Rs 150 cr plan to fight drought in Karnataka

The newly formed coalition government in Karnataka will spend Rs 150 crore during the current fiscal (2004-05) to develop 142,316 hectares of land spread over 739 micro watersheds.

In his first address to the new legislature, Karnataka governor T N Chaturvedi, placed special emphasis on the welfare of farmers and rural people in the state.

"In a bid to tackle the problem of recurring droughts in the state, my government will take up the World Bank assisted Sujala Watershed Development Program on war-footing in the project districts of Kolar, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Haveri and Dharwad," Chaturvedi declared.

In the remaining districts, similar works will be taken up under other schemes. The strategy will be to cover as much larger area under watershed treatment, encourage drip irrigation, introduce crop diversification and minimise water-intensive crops.

"The state government will approach the 12th Finance Commission for special grants for agriculture infrastructure. Watershed schemes will also be taken up under the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan Fund," the governor stated.

Reiterating his government's commitment to empower farmers and rural people in the state so as to govern themselves, Chaturvedi said three years of consecutive droughts had adverse fallout on the state's agriculture, leaving millions of farmers in distress across the state.

It is estimated during 2003-04, the food grain production declined steeply to 6.4 million tons against the target of 10.6 million tons. Even in the case of oil seeds, production plunged to nearly 1 million tons against the target of 1.8 million tons.

The pre-monsoon showers in April and May, which was 85 percent more than the normal rainfall, however, revived the hopes of state farmers with much relief to standing crops and livestock.

"We hope and pray Karnataka will receive its fair share of the south-west monsoon and mitigate the hardship of three-year drought that befell on small and marginal farmers," the governor observed.

In view of bright prospects of a normal monsoon this year, the government has arranged to supply quality seeds for the kharif season at 50 per cent subsidy to small farmers.

"The government will have a lasting solution to the recurring problems of glut of perishable agricultural and horticultural produce by setting up scores of cold chain facilities with pack-house provision in strategic locations. Food processing zones to check losses during harvesting, transportation and distribution and development of food parks will be taken up on priority," the governor said.

In a bid to involve farmers in the efficient management of water distribution network in the command areas, Water Users Co-operative Societies will be empowered to manage water distribution and canal systems and collection of water rates.

It a passing reference to the role of IT and biotech in employment generation, Chaturvedi said efforts would be made to create thousands of jobs to the educated youth in the secondary cities by taking out IT beyond Bangalore and other metros in the state.

"The booming IT industry is estimated to proved over one million jobs in the state, especially in the fast-growing business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. The government will undertake knowledge management initiatives to train school teachers and college lecturers for imparting IT skills and spoken English to enhance the employment prospects of the youth in the BPO sector," he said.