BENGALURU: Agriculture scientist Dr M S Swaminathan on Friday advised the state government to strengthen the horticultural sector to improve farmers' financial condition. On invitation from the state government, Swaminathan met Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy at the Vidhana Soudha and also interacted with ministers and senior officials. According to the officials in the Chief Minister's Office, Kumaraswamy had sought Swaminathan's guidance on improving the financial condition of farmers and assured him that his suggestion will be followed while bringing reforms in the agricultural sector.
Enhancing income along with productivity is the need of the hour, Swaminathan said. He said the there was ample scope to take up sea farming as the state had a significant length of coast. While bringing reforms in the farming sector, the focus should be on conservation of soil, water and biodiversity, he said. The Israel model of water management may be of great help. Swaminathan admired Karnataka for being the first state in the country to have a separate directorate for horticulture.