MoU signed in Karnataka to help farmers

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 24. The State Agriculture Marketing Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) here on Saturday with the universities of agricultural sciences in Bangalore and Dharwad to strengthen research and extension capabilities in production, processing, validation and marketing of farm produce.

The MoU envisages cooperative and collaborative research, extension and training programmes, appreciation of respective responsibilities and working towards successful achievement and objectives of the universities and the board.

Mr. H. M. Nagabhushana and Mr. Prakash Boregaon, comptrollers of the Bangalore and Dharwad universities, respectively, and the board's Managing Director, Mr. Syed Zameer Pasha, signed the MoU.

The Minister of State for Agricultural Marketing, Mr. A. B. Thimmapur, said the universities would get Rs. 40 lakhs each for research and other activities.

Dr. A. M. Krishnappa and Dr. S. A. Patil, vice- chancellors of the Bangalore and Dharwad universities, respectively, and the Vice-President of the board, Mr. Rajasekhara Patil, were present.

Mr. Thimmapur said one per cent of the income of the Agriculture Produce Market committees (APMCs) would make up the corpus of the Board. Research would be conducted to tackle the problems in marketing farm produce. The research findings would be passed on to the farmers through the APMCs. The universities would support the board to evolve an agricultural marketing policy for the State.

The agricultural research stations - 23 under the Bangalore University and 33 under the Dharwad University - and the constituent colleges under them would conduct agricultural research and extension programmes for rural people.

The salient features of the programme include promoting post- harvest management practices of agricultural and horticultural produce, and encouraging the officers and staff of the Board and the APMCs to go for higher studies in the universities.

Mr. Thimmapur said the new arrangement would help farmers compete in international market by producing quality foodgrains, flowers, fruits and vegetables. It would also help produce hybrids and new varieties of crops. There were 700 agricultural scientists in each university and they would help the farmers cultivate high- yielding crops.

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