The State Government came under criticism by opposition members in the Legislative Council for its alleged failure to utilise the grants provided by the Centre under the National Horticulture Mission.

It all began when Horticulture Minister Sashikanth Akkappa Naik, replying to a question raised by S M Anand (Cong), said that the State had utilised only Rs 29.54 crore of the total Rs 89.4 crore grants provided by the Centre for improvement in the horticulture sector for 2006-07.

Slow progress

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H K Patil alleged that inaction on the part of the government had resulted in slow progress of the scheme.

To which, the Minister stated that shortage of staff in the Horticulture Department was the main reason. However, the government had already prepared special packages for horticulture development in Kodagu, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Hassan, Chitradurga and Belgaum.

To another question by D M Puttegowda (Cong), Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Kashempur said the State Government had limited control over stabilising the prices of cash crops as it largely depended on the export and import policy of the Centre.  Higher imports of arecanut, coconut, oilseeds, onion, sugar and other products will badly affect the State farmers, he noted.