Express press service
MYSURU: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s first budget bears a light green stamp, ostensibly to appease farmers. The CM came up with some smart initiatives to control the opposition parties with substantially increased funds for the agricultural sector and also with the introduction of new programs.
Apart from the reintroduction of the Yashaswini health insurance scheme and other schemes, the allocation of Rs 33,700 crore for agriculture and related sectors is aimed at increasing farmers’ incomes. Bommai, who had announced scholarships for children of farmers soon after taking office, announced the Raitha Skathi scheme offering Rs 500 crore to encourage the use of agricultural machinery. To reduce the burden of fuel expenses on farmers, for the first time in the state, a diesel subsidy of Rs 250 per acre has been announced, subject to a maximum of 5 acres.
Krishi Yantradhare centers will now be extended to all hoblis to make agricultural machinery affordable for small and marginal farmers. A secondary agriculture directorate was announced to enable value addition to primary agricultural products and create more marketing opportunities with the help of agricultural producer organizations.
Karnataka, which has put two lakh acres into natural farming, aims to increase it further through agriculture/horticulture universities and resume Pradhana Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojane (watershed development component-2.0) with the help of the Center.
The CM announced the establishment of new agricultural colleges in Kagari in Ballari and plans to market tur dal, mainly grown in Kalaburgi and Yadagiri, under ‘Bhima Pulse’. To bring more women into agriculture, Krishi Prashasthi and Krishi Pandita Prashasthi awards will be given.
Bommai has also set aside Rs 50 crore for the commissioning of the MySugar factory in Mandya. The government plans to increase horticultural cultivation and will develop a multipurpose “Atal Bihari Vajpayee Park” on 350 acres of public land in the Jarakabande area near Yelahanka on the lines of Lalbagh and Cubbon parks.
Mega Boost
33 million
farmers will receive loans of Rs 24,000 crore under an interest subsidy scheme
Rs 300 crore
Re-introduction of the “Yashaswini” program to provide medical facilities to farmers with a subsidy of
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