Registration for ragi procurement in Karnataka to start by end of September: Agriculture Minister
By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Minister for Agriculture N. Cheluvarayaswamy has said that the government of Karnataka would begin procurement of ragi (millets) early this year by starting registration of farmers by September-end and procurement taking place during October and November.
Speaking after the inauguration of the four-day Krishi Mela at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on September 15, Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy said that the decision was taken in consultation with the CM in the wake of problems being faced by farmers due to delay in procurement of ragi in 2024.
The Minister said that it had been decided to procure other millets at the same price as ragi, and the decision would benefit the farmers across Karnataka.
Emphasising that the State Government had prioritised agriculture and released adequate grants to the farm sector, he said progressive farmers had showed that agriculture is viable.
Labour Minister and district-in-charge minister Santosh Lad said that while the ₹55,000 crore grant released to guarantee schemes was highlighted, people should also know that ₹83,000 crore was being released for various development programmes with ₹65,000 crore being utilised for education alone.
Mr. Lad said that Karnataka is the only State in India, which under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, had earmarked ₹1.20 lakh crore every year for various social security schemes. None of the BJP-ruled States were doing this, he added.
Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti said that while cases of farmers’ suicides were on the decline, efforts are required to ensure zero farmer suicide. He said that if farm universities became more active, then finding solutions to the problems of the farmers would become easier.
A new mobile application ‘Krishidhaare’ which will help farmers by giving them information on weather related issues was launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The agriculture minister released various publications of the university.
