Global farmers meet in May: Yeddyurappa

Mangalore Today News Network

Karkala, Feb 7: The government is all set to organise a ‘Global Farmers Meet’ in the month of May/June on the lines of ‘Global Investors Meet’ to call for investments from corporate and industrial world on centers helping out farmers, informed Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade honouring Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa at the valedictory of Krishi Mela at Bajagoli in Karkala on Sunday. Udupi District-in-Charge Minister Dr V S Acharya looks on. DH photoDelivering the valedictory address at the 31st Krishi Mela, organised by Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Programme (SKDRDP) here on Sunday, he said the government as a measure to express its liability to betterment of farmers, has decided to present a separate agriculture budget on February 24. For the first time in the history of State, a separate ‘Krishi Budget’ will offer loans to farmers at one per cent interest rate instead of current 3 per cent. Before presenting the budget, he would discuss the demands/resolutions adopted at Krishi Mela here to incorporate the same, he added.

“As a son of a farmer, I will never let down our farmers. My government’s intension is to make farmers economically self reliant and not to make them stretch their hands at others for help but to extend their hands to help others,” he said.

Assuring the pledges towards the resolutions submitted at Mela, Yeddyurappa announced that the government will establish cold storage units at 15 districts this year in the state for the preservation of vegetables and other agricultural growths produced by farmers. “The government will set up a board in undivided Dakshina Kannada district for the study of diseases which had affected the coconut and arecanut crop. The project will be taken up without central government’s assistance,” he added.

He said Paschima Vahini project will be given impetus. In addition to the funds of Rs 100 crore made already available in the last budget for ‘Paschima Vahini’ scheme, another Rs 100 crore would be made available in the coming budget, he said.

Yeddyurappa announced Rs 5 crore for the study of ‘Soubhagya Sanjeevini’ scheme and Rs 25 lakh for renovation of Suryanarayana temple at Naravi in Karkala taluk. He assured that he will consider revival of the scheme to assist Self Help Groups (SHGs) for managing the cashew farms of the Cashew Development Board which was in force for last two years. Yeddyurappa also assured to set up internet centers for having direct contact with those industries which procure farm produces to avoid middlemen problem, he added. DHNS