'State promoting zero-investment farming'

Agriculture Minister N H Shivashankar Reddy said, “The government will release the second installment of money to the cooperative banks by the end of December or January.”

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating Raitha Dasara at Kote Anjaneyaswamy temple, Reddy said, the government has already released the first installment and the process is under way to release the second installment by January.

Later, addressing the gathering at J K grounds, the minister said, "Though farmers have adopted agricultural techniques, they are still facing problems and challenges in the field. As the profit is less when compared to the investment, the farmers, who are unable to repay the debt, resort to extreme steps like suicides. Hence, the government, as promised, waived Rs 48,000 crore loans availed of by the farmers. But, incidents of suicides are still being reported. Farmers should be ready to face challenges,” he said.

By bringing changes in the agricultural policies, the government is implementing the Zero Investment Farming programme and is also pursuing implementation of Israel's farming technology in the state to help the farmers, the minister said.

District in-charge minister G T Devegowda, Tourism and Sericulture Minister Sa Ra Mahesh, were also present during the inaugural ceremony.