(a) whether the agricultural land in Karnataka is constantly turning non-remunerative;
(b) if so, the details of the same;
(c) whether any study has been conducted in this regard;
(d) if so, the steps being taken by the Union Government in this regard and provide
incentive package to make agriculture remunerative; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF
STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (DR. AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH)
(a) to (c): The report on situation assessment survey of the farmers submitted by National
Sample Survey Organisation in July 2005 has estimated that 28 per cent of the farmer
households in Karnataka do not like farming as a profession as it is not profitable.
(d) & (e): The Union Government, under its various schemes and programmes provides
financial assistance to the State Governments including the State of Karnataka to supplement
and complement their efforts to augment production and productivity of agriculture sector in
order to make agriculture remunerative. The Government has been pursuing Regionally
Differentiated Strategy (RDS) taking into account the agronomic, climatic and environmental
conditions to realize the full growth potential of the region. For this, 17 Centrally Sponsored
Schemes have been subsumed under `Macro Management in Agriculture Scheme` with a view
to give freedom at the State-level in formulation of their own plans in the shape of Work Plan for
development of agriculture based on their felt needs and regional priorities including
diversification of agriculture towards income enhancing crops and activities for making
agriculture more remunerative.