' 75 lakh released for arecanut growers'

Speaking at a meeting held to discuss on the package for yellow leaf disease affected arecanut plantations in Sampaje on Saturday, he said the government has released the amount in the first phase. To check yellow leaf disease affecting arecanut, the farmers must come forward to supply nutrients to the plants by going for organic farming.

He said under National Horticulture Mission, the growers whose plantations are affected with Yellow Leaf Disease can grow horticulture crops like cocoa, pepper, banana, ginger, tapioca, beetle leaves and pineapple. About five thousand acre arecanut plantations in Sampaje have been affected with yellow leaf disease. The small and marginal farmers who own plantations within five acre land will get 50 per cent financial assistance to grow alternative crops. In the second phase, additional funds would be released, said Ravi Kushalappa. Horticulture department Deputy Director Ravi, Assistant Director Pramod, Zilla Panchayat Standing Committee on Agriculture and Industry Babbeera Saraswathi also spoke.

Sampaje Gram Panchayat President Balachandra Kalagi presided. Arecanut growers Ganapathy, Purushotham, Shivaram spoke on the problems faced by the arecanut growers.