Date:08/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/08/stories/2008100851290300.htm

Karnataka

KRRS foresees food crisis in 10 years

Staff Correspondent

Frame comprehensive policies to ensure food security: K.S. Puttannaiah

‘Farmers are suffering because they are not paid well for their produce’
‘Upper Bhadra Project should help tail-end farmers in Davangere too’

Chitradurga: K.S. Puttannaiah, president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, has expressed the fear that the country could face a severe food shortage within a decade if comprehensive policies are not framed to ensure food security.

He was addressing farmers at a convention organised to mark the “Sharana Samskriti Utsav” here on Tuesday. The programme was organised by the Murugharajendra Math. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa was scheduled to attend the programme, but he could not come.

Mr. Puttannaiah regretted that the farm sector, in which 67 per cent of people in the country was employed, had been neglected. “Every government has failed to accord priority to this sector. Their policies generally remain on paper and hardly ever take shape,” he said. The farmer leader said water and electricity should be given priority so that agriculture could grow.

In response to the Government’s claims that it had given huge subsidies and loans at cheaper interest rates to farmers, he urged it to assure them fair prices for their crops too. He said farmers were suffering because they were not paid well for their crops.

Mr. Puttannaiah alleged that funds released towards subsidy were being misappropriated by middlemen. He also said a few corrupt officials along with some elected representatives were responsible for the state of affairs.

In his address, Revenue Minister G. Karunakar Reddy echoed similar views and said farmer suicides could be controlled if they were given fair prices for their crops.

He claimed that the Government had helped farmers by offering them loans at an interest rate of 3 per cent as well as free electricity to those having irrigation pumpsets of up to 10 hp capacity.

“After being hit by the fertilizer shortage, the Government decided to promote organic farming to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers. The Government is making efforts to help farmers,” he said.

Agriculture Minister S.A. Ravindranath, who was present, dismissed allegations that he was against the Upper Bhadra irrigation project.

He said he was never against the project, but had only said that it should ensure that tail-end farmers of Davangere district were also benefited.

The Minister said the Government had already earmarked Rs. 3,000 crore towards its implementation.

Shivamurthy Murughaswami of the Murugha Math, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha working president Kodihalli Chandrashekar, Central Silk Board Chairman H. Hanumantappa and Davangere MP G.M. Siddeshwar were present.