Three flights to take off from Mysore airport soon: Minister

Goa, Hbad, Chennai probable destinations

Medical education and district in-charge minister S A Ramdas announced three different airlines would be offering services in the city by the end of June.

Ramdas said the three airlines would fly to Hyderabad, Chennai and Goa via Bangalore.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the horticulture college at Yelachanahalli in Yelawala on the outskirts of the city on Tuesday.

Observing that work on construction of a cold storage unit would be taken up within the next four months, Ramdas said the cold storage unit would be built near the airport as it would help farmers transfer their products to the international market.

He said the government has set aside Rs one crore for the construction of the cold storage unit.

Citing an example of how foreigners were competing with Indian products, Ramdas said, earlier Nanjangud rasabale was widely known across the world and fetched a high price.

An Israeli agriculture minister on his visit to the city tasted Nanjangud rasabale and decided to grow it in his home country. Now, Israelis are competing in the global market to provide Nanjangud variety rasabales, he added.

Co-ordination required

Speaking on the occasion, leader of opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah urged the horticulture and agriculture departments to co-ordinate in order to give farmers the maximum benefit.

He suggested setting up of a co-ordination committee headed by senior officer, which would help farmers gain profitability.

Stressing on the importance of planned agriculture, Siddaramaiah said farmers need to let go of old methods and instead embrace new technology.

Recalling the incident of farmers facing losses due to fall in prices of turmeric and ginger, Siddaramaiah urged horticulture minister S A Ravindranath to talk to central government and ask them to procure both polished and unpolished turmeric.

He also demanded that the state government procure ‘Jyothi paddy’, which agriculture department had refused to procure at present.

Horticulture minister S A Ravindranath, MLA M Satyanarayana, MLC Veeranna Mattikatti, horticulture college dean J Venkatesh, horticulture university vice-chancellor S B Dandin and others were present.