CM BS Yediyurappa promises to help farmers double their income

Bagalkote: Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said that the State government was working towards enabling farmers double their income as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In his inaugural address at a Horticulture Mela organised by University of Horticulture, Bagalkote, he said that the government intended to introduce new technologies in value addition, processing, storage and packaging of horticulture produce in collaboration with CFTRI and Indian Institute of Horticulture. He assured that the government would take all necessary steps to consider horticulture as an industry.

Recalling that the PM had launched 100th Kisan Rail recently, he said that 27,000 MT of farm produce was transported during the last three months. "Our State too would use the Kisan rail facility to transport perishable products such as pomegranate, orange etc." "The government is committed to maintaining the lead as horticulture state by providing support to research, extension and other infrastructure facilities."

Deputy Chief Minister Govind M. Karjol called upon the scientists to invent profitable crop varieties. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Horticulture Narayanagowda said that the export rate of horticulture produce increased from 2.5 per cent to 5 per cent. "Government would extend all support to farmers to enhance this further in the coming days," he said.