Panel to assess soil erosion in north Karnataka
Credit facilities for procurement of seeds in drought-hit districts
Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar has said the effect of floods in certain parts of north Karnataka is serious, as the top soil has been washed away. A committee comprising soil experts would be constituted by the Centre to assess the extent of damage.
Speaking to reporters at the inauguration of the state-of-the-art semen station at the Central Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute at Hessaraghatta in Bangalore on Saturday, the Union minister said, the committee members and experts have been shortlisted to examine the flood-affected areas. A delegation led by KPCC President R V Deshpande had met him recently and apprised him of the top soil erosion in the flood-affected parts of the State, he said. Pawar said the recommendations and suggestions to be made by the committee would be brought to the notice of the Planning Commission.
On the rising prices of sugar and pulses, Pawar admitted that there was indeed a shortage of these commodities. “For the last ten years we have been importing these two commodities and the present situation is temporary. There is a considerable gap between the domestic production and domestic requirement which is the main reason for the situation,” he admitted.
The Union minister also said that credit facilities will be provided to the drought-hit districts for procurement of seeds. Due to rains, the kharif crops have been destroyed and the minister assured that the coverage of rabi crops has increased. Wheat, rice, pulses, oilseeds and sugarcane are the commodities which are in demand and are facing acute shortage.
The Union minister assured that the rains in September and in the first two weeks of October has improved the water reservoir situation in many states. The situation is promising and would improve, and the crops evaluation seems to be good, he added.
