Bangalore : A separate agricultural budget for state farming population was presented to the legislature along with the regular annual budget for 2011-12 by CM BS Yeddyurappa turned finance minister n his in his fifth year.
Karnataka is the only state in India that has presented such as a budget. At the centre, the Railway Budget is presented separately by a minister before the annual Budget is presented by Finance minister.
By presenting a separate farm Budget, CM has redeemed his pledge of working for farmers as a farmer and in whole names he took the oath as CM in 2008.
CM also showed his popularity before going into Vidhana Sabha, by walking with 5,000 farmers of Karnataka in a procession from his official residence on Race Course Road to the Chalukya (Hotel) Circle where the statue/effigy of Basaveshwara on a horse is seen. The march was started with national poet Kuvempu’s ‘Negila Yogi’ song on Farmers. CM held a red suitcase in hand, while entering the Vidhana Soudha (building). He started his Budget speech on Special Budget, after shaking hands with opposition (Congress) leader Siddaramaiah and JD-S leader H.D.Revanna, besides other leaders in front benches. CM had already secured the full permission of his cabinet in a meeting held earlier to present the Special Farm Budget.
The main points stated by Yeddy are given below: The budget gives importance to land and water on priority basis. He pledged to help all small/middle level farmers. His govt was bound to look after the welfare of all state farmers and their families, he said.
Agricultural loans at 1% interest to encourage big-gas projects. Rs.40 crores retained for farming machinery as aid (money0. Rs.1000 crores as rotating funds to develop agriculture under Farming Business growth policy. Rs.60 crores for Pumpset powered irrigation and good seeds for sowing. Agroloans, through Coop. societies with bio-fuel use upto Rs.125 crores. An amount of Rs.10,000 crores for 10 lakh farming families protection and growth under “Golden Land” project. 60 crore rupees to develop high standard seeds. Rs.3900 crores for qualitative power supply to farms. Rs.1,000 crores for reviving irrigation tanks and pools. Rs.100 crores for regularizing Pumpset arrears due. Loan schemes without interest to educate farm children. Rs.10 crores for horticulture development. Basic amenities provided for farming and allied activities. Rs.100 crores to develop and maintain small harbours on the west coast. The decade 2011-20 declared as Irrigation decade. Rs.100 crores for regularizing illegal 1 lakh pump sets used by farmers. Encouraged to rural cottage industries Rs.5 crores to establish 50 Fish Markets. Assistance Funds for Bee-keepers. Rs.1,077 crores fro animal husbandry and fisheries development. Rs.2,399 crores for women and child welfare schemes. Rs.7,710 crores for cities/urban development. Training for 4,000 students in Agriculture, horticulture and Fisheries services. Scholarship Fund payment to every student at Rs.1,000 pm. Rs.5 crores for seeds creation additionally needed.
Green Gold and wastelands transformation into Farms scheme. Computed Public service centres. A Global Agricultural Conference in June.
There are many more schemes blessed by state govt for the people who work on lan