CM adopts PM's mantra for agriculture growth

'Caste system is stagnant and a hindrance to promoting humanity'

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah adopted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oft repeated mantra ‘lab to land’ for progress of agriculture during the inaugural function of Sri Shivaratri Shivayogi fair, here, on Friday.

After inaugurating Sri Shivaratrishwara Shivayogi fair, here, on Friday, he said agriculture should be made attractive to retain the youth in villages and to avoid villages from becoming home to only senior citizens.

“In 1947, around 82 per cent of the total population of India was residing in villages, now it has come down to 60 per cent due to migration to urban areas in search of livelihood. Scientists should strive for value addition to agriculture produce to make the agrarian activity profitable. So, ‘lab to land’ and ‘land to lab’ cycle should be initiated. Research outcomes should reach the farmers and they should be tested on farmlands and the problems should be again fixed in the labs,” he said.

Pointing out that online trading of agriculture produce has been introduced in around 30 APMCs in the State to minimise the role of middlemen and make farming profitable, Siddaramaiah claimed that it was a first-of-its-kind experiment in the nation and was being replicated in other States.

Citing the election code of conduct in view of the Zilla and Taluk Panchayat polls, he diverted to beliefs, culture and traditions and slightly towards spirituality.

“Customs and traditions should be followed for the benefit of humankind and the society and they should not be followed blindly. Since my student days, I am against superstition, but not against customs and traditions. My only concern is that beliefs should not harm the society. I strongly believe in Basavanna’s preachings and Sharana Samskruthi. One’s birth is not in one’s control, but one should die as a human being — irrespective of caste, creed and religion,” he said.

Stating that the crux of Hinduism is tolerance, he said caste system was stagnant and was a hindrance in promoting humanity. Recalling his childhood, he said, during holidays to school, when he went home, he would not get food if he did not do household and farm chores. “It was not because of poverty, but, because my parents regarded work as worship. ‘Kayaka’ should be actually translated as ‘production’. The society will progress only when all the members become productive,” Siddaramaiah added.

Code of conduct
Speaking about the election code of conduct, he said, it is actually a hindrance to development. “Since I assumed office as the chief minister, the State has been facing elections continously. So, many development works are lagging behind,” he said.

Making a mockery of the eroding human values, the chief minister said it reflected even in sports and games. “As children we used to play a lot of desi games and stayed heathy, now cards game is a favourite pastime among many people,” he quipped.

Member of Parliament from Chamarajanagar R Dhruvanarayan presented prizes to six farmers, who have achieved higher yields in paddy, tomatoes and plantains.