The Karnataka Government's ‘Suvarna Bhoomi' scheme, which was announced in the State budget of 2011-12, will help improve the economic condition of 27,841 farmers with small holdings, according to Mr Subodh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district.

Reviewing the progress of the implementation of ‘Suvarna Bhoomi' scheme in the district here on Tuesday, he said that the district has around 1.9 lakh farmers with small holdings. Of them, 27,841 farmers will be selected under the scheme. Therefore the process of selection of beneficiaries should be transparent, he said.

Under this scheme, a farmer with land holding up to two acres will be given financial assistance amounting to Rs 10,000 in two instalments, directly through banks or cooperative societies. This will help take up activities related to horticulture, sericulture, organic farming, high-yielding oil seeds and pulses cultivation, apiculture and fish farming.

Mr Padmayya Naik, Joint Director, Department of Agriculture, Dakshina Kannada, said that his department will extend the benefit of the scheme to 16,704 farmers to take up cultivation of high-yielding oil seeds and pulses and for organic farming.

Horticulture boost

Mr Praveen K., Headquarters Assistant to the Deputy Director of Horticulture, Mangalore, said that 6,960 farmers in the district will be extended the benefit under the scheme to cultivate horticulture crops such as mango, pomegranate, banana, pineapple, papaya and others.

There is good demand for cultivation of arecanut, banana and coconut under horticulture produces in some taluks in the district, he said. However, intercrop cultivation in the existing horticulture plantation is not allowed under this scheme, he said.

Inland fisheries

Mr Parshwanath, Assistant Director, Fisheries Department, said that 1,392 farmers will be encouraged to take up inland fisheries in the district under this scheme. Stating that there is more stress on coastal fishing activities in the district, he said efforts will be made to popularise inland fishing in Sullia, Puttur, Bantwal and Belthangady taluks in the district.

Mr Naik said that April 25 is the last date for receiving application for Suvarna Bhoomi scheme from farmers.

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