The Ministry of Agriculture will grant Rs 175 crore financial aid for areca farmers of Karnataka who suffered severe loss due to rot disease in the last few months, Sharad Pawar, Union Minister for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries said.
Speaking after inaugurating the three day 8th National Conference of Krishi Vigyan Kendra-2013, jointly organized by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore at GKVK campus in Bangalore on Wednesday, he said the funds would be released through National Horticulture Mission (NHM).
"Every farmer in this country is hard working. His hard work gave confidence to the government to implement Food Security Act. Farmers' capacity can be enhanced through education and training. Krishi Vigyan Kendras throughout the country are active in this respect," he said.
Today, mechanization has become inevitable to maintain sustainability in the agricultural sector. The country must adopt inventional practices to achieve agricultural growth he added.
He said the national food grain productivity level of 2,059 kg/ha in 2011-12 is 34 per cent higher than the productivity level of 2002-03.
Productivity level of small millet and core cereals has increased tremendously.
The food grain production was barely touching 200 million tonnes in 2005 with rice production stagnating at 90 million tonnes and wheat at 70 million tonnes. The cotton production was around 17 million bales, pulses around 14 million tonnes and sugar around 18 million tonnes.
"Today, we have been consistently producing 250 million plus tonnes food grains, with rice 100 million plus tonnes and wheat 90 million plus tonnes," Pawar said.
"The cotton production has doubled to 35 million bales and pulses production has been above 18 million tonnes," Pawar added.
