The Karnataka Government will soon take a decision on establishing an ‘agricultural price commission’. A Cabinet sub-committee has already been constituted to discuss its establishment, according to an official.
In an informal chat with presspersons on the sidelines of a review meeting of district-level officials here on Monday, Bharatlal Meena, Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Department, Karnataka, said the Cabinet sub-committee has already held one meeting to discuss the establishment of ‘agricultural price commission.’
Stating that the draft is being readied in this regard, Meena said another meeting would be held after that. He hoped that the proposal would be taken to Cabinet soon after that for the establishment of an ‘agricultural price commission’.
The State Budget for 2013-14 had proposed the establishment of an ‘agricultural price commission’ to fix suitable prices for the agri produce.
It had stated that the Commission would include farmers, agriculture experts and agro-economists. The government had stated it would fix suitable prices based on the scientifically worked out recommendations of the commission.
While presenting the Budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had stated that farmers are always facing problems due to indeterminate prices for their produce. Most of the times they do not even get the costs incurred. Considering this and to fix suitable prices, he had initiated the process of establishing an ‘agricultural price commission’.
Earlier, Meena, who is also the Secretary in-charge of Dakshina Kannada district, reviewed the performance of various departments in the district.
The official of the Horticulture Department informed the meeting that arecanut growers in the district have estimated crop loss to the tune of Rs 310 crore due to the fruit rot disease in their plantations.
The government has extended a compensation of Rs 20 crore to the growers in the district. Additional compensation of Rs 10 crore has been sought from the government, the official informed the meeting.