Karnataka to set up Agriculture Development Mission

Bangalore, Mar 14 (UNI) Karnataka Government today approved setting up of an Agriculture Development Mission to revive the sector with new initiatives like promoting of group holdings among farmers in the State.

Talking to newspersons here, Governor Rameshwar Thakur said the Mission would be headed by the Chief Minister, and Agriculture Minister would be the Vice Chairman.

The Mission was set up, following recommendation by a Committee headed by Principal Secretary (Finance) M R Shrinivas Murthy, he added.

Another Committee headed by the Development Commissioner would be set up for promoting better coordination and implementation of the programmes by the Mission Authority.

Mr Thakur said Rs 250 crore had been allocated in the latest budget for setting up of the Mission to revive the agriculture sector.

The Mission authority planned to promote combined holdings among the farmers to grow common crops, which are best suited to their areas to make agriculture a viable business to them.

According to latest study, the land holdings had come down and presently more than 70 per cent of the farmers were having less than two hectares, he said.

In view of the small holdings, the Government planned to form farmers groups on the lines of Self Help Groups(SHG) for women with setting up of revolving funds of Rs 10,000 for each group.

The Governor said the Committee also gave its approval to set up initially a horticutlure college in place of horticulture university in Bagalkot.

The preparatory works for setting up of the university would also be taken up simultaenously, he said adding that the Government had already released Rs eight crore for setting the university in the next two years.

The Committee also gave its approval for introducing Market Intervention Operation for Ragi and Jawar, he added.

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