Karnataka unveils new agriculture policy

Bangalore, Dec 14 (UNI) The Karnataka Government today unveiled its agriculture policy, the first of its kind in the country, envisaging to double agricultural production in the state in ten years.

Speaking after unveiling the policy here, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the policy enabled the state to become a significant player in the global agriculture market by increasing its production, effecting higher efficiency and greater value addition to farm produces.

He said through the policy, it was aimed not only at arresting the decline in GDP growth in agriculture sector, but also taking it to an all time high in the coming years. The contribution by agriculture to the GDP was 3.8 per cent now, but there was fear that it might come down to 1.20 per cent due to various reasons, including drought condition and insufficient marketing facility.

''Our effort is to increase the contribution to 4.5 per cent,'' he said.

Referring to increasing incidences of farmers' suicide, he said the State Government was committed to protect the interests of ryots and the issue would be taken up on a priority basis.

Mr Kumaraswamy said it was proposed to constitute a Rainfed Agriculture Commission under the chairmanship of a technically competent person for constantly designing appropriate strategies for development of rainfed agriculture. This Commission was proposed to be located in Northern Karnataka.

Stating that the present policy on utilisation of water for agriculture was not properly implemented, he said there was a need for introducing a scientific way of utilising the available water to improve yield per acre.

Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who was also present, said the Centre had been pressurised to make available farm loans at four per cent interest rate through nationalised banks as was done in the state.

The highlights of the new agriculture policy included renaming of the Agriculture Department as Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, fixing agricultural growth rate target at 4.5 per cent per annum, timely access to credit, post-harvest value addition and least time lag between 'Lab and land', focus on creating opportunities for farmers to enhance their net income and employment to a respectable level and making agriculture an attractive proposition.

The new policy also envisaged allowing private-public partnership in agriculture education and increasing investment in rural farm and non-farm enterprises by five per cent per annum.

UNI MSP GD SRS DS1655