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According to estimates of Agriculture Department the production in kharif season may go down by 10 per cent against the target of 108.35 lakh tonnes for the season. The crops which are badly hit are hybrid jowar, jowar, soyabean, green gram.
Agriculture Minister S A Ravindranath told reporters in Bangalore on Wednesday that as many as 16 districts in north Karnataka received heavy rains in the last week of September and first week of October in 2009.
Earlier, 84 taluks, most of them in northern region, were reeling under drought. The minister said that production in rabi season is expected to be good as most of the tanks are re-charged following heavy rains last year.
Production of tur in Bijapur, Gulbarga and Bidar districts was better. The Tur Development Board has been purchasing tur at the rate of Rs 4,200 per quintal from farmers.
After May this year tur will be made available for the public at less price than in the market through cooperative societies and janata bazars.
Land banks
Ravindranath said the State government would acquire agriculture land only if it was inevitable for setting up industries.
When non-utilisation of already allotted land by industries was brought to his notice, the minister said, “A new law to withdraw the vacant land from industries and distribute it among poor is a better solution.” He said he would discuss the issue in the Cabinet.