Dr B Thomas (Special correspondent)
T
he ‘Siridhanya’ processing units will be established in the seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka, announced Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Speaking after inaugurating ‘Siridhanya’ Mela-2022 organised by University of Agricultural Sciences,Raichur here on Saturday,he said the Siridhanya brands could be branded through Farmers producers Centres.
A subsidy of Rs 50 crore is earmarked for those who export through KPEK.The government will provide all assistance and co-operation to encourage farmers to make use this opportunity to export millets.Times have changed.
We are growing paddy and the same is our food. But from the health point of view we must eat millets at least once in a week.
Farmers were using millets as the main staple food but now we have reached a stage that we have to encourage them to grow them.
I am the biggest ambassadors of the millet. I am using millets for the last 30 years and I have stopped eating rice. I will play a major role in promoting millets.
Millets in seven districts
Bommai said Kalyana Karnataka is a arid zone and the Agricultural Centre in Jahirabad has protected 108 year old paddy,navane and other millets.The centre is also imparting training farmers on growing millets.
Eight such centres are in the world and one among them is in Jahirabad.The crops farmers must grow must be according to weather and creating a special marketing facility is the duty of the government,associations and organisations.
Special attention must be given to build markets.
The processing units require markets,They grow seven types of millets Ragi, Saame, Navane, Baragu, Udulu, Haaraka and Korla.
All seven districts in Kalyana Karnataka must grow seven millets.Its productivity, yield and quality must be given utmost important. Raichur is an important place in Karnataka and it’s development has direct link with agriculture.
Textile Park
Bommai said a textile park will be established out of the state government’s assistance.Ballari has jeans making factory. Once upon a time this place was growing a good quality export quality cotton but it requires a good market which will be done by the government.
Raichur Millet Declaration
He said this is an important meeting and the state government has considered it seriously. The decisions taken in this convention will be made as the guidelines to be implemented in the coming days.
The discussion and decisions will be printed and distributed as ‘Raichur Millet Declaration.The state government is ready to extend all co-operation to grow millets,use,process, marketing and export of the same for the benefit of farmers.
They required a roadmap for the future course of action in this regard, he added.
