Bengaluru: The farmers of 19 major crop growing districts have received free micro kits worth Rs 12.6 crore including seeds for sowing as part of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) initiative, according to Agricultural Minister B.C Patil.
They are given Toor Daal, groundnut, and soybean seeds as part of the scheme, Patil told the media persons. “They are urged to grow a variety of other crops as part of this programme. Food grain production in the year 2020 – 21 was 153.08 lakh hectacres, which is around 2% higher than the national average and 10% higher in Karnataka than the state average,” said the minister.
“The growth of food grain production occurred despite the Covid – 19-induced lockdown and decline in the economy, for which credit goes to the farmers. This year, the goal is to sow foodgrains on 77 lakh hectacres during the monsoon season, with 11.73 lakh hectacres already taken for sowing,” he added.
The state has distributed 7.74 lakh quintals of seed and has 1.15 lakh quintal seed stock at farmer contact centres in response to a demand for six lakh quintals of sowing seed. Between April and June, total fertiliser demand was 12.78 lakh metric tonnes, with 8.02 lakh MT delivered.
