Karnataka Budget 2019: Rs 46,853 crore for farm sector to allay fears over waiver
Bengaluru: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday allocated a whopping Rs 46,853 crore for the agriculture department, primarily aimed at allying fears about the farm loan waiver, which he had announced in last year's budget.
Mr Kumaraswamy announced that the state government had earmarked Rs 6,500 crore and Rs 6,150 crore to pay loans that were taken by farmers from nationalised banks and cooperative financial institutions in the state respectively.
Apart from this, he has launched a new scheme called Kanaja (Silo) at a cost of Rs 500 crore to enable farmers store their food grains in state owned godowns free of cost.
The other announcements made by the CM were:
Grant of Rs 35 crore to encourage farmers growing organic farm produce.
Israel model of micro irrigation system will be given impetus, Rs145 crore earmarked for this.
Emulating the ruling TRS in Telangana, the CM announced ‘Raitha Siri’ to encourage growers of minor millets by providing an assistance of Rs 10,000 per hectare which will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of farmers. An assistance of Rs 7,500 per hectare will be provided to motivate farmers to cultivate paddy under a scheme called ‘Karavali package’.
For promotion of horticulture, the state announced a special package of Rs 150 crore to improve the economic condition of these growers.
Channapatna town represented by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will have an emporium to encourage the marketing of silk products.
With a view to encourage milk producers, the state has decided to enhance the incentive from Rs 5 per litre to Rs 6 per litre.
A grant of Rs 148.5 crore will be provided to ensure diesel and kerosene subsidy to fishermen in the state.
The state government aims at converting 600 shandies (periodical markets) into mini-markets in order to encourage farmers sell their produce in rural areas.
