Karnataka: Raichur district aspires to grow despite challenges, says Nirmala Sitharaman
Raichur (PTI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said Raichur aspires to grow despite its challenges, with the Centre continuing to push developmental initiatives in regions across Kalyana Karnataka in the northern part of the state.
Inaugurating a Farmer Training and Common Facility Centre for Agro Processing at Jawalgera village in this district, Sitharaman said similar centres will be set up in seven districts. One was inaugurated in Koppal on October 15, and today in Raichur.
"Similarly, we will have a total of seven agricultural processing units across the seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka. The units are being established using MPLADS funds and government support through the district administration, in public-private partnership with companies such as ITC to help market and procure products from farmers," she added.
Sitharaman, who is an Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, said Rs 3.5 crore from her MPLADS fund was being spent on the seven units.
She said the products, once processed, could reach anywhere in the state from Raichur to Bengaluru contributing to Karnataka's overall growth.
Highlighting the need to focus on the region, the finance minister said, while Bengaluru's development has been exceptional, Raichur, despite the hard work of its people, faces difficulties in achieving development at the same pace. Therefore, Raichur must remain a key focus area for Karnataka's progress, she said.
Stressing the Centre's effort in uplifting such districts that have the potential to grow but have not been able to move ahead due to various challenges, she said, instead of calling them "backward districts, we now refer to them as aspirational districts".
"Today, I can see that Raichur, despite its challenges, is transforming them into opportunities one by one. This is how we achieve success by turning challenges into chances for progress. Raichur is showing improvement on many development indicators. This success is a result of targeted interventions, strict monitoring, and time-bound implementation whether it is roads, water supply, or electricity in villages," the minister said.
"Raichur already performs well in paddy and rice cultivation, but there are still gaps. Some parts of Raichur face irrigation shortages or soil-related constraints. That's why, instead of focusing only on paddy, cultivating pulses can be more beneficial here," she said.
According to her, the union government has launched a special pulses programme, and districts like Raichur can gain significantly by adopting pulse cultivation.
She said the government had identified 112 such aspirational districts across the country, including Raichur and Yadgir in Kalyana Karnataka, to help them move forward under the Aspirational Districts Programme.
Sitharaman said Raichur stood first among the 112 aspirational districts in the 2023 ranking, while Maski block in the district secured the top position among southern states in the Aspirational Blocks Programme by NITI Aayog.
"We planned to establish this Farmer Training and Pulses Processing Centre here because Raichur is blessed with Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers. Farmers here have the capacity to grow both paddy and pulses," she said.
Raichur produces about 80,000 metric tonne of 'Masoor Dal' (red gram) and 34,000 metric tonne of chana (Bengal gram) every year, but farmers often sell the produce immediately after harvest and did not get fair prices, the FM noted.
According to her, scientists who have analysed and studied 50 years of data stated that every fourth year brought drought in Raichur, forcing farmers to face losses despite good harvests in earlier years.
"That is why we must rethink cropping patterns and plan comprehensively. Even when the crop is good, we must ensure farmers get fair prices," she said.
Sitharaman also inaugurated the Farmers' Training and Common Facility Centre in Konchigere village of Ballari district, which serves as a hub for chilli processing, packaging, and marketing, aiming to build a sustainable, value-driven ecosystem that empowers farmers and strengthens FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) across the district.
According to her, this project aims to train Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and farmers through FPOs to enhance value addition to red chilli, one of the major crops cultivated in Ballari district.
The processing unit under this project has an annual capacity of 500 MT of red chilli, producing 380 MT of chilli powder and 95 MT of chilli flakes, she said.
"With over 58,443 acres under cultivation and an annual production of about 1,40,263 MT, Ballari is among the top producers of red chilli in Karnataka," she added.
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Three new cubs born to Cheetah Gamini in MP's Kuno Park; India's count rises to 38
Sheopur (MP) (PTI): Cheetah 'Gamini' has given birth to three cubs at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, taking the number of these big cats in India to 38, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday.
Describing it as a "roaring" success of the government's ambitious Cheetah re-introduction programme, Yadav said it is a powerful symbol of the country’s determined and historic conservation effort.
Gamini was translocated to India from South Africa as part of the ambitious project launched in September 2022 to revive the population of the world's fastest land animal in India, which had gone extinct decades ago.
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Yadav, in a post on X, said, “Kuno welcomes three new cubs - A roaring new chapter at Kuno on the occasion of completion of 3 years of arrival of cheetahs from South Africa. Celebrations echo through Kuno National Park as Gamini, the South African cheetah and second-time mother, has brought 3 new cubs into the world."
This joyful arrival marks the ninth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil and takes the number of surviving Indian-born cubs to 27, he said.
With these newest additions, India's total cheetah population has now reached 38 - a powerful symbol of the country's determined and historic conservation effort, Yadav highlighted.
Each birth strengthens the foundation of Project Cheetah and reflects the passion, perseverance, and round-the-clock dedication of the field staff and veterinary teams who have nurtured this dream into reality, he said.
"A moment of pride for Kuno, and for India—may Gamini and her three little sprinters grow strong and carry the nation’s cheetah revival story forward with speed and grace," the minister added.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav noted that Madhya Pradesh is a powerful centre for cheetah reintroduction.
This is a historic achievement for the entire country in the direction of wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and environmental balance, the CM said in a post on X.
It is a matter of immense joy that under Project Cheetah, the female cheetah ‘Gamini’ who arrived from South Africa has given birth to three cubs, he said.
"With the completion of three years of cheetahs’ arrival at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, this is the 9th successful birth (of a litter). The total number of cheetahs in India has now increased to 38," Yadav added.
Earlier this month, cheetah Aasha, translocated to India from Namibia, gave birth to five cubs in KNP.
