrotsava” for farmers, organized by the Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station (ZAHRS) at Brahmavar in Udupi district.
Only 25 per cent of farmers in the country were following scientific farmers. The agricultural sector had seen its heyday during the Green Revolution in the 1960s, which had made the country self sufficient in foodgrain production. But the scenario was changing, he said.
The Union and State governments should provide minimum support price to all agricultural produce. This would help the farmers, Mr. Udupa said.
Presiding over the inaugural function, C. Vasudevappa, Vice Chancellor of University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (UAHS), Shivamogga, said it was essential to give farmers confidence so that they did not commit suicide.
The government provided financial incentives to industry but hesitated to provide the same to agriculture. Though the university had started a Diploma in Agriculture at ZAHRS, there were very few local students. “We require at least 60 per cent of local students to start an agricultural college here,” he said.
Mallika Balakrishna, Arun Shetty, Gopi K. Naik, Zilla Panchayat members, Saraswati Naik, President of Chantar Gram Panchayat, Nityananda B.R., President of Varamabally Gram Panchayat, and others were present. An exhibition of various varieties of paddy, cashew, and agriculture equipment, was held at the venue.
