Policy initiatives

As per the Dharwad declaration Karnataka Agriculture commission was constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. R.Dwarakinath. This commission has submitted five reports to the Government. As per the recommendations, steps have been taken to popularize hybrid rice and take up Bt. Cotton on trail basis. State Level Media Co-Ordination Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of development commissioner regarding enrichment of farm telecast. Steps have been taken to adopt bio-technology, also. To provide better minimum support prices for the agricultural commodities, Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission has started functioning under the Chairmanship of Dr.S.Bisaliah, Ex-Vice Chancellor of UAS, and Bangalore. To assess the impact on the State’s economy after the implementation of GATT agreement, WTO Cell has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr.Premnath, Rtd. Asst. Director General. FAO The committee has already submitted its interim report to the Government regarding steps to be initiated for the protection of farmers’ interests.

Important achievements by Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture has the objective of improving production and productivity of crop plants through the extension of new crop production technologies and helping the provisioning of Quality inputs. It is a matter of pride to state that during the year 2000-01, the Karnataka state produced 104 lakh tones of food grains in the state, which is a record achievement. There are severe constraints on Karnataka Agriculture. Next to Rajasthan largest extent of arid lands are located in Karnataka 70% of the cultivated lands are under rain fed agriculture. Therefore Agriculture in the state in highly risk prone. The drought of Khariff 2002 caused untold misery to the farming community of the state. However, efforts have been made in the last two and a half years to improve agriculture in Karnataka. The Department of Agriculture implemented many policy initiatives mentioned above. Apart from continuing the implementation of routine plan schemes some of the important activities taken up by the Department of Agriculture are as follows.

Implementation of Raita Mitra Yojanae

The state had implemented the Training and Visit System of agricultural extension over the last three decades and this had contributed to improvement in the productivity of the crop. But, during the 1990s Karnataka agriculture experienced stagnation of growth. In order to overcome this situation and to cater to the emerging demands from the farming community the new demand driven extension scheme of Raitha Mithra Yojane is being implemented.

To make available improved technical support and inputs Raitha Samparka Kendra have been established at al the 745 Hobli Head quarters of the state. This scheme has been welcomed by the farming community of the state. In 2001-2002 over 6.68 lakh farmers have visited these demand driven extension centres and have been distributed during 2001-02. Apart from providing inputs these centres conduct soil tests and seed quality assessment also. These centres are open for popularization of technologies generated by the private agencies so long they are good and are suitable for the farming community of the state. For the first time these centres are levying user charges and have collected a sum of more than Rs 45 lakhs through their extension and other activities.

Implementation of Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana

Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana is being implemented in the State since Khariff 2000. During the current year more than 6 lakhs farmers have been brought under the purview of RKBY. Compared to the previous years the number of participating farmers has doubled. The number of Non loanee farmers who subscribed under the insurance scheme rose from about 2000 to 2,90,000 during Kharif 20001, because of the proper implementation of the Crop Insurance scheme the farmers are being paid a crop loss compensation of Rs 133 crores. This has happened for the first time in the state. During 2002 Apart from the eleven crops notified earlier new crops like Sugarcane, Cotton, Chilly, Potato, onion are also included under the scheme for the first time. For five crops hobli has been made the insurance unit. Efforts are being made to implement the scheme at Panchayat level.

Input supply

Seed is a very crucial input in Agriculture. Steps have been initiated to ensure the availability of quality seeds in the state. No major seed shortage has been reported from any part of the state in the last two and a half years. Despite an agricultural drought which affected our agriculture during Kharif 2001, steps have been taken to ensure quality seed supply. Rigorous seed quality enforcement has resulted in booking of cases on the defaulters. During Rabi 2001-02 seeds were distributed on subsidy as the crops failed due to drought during Khariff 2001. under calamity relief fund Rs.95.14 lakhs were provided and from the over all saving of the department Rs.40 lakhs were provided for this purpose.

Fertilizer is a very important input in agriculture and about 18 lakh tones of various grades are being used in the state, with the withdrawal of subsidy the use of fertilizers had gone down in the state during 93 to 98 and now the use of fertilizers has picked up. No shortage of any grade of fertilizer has been reported in the state. Steps have been initiated to popularize the use of organic fertilizers in our agriculture.

Hybrid Rice Production:

As per the recommendation of Karnataka Agriculture commission improved rice production task has been taken up with lot of enthusiasm. During Khariff 2001, 2000 qtl. of hybrid rice seed has been distributed. KRH-2, hybrid rice has been found useful. Rice hybrids from both the public as well as the private sectors have been introduced. This has been a remarkable achievement, when compared with the sales of 576 qtl. of hybrid rice during Khariff 2000

Contract Farming:

Contract fanning is coming up as a boon to the fanning community to face the market related issues. Already contract farming has started functioning in Department of Agriculture. In the event of increasing importance of food processing industries, this unit is supposed to create the awareness among the farmers and is likely to extend the contract fanning facilities to more no. of crops.

Integrated Post Management in Cotton:

Cotton crop is responsible for the 50% pesticide usage in the State. To prevent environmental pollution and get good crop, integrated pest management demonstrations are taken up on farmer’s field school (FFS) concept. On a pilot basis this task was taken up in 40 villages of either of the Raichur and Bellary talukas.

The Red headed hairy caterpillar pest had proved detrimental to Groundnut crop during Khariff 2000. During Khariff 2001, IPM activities were taken up to control this pest. An NGO was involved in the work. Through on awareness campaign precautionary measures were taken. This resulted in the control of the pest during Khariff 2002.

With the experience of loss of tur crop due to heavy infestation by tur pod borer during 1997-98, since 2000-01 precautionary measures advised by the department have enabled the control tur pod borer effectively and get better crop

Human resource development:

Training Centres play important role in the human resource development of an organization. There was different type of training centres in the department of agriculture, without effective monitoring. Now, the training centres are reorganized at State and District levels. This is aimed at providing better training facilities for the farmers and the departmental staff. Further a programme for training of Women and youth called WYTEP is being implemented for the farm women with the assistance of DANIDA. We are in the third phase of this project. Under this project importance is given for the food processing techniques, storage of food grains, and integrated nutrient management apart from role of farm women in agriculture.

National Maize Mela and Agricultural Machineries Exhibition:

The Department of Agriculture had organized National Maize Mela in collaboration with Karnataka State Agro Corn Products Ltd. at Kanteerava Indoor Stadium Bangalore during 5-7, July 2001 and National Agricultural Machineries Exhibition (NAME-2002) in association with IAT, Bangalore at KAIC Premises, and Bangalore during 2-5, May 2002. These exhibitions attracted international, national and State level producers, distributors and dealers. Thousands of farmers have availed the benefit of these unique events by their visits.

Activities of Department of Watershed Development:

Next to the state of Rajasthan, vast extents of arid lands are in Karnataka. Rainfed agricultural systems play a vital role in the state. A multidisciplinary approach is required for the development of rainfed agriculture. Looking into the needs a separate Department for the development of watershed was created in 2000-01. this department is implementing on going programmes like “National Watershed Development Project”, River Valley Project” etc., An assistance of Rs. 690 crores for the Development of Watershed has been obtained from the World Band and action has already been initiated to implement the programmes.

The Karnataka Watershed development project is also being implemented with the assistance of DFID.

Achievements of University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad:

The UAS, Dharwad caters to the research and development needs of the agriculture in Northern Karnataka. It has continued to maintain its edge over other Indian Agricultural universiites. It is a matter of great pride that UAS Dharwad was adjudged as the best Agriculture University by the ICAR. The University has won the first prize. The University is carrying all the teaching assignments and is participating in crop improvement activities as part of the ICAR network. While all the ongoing programmes are continued a few of the major and new initiatives taken up in the last two and a half years is as follows.

A new Agricultural College has started functioning at Bhimarayangudi.

An Institute of Bio-Technology has been started in Dharwad and provision has already been made for M.Sc and Phd courses. An advanced Laboratory has also been established. Steps have been initiated to conduct advance research in evolving transgenic cotton hybrid resistant to cotton boll worm.

• Development of New Varieties: Variety improvement programme of the university is progressing with great vigor. 17 varieties of various crops have been developed.

Achievements of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore:

The UAS, Bangalore caters to the research and development needs of the agriculture in Southern Karnataka. Similar to UAS Dharwad, UAS Bangalore has continued to maintain its higher standards over other Indian Agricultural universities. The university is carrying all the teaching assignments and is participating in crop improvement activities as part of the ICAR network. While all the ongoing programmes are continued a few of the major and new initiatives taken up in the last two and a half years is as follows:

• Development of Hybrid Rice: Rice has is a very important crop of the state Hybrid Rice, KRH 2 is a very important variety released for Karnataka. The Mandya research station has done extensive work on this variety and it has been released to the field. The hybrid has shown 15% yield advantage in all regions of Karnataka wherever it was grown.
• Development of Golden Rice (BR): This is a new initiative of IRRI, Philippines to develop vitamin enriched rice. University has entered into MOU with Philippines for Golden Rice (BT).

Boards and Corporations under Department of Agriculture and Horticulture:

Karnataka Agro Corm Products Ltd. Which was a loss making public sector Corporation has been turned around. It has made profits over the last two years. During 2001-202 the expected profits are about Rs 6 crores. It has launched a number of new food products with corn as a base. The products like Maize Uppitu, Maize Kesaribath, Maize flacks, have become very popular. It played a very important role in organizing Maize mela during 2001.

• Karnataka State Seeds Corporation Ltd. has continued to give its support to the farming community of Karnataka. It is a great pride to submit that this corporation produces and supplies more than 50% of the seeds of open pollinated varieties in Karnataka. The rates are competitive. It has continued to make profits during the last two years.
• Karnataka Compost Development Organization Ltd. was created with the objective of converting urban waste of Bangalore city into organic manure. The organization is highly successful in the regad. Apart from providing the service of converting toxic urban waste into non toxic organic manure, it has remained as a successful economic activity. The corporation has become self sufficient in matters of its fund requirements and is on the expansion mode.

Progress at a Glance

• 697 SHGS and 108 Micro Watershed Committees have been formed. The total fund with SHGS is Rs.22040283/-
• Total savings mobilized by SHGS is Rs. One crore 65 lakh. They have taken Rs.70 lakh financial assistance from Banks and KAWAD has given 58 lakhs as matching grants and Rs.55 lakh as assistance for non-land based activities.
• 108 Micro Watershed Committees have collected Rs.138 lakh as contribution from individual farmers for treatment of private and common lands. This amount remains with the community.
• Out of Rs.7 crore provided under land treatment activities, we have been able to spend Rs.4 crores 69 lakhs and thereby achieving a target of 70%.
• During 2002-2003 Rs.10.00 crore are earmarked for land based activities and Rs.12 crore for non-land based activities under technical co-operation grants.