Karnataka to create buffer stock of fertilisers

Karnataka government on Friday announced a Rs 25 crore revolving fund for creation of a buffer stock of fertilisers to ensure supply to farmers at right time.

The government will increase the financial allocation for the price stabilisation fund to help farmers in times of wide fluctuation in prices of agricultural produce, governor T N Chaturvedi said in his address to the joint legislature session here.

Extending another sop to farming sector, he also announced that to facilitate mechanisation of agriculture sector, a grant of Rs 30 crore would be provided for purchase of new equipment.

The government will examine the issue of allowing private sector a role in agricultural education so as to ensure that trained manpower is available, he said and promised that steps would be taken to fill up critical vacancies in agriculture, horticulture, sericulture and animal husbandry departments.

The government would facilitate farmers to move towards precision farming in horticulture and encourage use of new technologies like organic farming and drip irrigation to increase both the areas under production along with productivity, Chaturvedi said.

"It is hoped that all these progressive measures will ensure that no farmer will commit suicide due to economic distress", he said.