Date:26/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/26/stories/2006052608230400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Nine lakh register for subsidised seeds

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Nine lakh small and marginal farmers have registered their names at the Raitha Samparka Kendras by paying a fee of Re. 1 each to obtain seeds at subsidised rates for the kharif season.

There are 37 lakh small and marginal farmers in the State. The seed subsidy for farmers has been increased from 50 per cent to 75 per cent this year, and it will cost the Government Rs. 75 crore. It is estimated that 3.59 lakh quintals of seeds of 13 different crops will be supplied to farmers, sources in the Directorate of Agriculture said.

The directorate has decided to distribute seeds through 750 Raitha Samparka Kendras from June 5 for the kharif season. Small and marginal farmers cultivate around 19 lakh hectares during the season, sources said.

The seeds that will be supplied are those of paddy, jowar, ragi, wheat, red gram, black gram, green gram, maize, groundnut, cotton, soya bean, sunflower and cowpea.

A total of 1.78 lakh hectares was sown till Wednesday against the normal coverage of 1.90 lakh hectares. The monsoon will set in over the State in the first week of June, sources said.