Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture and Forest departments have been directed to chalk out a detailed project report suggesting alternative crops for tobacco and measures to convince tobacco growers to take up alternative crops. Chairing a Karnataka Development Programme review meeting here on Monday, Pushpavathi Amarnath, president of Mysuru zilla panchayat, requested Deputy Director of Sericulture Y. Chigri to evolve a project co-ordinating with the other three departments. M. Mahanteshappa, Joint Director (Agriculture), said that a few farmers had tried couple of alternative crops but failed to get remunerative prices.
Mr. Chigri said that tobacco was grown under rain-fed conditions in Mysuru and therefore it was difficult for growers to crops that needed irrigation. If irrigation was provided, the farmers could be convinced to take up alternative crops. Ms. Amarnath asked the heads of the four departments to hold meetings with tobacco growers and chalk out a scheme for this. She expressed concern over the failure of many departments in ensuring 33 per cent reservation benefit to women in different schemes and programmes. She expressed her disappointment over some departments not furnishing information about progress in this regard. The absence of adequate bed and blanket facilities in Morarji Desai schools and hostels for backward communities also figured at the meeting.
