Keep contingency plan for drought ready: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh

Hubballi: Stating that drought was looming large in the country this year, Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh directed all states to prepare contingency plans to face the rainfall deficit.

He also expressed concern over rising farmer suicides in Karnataka and said all states should take measures to instill confidence among growers in distress. He was flagging off the Unified Agriculture Market System here on Friday. The minister assured that the Centre will extend all assistance to states to protect farmers.

“I have given direction to states to accord priority to redress problems of farmers as there is a chance of drought this year. The implementation of the Unified Agriculture Market system is a step towards introducing e-payment for farmers by bringing about transparency in the sale of farm produce,” the minister said.

Lauding the Karnataka government for implementing e-trading and e-payment to stop undue harassment of farmers by middlemen and commission agents, he said the Centre will extend the facility to all APMCs. Online trading will also bring relief to farmers bearing the brunt of price fluctuations.

Karnataka will become a role model for other states keen on introducing online trading and e-payment to farmers, he said. Maintaining that farmer suicides have come down in the state after the Congress government came to power, minister Krishna Byre Gowda appealed to farmers to take loans only from co-operative societies.