Addressing reporters at Shegunshi village of Athani taluk, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said: “We will promulgate an ordinance within two days to ban use of Endosulfan in the State.”
The government has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking nationwide ban on the pesticide. Farmers’ meet on May 7.
On shortage of seeds, Yeddyurappa told the farmers not to panic as Agriculture Minister Umesh Katti has discussed the issue with the authorities concerned. Vice-Chancellors and experts from the agriculture universities will guide farmers on cropping pattern and innovative technologies and methods of cultivation at a farmers’ convention slated for May 7 at Davangere, the chief minister said.
The universities would be asked to introduce diploma courses to facilitate the youth to take up agriculture as a profession, he added.
On demand for conserving local variety of cotton, he said the farmers needed to be sensitised on the issue. Nearly, 10 lakh farmers have been identified for financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to be given in two phases for adopting organic farming.