Karnataka to allow private sector into Agriculture Education

Bangalore, Jun 23 (UNI) In a bid to open up Education for private institutions in Agriculture sector Karnataka State Government has planned to amend the Universities of Agriculture Sciences act, Karnataka Chief Minister Mr H D Kumaraswamy informed today.

Addressing newsmen after visiting the Country's first state-of-the-art online trading market for Fruits and Vegetables set up by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) on the outskirts of the city here Mr Kumaraswamy said the cabinet had decided to amend the act to allow private sector to impart education in Agriculture also. He revealed that some private institutions had already evinced interest to open Agriculture sciences colleges and the proposed amendment to the UAS act would enable them to start.

The Chief Minister said the government had also decided to amend the present Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) act to help farmers to get better prices for their produces. He said a bill to amend the act would be placed in the coming session of the Karnataka legislature beginning on July 5, he added.

He also visited the on line-trading market for fruits and vegetables, set up with an investment of over 160 crore, and hoped that farmers would make use of it. The market, set up in an area of over 60 acres had outdoor and indoor trading space for optimal functioning and offered services like electronic auctions, telecommunications, cold storage and warehousing facilities.

Karnataka Agriculture minister Mr Bandeppa Kashampur was also present on the occasion.

UNI