Areca growers to get subsidy
Bangalore, dhns: The State government on Tuesday announced a subsidy of Rs 10 crore for arecanut growers facing a distress situation following “Kole roga” (fruit rot disease) affecting plantations and heavy rains.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with arecanut growers from seven districts in Bangalore, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the government will extend a subsidy of Rs 10 per kg of arecanut up to ten quintals to growers.

He said an expert committee will be set up to study the fruit rot disease which had affected crops this season.
Arecanut growers had expressed fear over the “yellow-leaf” disease that may affect plantations later this year. 

Ryots’ talk with stakeholders
Bangalore, dhns: About 50 farmers from various farmers’ associations of Toobgere, Doddaballapur taluk interacted with stakeholders on Tuesday to discuss various aspects of farming. They are covered under the ‘Rural bio resource complex project’, funded by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology. They expressed concern over marketing of crops as their profits went to the middlemen.

The stakeholders have constituted eight associations to market their products in which there will be no involvement of middlemen.