Asserting that not an inch of cultivable agricultural land should be acquired for special economic zones in the State, Principal Secretary to Agriculture Department A Ramaswamy asked those farmers who do not want to part with their land for SEZs, to approach senior officials of his department in order to protect their interests.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Ramaswamy said that his department is even prepared to fight the legal battle for farmers. The Principal Secretary said the 11th five-year plan clearly stated that the consent of farmers was a prerequisite to acquire their land for SEZs.

Food production
“Moreover, the country has to improve its food production. Land is precious, and we can’t afford to lose an inch of it. If any farmer has a problem, he can contact our joint director, director or commissioner for help,” he said.

When his attention was drawn to the opposition voiced by the farmers of Nandagudi against the move to acquire their land for SEZ, Mr Ramaswamy said he was not aware of the protest. “But I will categorically say that no land belonging to the Agriculture Department is being acquired for SEZ,” he added.

On the forcible recovery of loans from farmers by ICICI Bank, the Principal Secretary stated that the State Finance Department was in touch with the bankers on the issue.

Stringent action
Moreover, the Union Finance minister had clearly said that stringent action would be initiated against banks if they were found using muscle power to recover loans.

Grain production
In view of good rainfall and more coverage area under major crops this year, it is estimated that the total grain production will be around 117 lakh tonnes (106 lakh tonnes of cereals and 11 lakh tonnes of pulses) against the target of 119.10 lakh tonnes (108.20 lakh tonnes of cereals and 15.50 lakh tonnes of pulses).

The production of oil seeds is expected to reach 15.50 lakh tonnes against the target of 20.83 lakh tonnes, Ramaswamy said. While the National Food Security (NFSM) - Rice scheme is being implemented in the State in the seven districts of Raichur, Shimoga, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Belgaum and Gadag to increase rice production, the NFSM-Pulses scheme is being implemented in 13 districts - Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur, Gadag, Mysore, Belgaum, Dharwad, Bagalkot, Bellary, Koppal, Tumkur, Raichur and Chitradurga.

The State has suggested the inclusion of Mandya and Mysore districts under NFSM-Rice scheme.