Bengaluru, Jan 3 (IANS): Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Friday said his government is seriously looking at doubling farmers' income by 2022, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"PM Modi has set a target to double farmers' income by 2022. Our government in the state is also focusing on this mission," Yediyurappa said at the inaugural session of the 107th Indian Science Congress in Bengaluru.

Offering value addition services to farmers such as packaging, preserving the crops and agricultural produce are some of the areas which can make a big difference in the lives of farmers, who constitute a big chunk of Indian population, said Yediyurappa.

"Apart from this, providing basic facilities like electricity, connectivity, healthcare services, education to the remote areas are some of the challenges that could be addressed by S&T to a great extent," the Chief Minister said.

Yediyurappa said the theme of this year's science congress, "Science and Technology: Rural Development", reminds everyone that "we have to utilise the available resources with extraordinary care, keeping the future generations in mind".

"Because the resources are finite, we cannot pretend they last forever. With this awareness, technology intervention was contemplated to promote rural economy," he said.

Yediyurappa said Karnataka has always been a hub for science and technology, highlighting that the state was one of the first to establish a Science and Technology Council.

"Karnataka proactively engages itself to identify, propose and implement S&T based solutions to local specific needs of the state, particularly for the rural population," he said.

Citing an example, he said geospatial technologies are deployed in planning, decision making, governance and also addressing developmental issues in the state in a more scientific and systematic manner.

Yediyuappa said Karnataka government is keenly waiting for the outcome of the science congress which could be applied for the betterment of rural areas in the state.