As Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has announced that he will make separate budget for the agriculture sector, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has urged the government to give priority to irrigation and power.

In a press meet on Saturday, K S Puttanaiah, president of the Rajya Raitha Sangha said the ryots welcome the Chief Minister’s initiative to give an exclusive budget to the agri sector.

However, that should not remain a mere assurance. Yeddyurappa should provide some concrete programmes which bring respite to aggrieved farmer community, he said adding that the total allocation to agri sector should be increased.

The budgetary measures should check the ryots’ and agri-labourers’ influx to cities in search of jobs and daily wage through easy loan policy and creating employment opportunities in villages and rural areas, he said.

Puttanaiah said the Raitha Sangha has submitted 20-point memorandum to the Chief Minister and hoped that the Government would implement most of the demands, including fixing a fair compensation to the farmers’ affected by floods or drought.

He urged the Government to check the menace of middleman in agriculture markets and constitute a revolving fund to help the commercial crop growers control the shaky market price.

Raithothsava

To mark the 75 years birth anniversary of farmer leader Prof M D Nanjundaswamy, the Raitha Sangha will be organising Raithothsava in Bangalore on Feb 13. The day would mark the presentation of MDN award.

It would also host eye donation camp. Choudhary Mahendra Singh Tikayat, president of Bharatiya Kisan Union would be presented the International award on the day, he added.