Mangalore, Mar 13: Concerns were raised over the growing influence of rubber cultivation in Dakshina Kannada district, which has had direct impact on cashew cultivation.
Speaking at the cashew mela cum cashew seed training camp at Ullal jointly organized by University of Horticulture Sciences, Bagalkot and Horticulture Research Centre Ullal, on Wednesday, H Dhanakeerthi Balipa, President, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Moodbidri Zone said that increasing enthusiasm among farmers towards rubber cultivation was not a good development for cashew crop.
“Lands which were being used for cashew cultivation are now being used to produce rubber. Farmers are falling to the temptation of economic benefits of rubber plantation and as a result, there is over enthusiasm with regard to rubber everywhere. There has to be a balance in agricultural produce”, Mr. Balipa said and added that the biggest problem faced by the farmer community is denial of the right price for their produce.
“We do not need subsidies from the government. The biggest help government can extend to us is by providing the right price for our produce. Let there be scientific calculation and fixing of appropriate prices”, he said and stressed on the need to introduce scientific techniques and creation of equipments for better farming. The district also lacks a proper cold storage facility,” Mr. Balipa said, while pointing out that Dakshina Kannada is not self sufficient in some of the crops it grows including rice and banana.
S D Sampath Samrajya, Member of the Board of Management of University of Horticulture Science, Bagalkot, said in his inaugural address that newer methods such as introduction of 'High Density Plants' are expected to increase the cashew produce and will be implemented in Ullal too. The method facilititates growing of 400 plants in 1 hectare of land and the produce will amount to one and a half kilos per plant in a period of two and a half years, he said.
Both Mr. Samrajya and Mr. Balipa expressed opposition to the proposed mega thermal power plant at Niddodi. “Let the government set up such plants in Bagalkot and other districts where there are acres together of dry and useless lands. Let them not set it up here in Dakshina Kannada”, Mr. Samrajya said.
Mr. Balipa also expressed concerns over the fate of farmers if Niddodi project sees the light of the day. “The Udupi project has already swallowed thousands of acres of fertile land. The same must not happen at Niddodi. The government is encouraging industries but we farmers are not being backed by the government”, he said.
An exhibition was also set up on the occasion where various variety of cashew seeds, byproducts of cashew, medicines derived from organic farming etc were put on display.
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