Minister for Mines and Geology and Dharwad district in-charge Vinay Kulkarni has said that it was because of strenuous and unrelenting efforts by the farmers that the country was able to achieve food security.
Inaugurating a workshop on cultivation of sweet potato organised by the Horticulture Department and University of Horticultural Sciences in Dharwad on Saturday, Mr. Kulkarni said a similar role had to be played by the farmers now to achieve nutritional security.
Referring to the increased demand for sweet potato in the U.S. and in nations of European union, the Minister emphasised the need for farmers of North Karnataka to tap the potential by cultivating sweet potato. “Growing sweet potato is a profitable venture as it requires less investment and can be cultivated on any soil,” he said.
He said that according to experts, the districts of Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Belagavi had the perfect climate to grow this root vegetable and the government would extend suitable assistance.
The Minister said apart from growing commercial crops, farmers should also focus on cultivating crops that have rich nutritional value. There was a need for growing sweet potato and millets in larger areas, he said and added that workshops on sweet potato cultivation were being held across the State to sensitise the farmers.
Vice-Chancellor of University of Horticulture D.L. Maheshwaraiah said that according to a survey, 20,000 hectares in North Karnataka was suitable for cultivation of sweet potato and called on the farmers to make the best use of the opportunity.
MOU signed
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, and Nourish Inc. of Netherlands for setting up a sweet potato processing unit. As per the understanding, the company would be purchasing sweet potato from the farmers for a period of three years. The ‘A’ grade sweet potato would fetch ₹8 per piece, ‘B’ grade ₹6 and ‘C’ grade ₹3.