K-Kisan 24x7 service for farmers

The Karnataka government on Thursday cleared the decks for a novel programme to give round-the-clock services to farmers.

The Karnataka Krishi Information Studies and Network (K-Kisan) programme approved by the state cabinet on Thursday will link all the 747 farmers’ contact centres with well-trained staff to provide seeds timely, manure, information on soil testing, market, agricultural products and other relevant topics.

The programme will bring greater co-ordination among all the sections of agriculture department.

The Rs53-crore project will ensure 24X7 service for farmers and will also create a database of all the farmers’ families, said law and parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar.

The cabinet has accepted the proposal of University Grants Commission to accord deemed university status to Indian Institute of Horticultural Research in Bangalore.

The proposal from Trans India Shipping Services  to set up a steel plant and a 72MW captive power plant in Chitradurga has received a push with the cabinet approving grant of 440 acres of land in Chitradurga district.

The cabinet also approved grant of Rs5.5 crore to set up a 100-bed hospital in Harihar taluk in Davangere district.