Mangalore: To encourage paddy cultivation using technology based mechanizations, Minister of State for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda said the department should provide modern technology, developed breeds and mechanization utilities to farmers. He instructed the officials of the department to spend time in the paddy fields with the farmers.
Chairing a review meeting at the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat here on Tuesday, the minister said farmers in other districts of the state grow an average of 35 to 40 quintals of paddy, while its around 16 quintals in Dakshina Kannada. Although, the environment is different to other districts, with the help of modern technologies, and improved seeds, the yield can be increased to at least, 25 quintals.
He also said the agriculture department is worried on how much money has been sanctioned and spent, rather than the very important aspect of encouraging paddy cultivation. ‘It’s not a sales department. Our intention is to inform farmers on new methods of cultivation, improved seeds, modern technologies used for agriculture, he said.
Minister Byre Gowda said the State government would submit a comprehensive report seeking compensation for loss of crops and properties due to rain from the Union government in a few days.
Gowda said crops worth Rs 56 crore had been damaged in the state, while the total rain-related loss was about Rs 426 crore. The State has to get Rs 266 crore from the Centre through national disaster relief fund.
We have asked for reports from the different district authorities and the report will be forwarded to the centre, he said.
Health Minister U.T Khader, MLA Mohiuddin Bava, DC A.B Ibrahim, ZP CEO Tulasi Maddineni were present.
