Farmers at a day-long seminar on agriculture in Dakshina Kannada, organised by the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat (ZP) here on Tuesday, stressed the need for mechanisation of farming activities in the district.

Mr Prabhakara Mayya, a farmer from Belthangady taluk of the district, said that a majority of the farmers in Dakshina Kannada have small land holdings. Added to this, there is scarcity of agriculture labour in the district.

In such a situation, mechanisation of farming activities is the way out. He said that machineries are available in the market to meet the requirement of small farmers.

Giving his own example, Mr Mayya said he is using the farm machineries since the last four years. It is quite common for a farmer to encounter some problems at the beginning of mechanisation process. In such a situation, farm equipment suppliers and the departments concerned should guide them properly, he said.

Mr Sampath Samrajya, farmer and President of Krishik Samaj, said that various factors such as agri labour shortage, and rapid urbanisation of the district have brought down the number of paddy-growing farmers in the district.

Stressing the need for farm mechanisation, he said farm equipment manufacturers should train farmers in the maintenance and repair of machineries. He suggested that manufacturers should take the help of non-governmental organisations for this.

Cargo terminal

Stating that there is a good opportunity for farmers in the district to export their agriculture and horticulture commodities, he said the proposed international cargo terminal in Mangalore should be made use of for this purpose.

Ms K.T. Shailaja Bhat, President of Dakshina Kannada ZP, Mr Naveen Rai Menala, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Agriculture of the ZP, and Dr K.N. Vijayaprakash, Chief Executive Officer of the ZP, spoke on the occasion.

vinayakaj@thehindu.co.in

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