Mysuru: “The Government will provide farmer-centric programmes in the coming days,” said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Speaking after inaugurating the Krishi Mela here on Friday January 27, he said that farmers are living in uncertainty and programmes must be chalked out to bring certainty to them. This will be given due importance in the coming Budget. There is a scientific system to fix loans for land but the banks don’t follow it. Need of the hour is to bring the overall changes for the integrated rural agriculture-based farming and for which a new scheme is formulated,” he said.
He said farmers are facing problems in the distribution of seeds and fertilisers and that will be addressed by formulating a scheme for small and marginal farmers. Instructions are given to submit a scientific report to hike the loan limit for farmers. After the receipt of the report steps will be taken to hike the loan limit in the Budget. With regard to farmers’ crops, a scientific report is required based on the rainfall pattern in the last ten years and that report must be implemented. It will reduce loss to farmers,” he noted.
He said Rs. 500 Crore will be transferred through DBT into the bank accounts of farmers on January 31 towards the subsidy for the machinery and diesel. The Yashaswini Scheme has been relaunched since last year and as many as 36 Lakh farmers have registered their names and Rs. 300 Crore has been released. Instructions are given to make the suitable changes in the Scheme to suit the present-day medical system,” he added.
“This year, 31 lakh farmers are given loans through the cooperative institutions and an additional 3 lakh farmers will be given loans. A number of thoughts are being translated into programmes. Climate change will impact agriculture as well as Agri-related research. Both farmers and Government must make changes accordingly to face the challenges. Climate change and Covid have thrown a big challenge to world food security. The neighbouring nations are facing severe food shortages but the picture is quite contrary in India where there is food security. The country is in a position to feed 133 Crore people due to the hard work of farmers. The life of farmers has not changed and the Government must think about it,” he stressed.
