Karnataka Govt. Forms Committee To Look Into Technologies & Measures To Help Farmers Double Their Income

On Monday, the Karnataka government formed a committee led by Agriculture Minister BC Patil and composed of farmers to explore technologies that can be devised through agricultural sciences universities, as well as other measures needed to help farmers double their income, and decided to establish a Secondary Agriculture Directorate. 

The committee would be made up of 12 farmers who have received the first three prizes from the Agriculture Department's 'Krishi Pandit' awards in the previous four years, according to the Government Order released on Monday. 

Farmer-Friendly Research 

The panel will look into areas where further study is needed to assist farmers, such as ensuring that agricultural university breakthroughs help farmers raise their revenue, deliver healthy products to customers, and are environmentally sustainable. 

In addition, a Secondary Agriculture Directorate will be established to process all agro-products, including dairy, fisheries, horticulture, sericulture, and animal husbandry, as well as to establish  agro-processing plants to enable farmers earn more money and generate jobs in rural regions. 

The Horticulture Minister will serve as the committee's deputy chairman, and members will include senior officials from the agriculture and horticulture departments, vice-chancellors of agricultural universities in Bengaluru, Dharwad, and Raichur, vice-chancellor of Veterinary and Fisheries University, Bidar, and the Agriculture Commissioner. 

It was agreed in a meeting convened by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on August 25, last year to form a committee made up of farmers to look into the steps that need to be done to double farmers' income by 2023-24. 

The Karnataka government will place a greater emphasis on all elements of post-harvest technology and marketing, including processing and branding, in order to enhance farmer income in the state. 

Villages To Have Grama One Centres From January 26th 

Bengaluru: From January 26, the government's ambitious 'Grama One' centres, which provide a variety of services under one roof at the village level, will begin operations in 12 districts. For this reason, about 3,000 'Grama One' service centres would be established. On Monday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai met with top officers to evaluate the preparations for introducing the services in villages. 

On January 26, it would be released in the districts of Bidar, Koppal, Ballari, Belagavi, Haveri,  Vijayapura, Davanagere, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, and Kodagu. 'Grama One' service centres would offer about 100 services from the Revenue, Food, Health, and Labor departments. According to a statement released by the CMO, they would be supplied with uninterrupted electricity and internet access. During a virtual discussion with officials, the CM stated that they are launching the services in 12 districts for the time being, with the rest of the country to follow.