<p>Medical education and district in-charge minister S A Ramdas said waiving of farm loans has been discussed at the cabinet and mid-term loans are converted into long term loans.<br /><br /></p>.<p>He was speaking to meda on Saturday at Dharmapura, Hunsur taluk, after visiting drought-affected villages. <br /><br />Although queries of media persons stressed on whether loans would be waived, he said mid-term loans are converted into long term loans and that banks were directed not to pressurise farmers for repayment.<br /><br />Alternative crops<br /><br />He said, if it rains within another four days, farmers would be supported with essential seeds and fertilisers for alternative crops. <br /><br />“Rainfall now would not be a solution to the problems, but could serve the needs of cattle as the crops have already been destroyed.”<br /><br />He said the government and the district administration were equipped to face the drought situation. <br /><br />He said, the district had suffered about 80 per cent of crop loss. He said measures would be taken to provide water for cattle immediately. <br /><br />Drinking water<br /><br />“Drinking water issues at villages bordering forests would be looked into and appropriate measures to provide water for wild animals would be considered.”<br /><br />Elaborating on fodder, he said, there was no fodder shortage in the district. There are six lakh cattle in the district and fodder is sufficient for another 10 weeks. <br /><br />The minister said, previously it was thought that only Mysore taluk was affected by drought, but studies have revealed that Hunsur and H D Kote taluks were also suffering due to severe drought. He said, failure of rainfall in April was the main cause for drought.<br /><br />Speaking on crop insurance, Ramdas said, unlike Haveri and other districts, Mysore farmers were negligent about crop insurance. Only 1.5 per cent of farmers have insured their crops.<br /><br />Deputy commissioner P S Vastrad, Hunsur MLA H P Manjunath, MLC Siddaraju, zilla panchayat member Pushpavathi Amarnath, Hunsur taluk panchayat president Chandrakala, joint director for agriculture K R Krishnaiah, assistant commissioner Basavaraj and others were present.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Medical education and district in-charge minister S A Ramdas said waiving of farm loans has been discussed at the cabinet and mid-term loans are converted into long term loans.<br /><br /></p>.<p>He was speaking to meda on Saturday at Dharmapura, Hunsur taluk, after visiting drought-affected villages. <br /><br />Although queries of media persons stressed on whether loans would be waived, he said mid-term loans are converted into long term loans and that banks were directed not to pressurise farmers for repayment.<br /><br />Alternative crops<br /><br />He said, if it rains within another four days, farmers would be supported with essential seeds and fertilisers for alternative crops. <br /><br />“Rainfall now would not be a solution to the problems, but could serve the needs of cattle as the crops have already been destroyed.”<br /><br />He said the government and the district administration were equipped to face the drought situation. <br /><br />He said, the district had suffered about 80 per cent of crop loss. He said measures would be taken to provide water for cattle immediately. <br /><br />Drinking water<br /><br />“Drinking water issues at villages bordering forests would be looked into and appropriate measures to provide water for wild animals would be considered.”<br /><br />Elaborating on fodder, he said, there was no fodder shortage in the district. There are six lakh cattle in the district and fodder is sufficient for another 10 weeks. <br /><br />The minister said, previously it was thought that only Mysore taluk was affected by drought, but studies have revealed that Hunsur and H D Kote taluks were also suffering due to severe drought. He said, failure of rainfall in April was the main cause for drought.<br /><br />Speaking on crop insurance, Ramdas said, unlike Haveri and other districts, Mysore farmers were negligent about crop insurance. Only 1.5 per cent of farmers have insured their crops.<br /><br />Deputy commissioner P S Vastrad, Hunsur MLA H P Manjunath, MLC Siddaraju, zilla panchayat member Pushpavathi Amarnath, Hunsur taluk panchayat president Chandrakala, joint director for agriculture K R Krishnaiah, assistant commissioner Basavaraj and others were present.<br /><br /></p>
