Improving the Economic Condition of Farmers

The Official Group would like to recommend a set of policy initiatives for the consideration of the Government of Karnataka. The recommendations of the Official Group are grouped under the following headings: 1. Creating Multiple Sources of Farm Income; 2. ‘Raitha Shakthi’ - Empowering Small Farmers Through Group Approach 3. Measures to Restore Soil Health and Fertility; 4. Watershed Development and Moisture Conservation; 5. Optimising the Benefits of Irrigation; 6. Seeds of quality, Seeds of Prosperity - Improving Seed; Replacement Rate; 7. Development of Horticulture : The Coming Revolution in Karnataka; 8. Development of Dairy Farming 9. Developing Poultry Industry; 10. Livestock Farming for Meat Production; 11. Overcoming Stagnation in Sericulture; 12. Universalising Access to Agricultural Credit 13. Augmenting Infrastructure for Processing and Storage; 14. Agricultural Marketing and Exports; 15. Agricultural Research, Education and Extension; 16. Application of Information Technology in Agriculture; 17. Farmers’ Welfare: Special Attention Needed 18. Upliftment of Agricultural Labourers; 19. Promoting Non-Agricultural Activities in Rural Areas; 20. Karnataka Agriculture Mission – 2007. The State’s approach to agricultural development should now have a new orientation to make the cost-risk-return structure of agriculture remunerative to farmers, a majority of them being small farmers cultivating dry lands. Also, the implementation of various policy measures and programmes. From this point of view the Group recommends the adoption of a Mission Approach to implement the policy measures listed in this report.