BJP govt woos farmers with enhanced outlay for agri in budget

Seeking to woo farmers in an election year with a slew of measures, the BJP government in Karnataka today enhanced the budget outlay for agriculture and allied activities by 13.5 per cent to Rs 22,310 crore in 2013-14.

While continuing the scheme of free supply of electricity to the irrigation pumpsets up to 10 HP in 2013-14, Rs 5,250 crore will be provided for payment of subsidy to the electricity supply companies, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said.

Electricity consumption charges of pumpsets belonging to the already existing and working farmers lift irrigation cooperative societies up to 50 HP would be reimbursed, he said in a separate agriculture budget for 2013-14, ahead of the general budget, in the Legislative Assembly.

The scheme of providing short-term crop loan up to Rs one lakh at zero per cent interest from cooperative institutions and at three per cent from commercial banks would be continued.

Besides agriculture, this budget encompasses the sectors of sugar, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, sericulture, cooperation, agriculture market, water resources and minor irrigation.

For price support operations, funds up to Rs 1,000 crore will be facilitated in the revolving fund, Shettar said. It's the third time that the BJP government came out with a separate agriculture budget. Assembly polls are due in Karnataka in May.

Shettar announced creation of a basic database of farmers containing comprehensive information such as land-holding, category, address and facilities availed, and distributing pass books containing them.