Minister of State for Agriculture C. Krishna Byregowda literally turned out to be teacher, of course sans black board and chalk piece, at a programme of his department by rendering a lecture to the farmers on various schemes.
Mr. Krishna Byregowda along with senior officials of the Agriculture Department visited Jatavara village in Chickballapur on Tuesday.
Instead of getting on to the dais, the Minister took up the mike and walked up towards a farmer’s farm pond to interact with farmers, that went on for about an hour or so. He evinced opinions from farmers about the benefit as well as futility of various schemes.
He asked the farmers about the utility of the farm ponds. He also wanted to know from them whether the government was wasting money on the scheme. Prompted by the open invitation by the Minister to express frank opinion, some farmers spoke against the farm pond project while many supported it.
At this juncture, the Agriculture Minister said confusion still persists among the farmers about the utility of the farm ponds. “Some have submitted applications for construction of farm ponds out of curiosity and some are expecting funds for it from the government”, he said. “If there was no clear and comprehensive idea about the concept of farm ponds, it won’t reap expected fruit”, he added.
He dealt in length on Krishi Bhagya scheme. “It has been formulated for the benefit of those agriculturists who engaged in rain fed farming activities instead of depending on tube well”, he explained.
Krishi Bhagya scheme also provides opportunities for adopting comprehensive farming system besides according priority to farm ponds.
Mr. Krishna Byregowda said if the farm-ponding system was adopted and utilized properly, it could solve water shortage for four to five years and farmers can take up farming activities without distress.
MLA K. Sudhakar, Agriculture Department Commissioner K. Subodh Yadav and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer B.B. Kaveri were present.
