Karnataka Agricultural Policy - Institute for Social and Economic ...

Karnataka Agicultural Policy 2006
FOREWORD
I feel honoured and privileged to place the present Agricultural Policy Document in the
hands of the farmers of my State on 1 st November 2006 as promised by my
Government. The first task that we set for ourselves was to prepare a “Farmer
Centric” Agriculture Policy Document. The earlier policy document was prepared in
1995, at the instance of the then Chief Minister Sri.H D Devegowda and
Late Sri.C Byre Gowda, the then minister for Agriculture.
The present government is strongly committed to the welfare of the farmers. Our
intention has been unequivocally stated in the first budget presented by my government
on 31 st March 2006. Our intent was made clear in the budget speech of 2006-2007 by
stating “………to constitute a Committee of Agricultural Experts to undertake a
comprehensive study of our agricultural systems and to make recommendations
on reorienting and modernization of our agriculture”. Subsequently a decision was
taken by the government to prepare an exhaustive Agricultural Policy document. The
present Agricultural Policy document focuses on doubling the agricultural production
during the next decade, achieving a rate of growth of 4.5 per cent per annum for the
agriculture sector, increasing the net income of the farmer and restoring the lost glory
of the farmer as Annadatha.
The initiative to prepare this document began with several formal and informal
meetings and discussions at various levels, in some of which I also had an opportunity
of expressing my views and interacting with the stakeholders.
I must place or record the fact that Dr.Swaminathan, Chairman of the National
Commission on Farmers, Government of India visited Karnataka on three different
occasions in the recent past. He held extensive discussions and gave valuable ideas and
suggestions specific to Karnataka. He also had detailed discussions with former Prime
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