Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Rs. 33 cr. for varsities for research under tank project

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE NOV. 15. The State Government and the universities of agricultural sciences in Bangalore and Dharwad on Friday signed a Memorandum of Agreement to conduct research under the World-Bank-aided Rs. 670 crore Community Tank Management Project.

Speaking at a function here, the Home and Minor Irrigation Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, said Rs. 33 crore had been set aside for research, and it was the Government's gift to both the universities. However, it was the responsibility of the universities to increase agriculture and horticulture production and the incomes of families in communities which were dependent on tank systems, he added.

Mr. Kharge said field officers should convince farmers about the importance of reconstruction and rejuvenation of 2,000 tanks in 34 taluks. Efforts should be made to get maximum benefits at a minimum cost. Extension and field officers should stay in villages and give farmers detailed information about crops, cropping patterns, use of technology, seeds, and farming methods, he added.

He said work on 26 tanks had been completed, and the project covered nine districts spread over six agro-climatic regions.

The Agriculture Minister, V.S. Koujalagi, stressed the importance of research in agriculture and horticulture, and called upon officials to use funds effectively.

The Executive Director, Jala Samvardhane Yojane Sangha, Madangopal, said the universities would undertake research in drought-prone areas. The research was aimed at promoting alternative income-generating activities for members of local tank communities who had no access to land in the command areas of tanks. Enterprises such as fisheries and milk production would be given priority, he added.

The research of the universities would focus on developing new technologies suited to the general conditions found in tank areas and the dependent communities. This would be taken up through pilot projects and studies on efficient irrigation methods, conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, innovative equipment for desilting tanks, and pilot technologies for development of crops that had comparative advantage in the State.

Under the research project, 436 trainers would provide training to 4,000 farmers. About 10 workshops, 4,000 study tours, and 160 demonstrations related to horticulture would be conducted. Samudaya tantrika vedikes (STVs) would be set up to provide training in project districts.

The UAS, Bangalore, would take up research in the project areas of Chitradurga, Kolar, and Tumkur districts, and the UAS, Dharwad, in Bagalkot, Bellary, Haveri, Koppal, Raichur, and Bidar districts. The period of the research assignment would be 66 months. The UAS, Bangalore, would be granted Rs. 22.48 crore and the UAS, Dharwad, Rs. 10.46 crore.

B.S. Patil, Development Commissioner, and officials of the universities attended the function.

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