'Fix scientific price for agriculture products'

Parameshwar Raitha Mithrakoota inaugurated

Fixing scientific price for the crops grown by farmers and developing cold storage units will help in improving the standard of living of farmers, said Zilla Panchayat Agriculture and Industrial Standing Committee President M S Niranjan.

He was speaking after inaugurating Parameshwar Raitha Mithrakoota which has been sponsored by Kaveri Grameena Bank at Muguvalli village in Chikmagalur taluk on Friday. Due to lack of unity among the farmers, the profit is fetched by middle men. The situation has turned such that farmers toil hard, while its profit is reaped by someone else. 

Though the price of most of the products in the market is fixed by the producer, the price of agriculture produce, in contrast, is fixed by middle men. The market price of pepper which was Rs 200 per kg has increased to Rs 750, despite the ban on gutka the market rate of areca per quintal has increased to Rs 45,000 and sugar has increased from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 per quintal.

Through Raitha Koota, farmers can get good price for their yield, develop cordial relationship with various government departments, co-operative firms and financial firms, thus improve the lifestyle, he said.

Hassan Akashavani Krishi Ranga Programme Anchor Vijay Angadi said that people should be aware and have respect towards occupations like agriculture, dairy farming, horticulture etc.

We should utilise the land around us for good purpose. One should intake healthy food which will help us stay away from diseases, he said.

Kaveri Grameena Bank Regional Manager Mahadevappa Parameshwara administered oath to 112 members of Raithakoota. Thirty two government departments are working in co-ordination for the welfare of farmers. Every village has to have Raithakoota, he insisted.

NABARD Deputy General Manager Anuradha Narahari said that NABARD has been supporting the formation of Raithakoota since 1982. 

Financial aid is provided in the form of various projects through Raithakoota to improve the standard of agriculturists since 32 years, she said.