Karnataka horticulture dept seeks Rs2,000 cr in Budget

At a time when several agricultural districts were turning into horticultural districts in the state, the government has to provide budgetary support to develop horticulture in the state, said horticulture minister SA Ravindranath. “I have requested the government to outlay Rs2,000 crore for the overall makeover of the horticulture department,” said the minister.

Dakshina Kannada was one of the main agricultural district that has turned into a horticulture district in the last 10 years, other districts that have shifted to horticulture include, Bijapur, Bidar, Chitradurga and Raichur. A few other districts were also on the way he said.

“At this juncture, the horticulture department should be equipped to modernise the horticultural operations which will result in scientific cultivation as well as increase in yield and returns to the growers,” said Ravindranath.

“Horticulture got `756 crore in the 2011-12 budget but the increase I have sought in the budgetary allocation for horticulture was nearly treble that sum. I am hopeful that the chief minister, who was also the finance minister, would consider it,” he added. The department had lands in every district at prime locations, and they will be used to set up horticultural gardens.

According to the minister, building gardens will not only develop green belt areas, but also create lung space within the urban areas. “Wherever there were encroachments on the department lands, they will be recovered, but the piece of land that belonged to Kadri Park in Mangalore, which has been given to MRPL for commercial purpose, cannot be recovered for technical reasons,” Ravindranath said.