New agri policy for Karnataka on Nov 1

The state government will announce the new agriculture policy on November 1. Karnataka agriculture minister Bandeppa Kashempur told reporters here that the new policy will aim at upgrading the agriculture department to disseminate the knowledge and fruits of research to farmers.

The government will appoint agriculture scientists at each Raitha Samparka Kendra in the state.

Kashempur inaugurated the 18th Krishi Mela at the University of Agricultural Sciences. The minister distributed free carts and agriculture equipment to farmers under the subsidy scheme.

Karnataka horticulture minister Shashikant Naik said the government was considering setting up the horticulture university in North Karnataka. A decision in this regard will be taken soon.

Naik said that the National Horticulture Mission was in force in 15 districts of Karnataka. The state has also sent a proposal of Rs 200 crore on implementing the mission.

He informed that horticulture occupied 12 per cent of the cultivated land in Karnataka and contributed 40 per cent of the total farm output.

The minister has also promised Rs 40 crore for setting up a floriculture park and the construction of cold storage in North Karnataka. He will discuss the proposal to extend the subsidy scheme for drip irrigation to North Karnataka with the chief minister.

The four-day Krishi Mela is expected to attract over four lakh people from across North Karnataka and Maharashtra. The mela will be extended by another day depending on people's response.

The mela will showcase modern equipment, new variety of seeds and breeds, animal show, flower, fruit and vegetable show, and farmer-to-farmer interaction sessions.