ZP president calls upon farmers to go far mechanisation

Zilla Panchayat president P N Keshava Reddy has called upon farmers to hire farm equipment for tackling the problem of labour shortage.

Speaking after inaugurating Krishi Abhiyan, exhibition and “Krishi Yantradhare” centre in Chikkaballapur on Wednesday, Reddy said that farm equipment had become inevitable for agricultural operations in the modern times.

“Labourers have become scarce while input costs are on the rise in the present day’s agriculture. Therefore, farmers have to rely on farm machinery for agricultural operations. While progressive farmers can purchase them small and medium farmers cannot afford them. Such farmers should make best use of Krishi Yantradhare scheme,” Reddy said.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer J Manjunath said that out of 26 hobli centres in the district, service centre for hiring farm machinery had been set up in six hoblis last year.This year, the facility is being provided through 10 more centres. The state government has sanctioned two more additional centres which would also start functioning soon. He said that these centres would function on public-private partnership.

The CEO said that the average rainfall for Chikkaballapur district is 731 mm. But, the rains, which were promising in July, have failed now. A good spell of rain is absolutely necessary for a harvest. The farmers should make use of crop insurance, subsidy, job-guarantee and such other schemes.

The officer said that every family in the district should have a personal toilet and awareness should be created in this regard. It is essential to maintain sanitation for preventing spread of epidemics.

District Krishika Samaj President Narayanaswamy said that 42 types of farm machinery will be lent on hire under Krishi Yantradhare scheme. Farmers can make use of these machinery to tide over labour scarcity.

Zilla Panchayat member K M Munegowda said that apart from farm machinery, expert drivers were also available at the service centre. “It will of much help for farmers to reserve the machinery well in advance. This helps in timely completion of agricultural operations and thus boost farm output,” he said.

Munegowda said that farmers stand to lose if all of them grow a similar kind of crop at a time. Therefore, farmers should consult agri experts before taking up sowing. They should insist for receipts while purchasing seeds,” he suggested.

Congress leader Yaluvahalli N Ramesh said that at a time when increasing number of farmers while moving away from agriculture due to labour shortage, the state government has introduced the scheme in the right time. The scheme will be of immense help for small and medium farmers, he opined.

Taluk Panchayat president B M Ramaswamy, Joint Director of Agriculture Department K Mallikarjun and others were present.

An exhibition of farm machinery, tractor, drip irrigation equipment, vegetables etc., was organised on the occasion.