Dry land farming: President calls for consensus

BANGALORE: Three farmers from Karnataka will participate in an interactive session with President Pratibha Patil to draw a consensus on the development of rain-fed areas in general and dry land cultivation, in particular.The meeting, which will be convened at the Raj Bhavan on February 15, will debate specifically on organised farming and market-led agriculture, said K Narayana Gowda, Vice-Chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.Patil, of late has been stressing to focus on dry-land farming given that a large proportion of farm labour and poor farmers are dependent upon it.M Ravi Kumar, an active member of Jackfruit Growers’ Association from Doddaballapur will speak on marketing the farm produces without the involvement of middlemen. Similarly, H Narayanappa, member of Biofuel Producers Association will speak on how to collect bio-fuel crops like in a milk co-operative society and how to produce oil            collectively. Another farmer from Chitamani, Srinivas Gowda- President of Mango Growers Association, will organise farmers’ groups and enlighten them on the benefit of such practice.“The cost of production is increasing while the profit margins are decreasing, which discourages many from continuing with agriculture as a profession,” said Narayana Gowda. The government should assist in marketing the farmers’ produce and encourage organised farming, he said. Scientists, agricultural university members, farmers, Union ministers and corporate companies are expected to participate to draw a consensus on this issue.