K'taka: Bommai urges Centre for farmer-centric policies, says agriculture is engine of nation's economic growth

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 14 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that agriculture is the engine of our nation's economic growth and urged the Centre to bring more farmer-centric policies.
Speaking at the Conference of State Agriculture and Horticulture ministers of the country, Bommai said, there are several sectors including IT, and BT, but it is agriculture which is the engine of economic growth for the nation.
Pointing out the need for more investment in the agriculture sector, he said, "more farmer-centric policies from the union government are needed."
Bommai also announced for the first time in the country, that Karnataka is setting up 'Ksheera Bank' exclusively for dairy farmers to provide loans at low-interest rates for farmers.
The Chief Minister said that agriculture did not get the priority it deserved in the first three five-year plans. Though agriculture technology has advanced, the condition of our farmers has not.
"Agriculture is not just a sector, it is a culture of the country. it is the backbone of the nation's brotherhood. A one per cent growth in agriculture results in 4 per cent growth in the manufacturing sector and 10 per cent growth in the service sector," Bommai said.
"Apart from taking the economy ahead, agriculture provides food security for the country. India lacked food security with a population of 33 crore when the country attained independence. Now though we are a country of 130 crore people, we have attained food security. It has been made possible by the hard work of our farmers, farm scientists and the vision of our Prime Minister Modi," Bommai said.
Referring to the farm scenario in Karnataka, Bommai said, Karnataka has 10 Agro-climatic regions, as a result, the state achieved 10 per cent growth in agriculture even during the COVID-10 crisis. He stressed the need for digitization in the farm sector, Karnataka is at the forefront in this regard and digitised all its land records 2 decades ago. The land records software being used in the state could be utilised by other states too, he said.
He lauded the Watershed programme of the union government for reducing the aspect of soil erosion in agriculture.
The 'Bhoochetana' programme introduced by former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa was a great success in preserving the fertility of the soil. Our government has decided to reintroduce the programme, Bommai said.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Health and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandavia, Union ministers of state for agriculture Shobha Karandlaje, Kailash Chowdhry, State Agriculture minister BC Patil and Horticulture minister Muniratna were also present.