Ktk to adopt SC/ST small land holding farmers

Bangalore, Feb 11 (PTI): Karnataka Government hasdecided to adopt SC/ST families who owns less than one acre ofland and provide them with all facilities to take upagricultural operations including borewell for irrigationunder ''Ganga Kalayan scheme.''

The government would be bringing one lakh SC families and50,000 ST families under the scheme from this year,Agriculture Minister Umesh Katti told reporters here.

There are 76 lakh farmers engaged in farming in the stateand SCs account for eight lakh and STs five lakh, he said.

The chosen families would get free of cost agriculturalimplements, sowing seeds and two oxen, Katti said.

As against the target of 120 tons,food production duringthis year has exceeded by five tons touching 125 tons due togood rains.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is all set to present thestate''s first ever agriculture budget on February 24, he said.

Yeddyurappa is also presenting the state''s 2011-12budget on that day.