Karnataka govt to adopt SC/ST small-land-holding farmers

The Karnataka Government has decided to adopt SC/ST families who owns less than one acre of land and provide them with all facilities to take up agricultural operations including borewell for irrigation under 'Ganga Kalayan scheme.'
  
The government would be bringing one lakh SC families and 50,000 ST families under the scheme from this year, agriculture minister Umesh Katti told reporters.
  
There are 76 lakh farmers engaged in farming in the state and SCs account for eight lakh and STs five lakh, he said.   

The chosen families would get free of cost agricultural implements, sowing seeds and two oxen, Katti said.
  
As against the target of 120 tons,food production during this year has exceeded by five tons touching 125 tons due to good rains.
  
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is all set to present the state's first ever agriculture budget on February 24, he said. Yeddyurappa is also presenting the state's 2011-12
budget on that day.