Karnataka Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Venkatarao Nadagouda has suggested that governments come out with an index for farmers on what to grow.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Centre for Applied Research on Problematic Soils in Mangaluru on Tuesday, he said that the Centre and the State governments could prepare the index to ensure food safety and better income to farmers.

Many farmers are into unplanned agriculture. The price of the commodity falls when there is a glut in the market. In such a situation, there is a need to have specific cropping pattern for each region, he said.

Farming is a gambling for many farmers as they depend on middlemen to get remunerative price for the commodities they grow.

Stating that waiver of farm loans is not a permanent solution to solve the problems of farmers, Nadagouda said the Karnataka government is working on permanent scientific solutions to keep them away from debt traps.

He urged the scientists to take research activities based on the needs of the farmers. Technology should be transferred to farmers, he said.

Later, speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the programme, the Minister said that a delegation from the State government would soon visit Andhra Pradesh to study the zero budget natural farming being practised in that State. Based on the outcome of the visit, the State government will take a decision on implementing that project in Karnataka, he said.

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