From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, May 21: The young and US returned Agriculture Minister of Karnataka, Krishna Byre Gowda, in his first inter-action with the media on Tuesday openly acknowledged the enormous benefits received by the farming community by taking up cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops.

Krishna Byre Gowda, who has been appointed as the Minister of State for Agriculture with independent charge in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress ministry, made it clear that the agriculture department had ''an open mind on the issue of GM crops” and declared that it was left to farmers to make informed choices.

Bt cotton, first introduced in the State in the late 1990s, has benefitted farmers to improve yields in an eco-friendly manner, he said pointing out that, “Nearly 90 per cent of farmers in the State are using Bt cotton seeds.”

Gowda chaired a meeting of the officials of the department and vice chancellors of Universities of Agricultural Sciences and reviewed various schemes, before addressing reporters in his chambers.

He said the University of Agricultural Sciences of Dharwad and Raichur were currently working on improving the Bt cotton seeds.

“We must keep our minds open,” he said when asked to spell out the new Congress government’s stand on GM crops.

The minister said the farmers must study the pros and cons of GM crops and make their own decisions instead of being blindly misled by interested persons.

He said existing schemes of the Agriculture Department will be streamlined for their effective implementation and to ensure their reach to farmers. The department has been implementing many schemes for the past several years.

Keeping in mind the farmers’  interests, he said a few schemes would be prioritised and simplified.

“Some schemes are outdated and a serious thought to be given whether such schemes to be continued or not,” he said.

Pointing out that sowing activities would commence in the second week of June on account delayed arrival of monsoon to the State, the Minister said 10.68 lakh quintals of seeds have been procured for distribution to farmers at subsidised prices (50 per cent).

All efforts would be made to achieve the growth rate of 4.5 per cent in the farm sector during the 12th plan period, he said.

To a question on the alleged diversion of fertilizers during the kharif season, he said squads have been formed to crackdown illegal hoarding of nutrients by dealers.

On the previous government’s a proposal to merge the Watershed Department with the Agriculture Department, he said a decision would be taken only after consultation with the experts and officials.

Area under the watersheds would be increased to help farmers to take up income generating activities, he said and asserted that making agriculture a profitable occupation was a major challenge before the Government.

The farm sector has been adversely affected by shortage of power supply, erratic monsoon and high input costs.

More technologies would be made available to farmers to enhance crop yield and control pests, Gowda said.

Asked whether schemes, including organic farming, launched by the previous BJP government would be continued, the minister said he had broadly reviewed the relevance of several schemes being implemented for the past several years.

“Organic farming is not a solution for ills facing the farm sector. It is one of the farming methods adopted by farmers to reduce dependence on fertilizers,” he said.