Karnataka Budget 2018: Government to waive off Rs 1 lakh loan taken by farmers

Bengaluru: The State Budget for 2018-19 proposes to execute a plan to waive off the loan of up to one lakh rupees taken by a farmer member from an essential agricultural credit co-operative society on his demise. The costs under the plan will be met under the alliance of Apex Bank and DCC Bank.

Chief Minister announced “In celebration of the century year of Karnataka Central Co-operative Bank, Dharwad and District Co-operative Bank, Vijayapura subsidy of Rs.5 crore each from the Government and the Apex Bank will be given for the development of a building.”

Keeping in mind the motive to get more prices for the produce of farmers, quality investigation labs will be built up in 25 chosen Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees for pulses, oil seeds and food grains and will be subjected to quality examination. For this plan, Rs.2.5 crore will be given at Rs.10 lakh to every committee. The Chief Minister said “More than 25,000 hamalis are working in the Agricultural Marketing Committees of the State. In the present year, 1,000 destitute hamalis will be identified and given housing on a primary note under the different housing plans of the Government. Amid 2018-19, an aggregate sum of Rs 5837 crore is given to Co-operation Department.”

Sheep and Goat rearing is a gainful sub occupation of farmers in the State. Sheep rearing will be empowered through budgetary help from National Co-agent Development Corporation (N.C.D.C).

He also added that “Importance will be given for sheep rearing by setting up 25,000 units. Government will give ensure for Rs.187.5 crore advance to be given by the N.C.D.C. Government has found a way to conquer deficiency of feed to the domesticated animals because of continuous drought circumstance in the State. To avoid lack of fodder in future, ‘State Fodder Security Policy’ for next five years will be figured with projects to build fodder deliver by extending fodder growing region, seed generation, jala krushi Hydrophonics, green fodder production and so forth., and it will be implemented through PPP model.”

He said there are in regards to 4,000 migratory shepherds in the State, who move from place to place with the herd for grazing in spite of rain, wind and sun. To give insurance to these shepherds and their sheep, Rs.4 crore will be granted and given to procure materials like temporary tent, iron wire fencing and different inputs during the financial year.

“Around 50 to 60 lakh sheep and goats are being butchered yearly for meat in the State. For value addition to the skin of sheep and goat, Skin Processing and Tanning Centers will be set up at a cost of Rs.2 crore. Disease analytic research facilities are working just in 14 regions of the State at present. It has been intended to expand the Disease analytic lab offices to all the rest of the 16 district in the following three years,” he said.

Chief Minister also said “A sum of Rs.7.5 crore will be spent for modernization of 75 sheep/goat markets in the State by giving weighing machine, water facility and sheep yard with wire fencing and shade facility. Motivating force of Rs.55 crore will be given to the staff of 14,000 Milk Producers’ Co-operative Societies working in the State based on quality drain gathering at 20 paise per liter. Out of this Milk Federations and Government will bear 10 paise each.”