BENGALURU: The Department of Agriculture will launch an initiative —Krishi Abhiyan—in May to prepare farmers ahead of monsoon.
Disclosing this on Monday, Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda said at least 70 per cent of department officials across the state will meet farmers in person and visit their fields for an entire month.
Official sources said, "We are telling them (farmers) not to grow crops that require more water. In their desire for commercial crops, farmers are growing crops that requires water. Once rain fails, they will lose their produce and debt will haunt them again.’’
“We have many helplines where we advice them. Even then, farmers are taking taking their lives after losing their commercial crops,” the official said.
Byregowda said, “We advocate contingency crop options as well.’’