State launches efforts to boost farm output

In an effort to increase the agriculture output in the state, the Karnataka government has launched a series of programmes during 2010-11. In this direction, the state government is also contemplating to bring out an ‘Karnataka Agri-Business Development Policy’ this year to attract more investments into agri-processing and value addition sectors through a public-private partnership (PPP) mode including promotion of agri-logistic parks.

The state has set a target of 12.37 million tonnes of foodgrain production for 2010-11, a growth of 16 per cent over the actual production last year. For the present year, a targeted to produce 11.26 million tonnes of cereals and 1.10 million tonnes of pulses have been set. Production target with respect to oilseeds, sugarcane, tobacco and cotton has been proposed at 1.76 million tonnes, 20.5 million tonnes, 85,000 tonnes and 918,000 bales, respectively.

According to officials in the state department of agriculture, the state has extended the Bhoochethana programme to nine more districts during the present year covering 1.27 million hectares. The programme is aimed at increasing crop productivity 35 per cent in the targeted areas.

The programme will be implemented in the districts of Bidar, Bijapur, Chamarajanagar, Gadag, Gulbarga, Bangalore Rural, Hassan, Davanagere and Raichur. The programme, introduced last year, covered 225,000 hectares in Haveri, Dharwad, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts.

“We have proposed to undertake stratified soil sampling by GIS-based soil mapping and issue of soil health cards to enhance yields of rainfed crops by at least 20 per cent through adoption of the best technologies in two important rainfed crops in each district,” officials said.

To achieve higher productivity of paddy, it has been proposed to implement the Accelerated Rice Development Programme (ARDP) over 32,000 hectares in the selected 640 villages of seven NFSM (National Food Security Mission) rice districts. It is targeted to achieve 30 per cent increase in the existing yield.

Major intervention proposed are popularisation of HYV and red rice varieties through better seed supply management, promoting in-situ green manuring and balanced nutrient management, lime application of 500 kg per hectare, use of bio-fertiliser and micro-nutrients, integrated pest management among others.

The state is also promoting organic farming on 71,000 hectares with 52,000 farmers, who have enrolled on a voluntary basis.

Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa recently said the state has launched the ‘Jalasiri’ campaign for water recharge in villages with a target of 200,000 water harvesting structures like check dams and bandharas at a cost of Rs 500 crore. It is setting up the Antharaganga Micro-irrigation Corporation to focus on drip irrigation.

The state is actively considering introduction of a Groundwater Regulatory Bill. On the other hand, the state is in the process of formulating integrated water resources management (IWRM) project with Asian Development Bank assistance, he said in his address at National Development Council meeting.