MANGALURU: Agriculture minister B C Patil said that the government has plans to buy boiled rice grown in the coastal districts and to distribute it through the public distribution system (PDS) in the region.
The minister was speaking after inaugurating paddy cultivation on fallow land at Kunjathbail on Friday.
“We have launched this programme as a challenge in Dakshina Kannada, as the district has nearly 8,000 acres of fallow land.
By making the fallow land cultivable, we can increase the yield, and thereby earn income for farmers.
The nation will be happy only when farmers live happily.
The government will discuss extending support to those who come forward and commence cultivation on fallow land,” he said.
There is a growing demand for boiled rice in the coastal districts.
District minister Kota Shrinivas Poojari also sought more quantity of boiled rice to be distributed through the PDS.
The minister has said that 12 lakh quintals of rice is required for the district.
“Hence, we have decided to request the government to purchase locally grown boiled rice for the PDS.
A proposal in this regard has already been submitted to the central government.
We will also discuss extending a package for boiled rice cultivation in the coastal district,” Patil said.
To support the farmers, the government has already distributed nearly 200 tillers across the state, under a central government scheme.
Tillers are given to cooperative societies involving about 20 farmers in a village.
The government sanctions Rs 8 lakh under the scheme to such societies that must invest only Rs 2 lakh.
More farmers will be covered through the scheme in the state, he said and added that there is no shortage of fertiliser and seeds in the state.