‘Scientific price to produce will reduce demand for loan waivers’

HUBBALLI: Vijay Karnataka, a sister publication of The Times Of India, organized 'VK Super Star Raita' event to felicitate outstanding farmers with the title at Murusavir Mutt premises, here on Friday.
Inaugurating the ceremony, former CM Jagadish Shettar said it was probably the first time in the country that a newspaper was recognizing innovative farmers to motivate other farmers. "We often only speak about farmers, but Vijay Karnataka has moved a step ahead to encourage farmers. Farmers are the major community that commit suicide in the country. If this fraternity gets a scientific price for their produce, it will definitely stop demanding loan waiver,” he said.

“The Irony is that even young farmers are not getting girls to marry as agriculture sector is filled with uncertainty and insecurity" added Shettar.

MP Pralhad Joshi said many farmers are involved in innovations while many more are revising existing innovations. "Usually media focuses only on the results of agricultural crisis like farmers’ suicide. But Vijay Karnataka has stood different by trying to eradicate the crisis in agriculture. It's true that the land has been poisoned after the green revolution but now there is a need of rectifying it through initiatives like soil health card. The governments should also ensure 24x7 water supply to agriculture fields," he said.

Legislative council pro-tem chairman Basavaraj Horatti said a media house thinking about the welfare of farmers was a good move. "We often say farmer is the backbone of the nation but farmer himself has become boneless. There is need of poor farmers being strengthened by rich farmers so that all can grow together," he added.

He also expressed regret over agriculture graduates turning employees rather than opting for farming.

MLA Prasad Abbayya and APMC chairman Jagannathgouda Siddanagoudar appreciated Vijay Karnataka's initiative.