The Karnataka Government will set up an ‘agricultural prices commission’ soon.
Replying to a query by a farmer at an interactive meeting with farmers in Mangalore on Friday, Bharatlal Meena, Karnataka Principal Secretary for Agriculture Department, said that many farmers do not get remunerative prices for the commodities they grow.
Considering this, the Government is planning to set up an ‘agricultural prices commission’ to fix suitable prices for the commodities.
Apart from agriculture scientists, farmers will also be part of such a commission. The commission will recommend prices based on its studies of different commodities.
Considering the need for godowns for agricultural produce in rural areas, the Government will also provide interest subsidy for rural godowns and cold storage units, he said.
Meena also suggested that farmers come as a group to produce and market their commodities. In places like Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, farmers can also think of vegetables. He said that these two districts get a major portion of their vegetables from other parts in the State.
Varanashi Krishnamurthy, a farmer from Adyanadka in Dakshina Kannada district, suggested that the Government formulate a separate policy for jackfruit cultivation in the State. This food commodity has not got the attention that is required, he said.