'Take up integrated farming to bring in sustainability'

Ramanath Rai inaugurates 'Krishi Siri' as part of Vishwa Nudisiri

Agriculture University (Bangalore) Vice-Chancellor Dr K Narayana Gowda has called upon farmers to take up integrated farming to bring in susuainability. 

Speaking at ‘Krishi siri’ held as a part of Krishi Mela at Alva’s Vishwa Nudisiri Virasat organised by the Alva’s Education Trust and SKDRDP, here at Moodbidri on Friday, he said that though agriculture was the back bone of the country, it is not a profitable venutre. “If farmers make use of modern technology in farming, then farming can become profitable even for a small holding.”

“We need to attract youth to agriculture. Paddy has given way to rubber and arecanut plantations. It is essential to increase productivity per acre. M4 variety of paddy which is suited for undivided Dakshina Kannada district yields 30 quintal per acre. With mechanisation, farmers have attained success in their farm.” 

He said, “farmers should constitute producers’ society to decrease production cost and to overcome the problems of shortage of labourers.”

Minister for Youth Services and Sports Abhayachandra Jain said that crores of rupees are spent for providing irrigation facilities in North Karnataka. No major irrigation facilities have been provided to the farmers of undivided Dakshina Kannada so far. All efforts will be made to earmark funds to implement Paschima Vahini scheme to irrigate acres of farm land in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, during the next budget. 
Minister for Urban Development Vinaya Kumar Sorake said that the solution to the problems pertaining to the deemed forest in the proposed Varahi project area is underway. The project will provide irrigation facilities to 8,000 acres of agriculture land. 

Sorake said that there was a need to instill self confidence among farmers at a time when farmers are reeling under distress.

On the rumour of proposed ban on arecanut, the Minister said that the State government has decided to file an affidavit in Supreme Court pertaining to arecanut issue claiming that arecanut has medicinal values. 

In his presidential address, Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade said that farmers are moving away from agriculture. “Farmers should have patience to achieve success in farming. Owing to lack of marketing facilities and shortage of labourers, many youth are not showing keen interest in it.” 

Under SKDRDP, there is a programme to take up farming in unused land in Dakshina Kannada and other districts of the state. Through Arecanut Research Development Foundation, SDM Ayurveda College Research wing, and SKDRDP will make an effort to carry out research on areca, to prove that it has no harmful substances in it. 

‘Bhoomigeethe’ by Bhagavan was released on the ocasion. District-in-Charge Minister Ramanath Rai, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader, MP Nalin Kumar, SCDCC Bank Chairman Rajendra Kumar, and others were present. 

‘Jeevandhar Kumar’ from Hosmane in Yedapadavu, Arun Kumar S R from Shettikere in Tumkur, P T Jose from Mudoor in Kundapur taluk and Shyamanna Nayak from Odilnala in Belthangady were honoured for their achievements in farming sector.