‘Drone’ to be used to survey crops: Minister Shivashankar Reddy
Govt to encourage growing of ‘Aane Bidiru’ (Elephant bamboo)
Bengaluru, August 08: Agriculture Minister HN Shivashankar Reddy said that due to scanty rainfall in 13 districts including Raichur, Koppal, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Davangere and Chitradurga, the sowing percentage in kharif season has come down drastically.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha here on Wednesday, the Minister said that it was targeted to sow seeds in 74.59 lakh hectare of land. But till August first week, the sowing was done only in 49.47 lakh hectares which is just 66 per cent achievement. Due to scanty rainfall in most of the districts, the sowing activity was not done as expected. So, steps were taken to distribute required seeds and fertilizer to those 13 districts to grow alternative crops, he added.
After monsoon season, the sowing activity would be held in 8 lakh hectares of land during August and September. He was confident of reaching the target of 110 lakh metric tons food grains production this time, he exuded confidence.
Drone survey
It was decided to take the help of Drone technology to survey the crops in various places of the state due to which the government would get actual picture on crop patterns and their conditions. This would help insurance scheme also. The crop patterns were not being mentioned in pahanis. So, it was decided to conduct survey which will be started within a week. This survey would cost minimum Rs 15-20 crore, the Minister said.
Encouragement to agriculture
The government was encouraging zero cultivation method. Shortly a team of officials led by him would visit Ananthapura district in Andhra Pradesh to study zero cultivation methods being adopted there. A comprehensive programme would be introduced to encourage zero cultivation in the state, he said.
Appointment of staff
The appointment process of recruiting total 588 officers and staff including 153 assistant agriculture officers was completed and within 15 days, appointment orders would be issued, he said.
Millets to door-steps
In order to encourage usage and cultivation of millets, marketing facility would be made available through HOPCOMS and KMF to sell the millets. It was also planned to supply the millets to the door-steps of the consumers to avoid middlemen, he added.
“To put an end to the cultivation of eucalyptus and acacia trees which are detrimental to the ground water table, moisture and environment, the government has decided to encourage the programmes to grow elephant bamboo. It was decided to implement the programme as a pilot project in Bengaluru rural, Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts. From this crop, the farmers would get minimum Rs 4 lakh revenue from one acre in just three years”.
- HN Shivashankar Reddy, Agriculture Minister
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Punishment for those disrupting assembly proceedings, warns Speaker UT Khader
Belagavi: Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday warned that members who disrupt Assembly proceedings by talking in their seats during debates will be made to sit in the House for an entire day as a disciplinary measure.
The warning came after the Question Hour, when Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad was permitted to initiate a discussion on the development of North Karnataka.
At this point, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected, stating that he had been seeking a debate for the past three days but had not been given an opportunity.
ALSO READ: IndiGo board ropes in external aviation expert for flight disruption probe
Responding to the objection, Speaker Khader said Bellad had already been granted permission and assured Yatnal that he would be allowed to speak at the next opportunity. He noted that even as a serious discussion was underway, several MLAs were speaking among themselves with their microphones on, disrupting the proceedings.
Expressing displeasure over the conduct of members, Khader likened the situation to football, where players receive red, yellow, or white cards for violations. Similarly, he said, the Assembly issues warning cards to members who disturb the House. If they fail to correct themselves despite repeated warnings, they would be required to remain seated in the Assembly hall for a full day as punishment, he stated.
