BANGALORE: The state is expected to record a five lakh tonne shortage of foodgrains owing to vagaries of nature, Agriculture Minister Umesh Katti said here on Saturday.
He said the situation would have worsened had the state not taken to increase productivity by adopting bhoochetana programme, desilting tanks and lakes and using quality seeds and manure.
He said in 2009-10, the state achieved a record food grain production of 132 lakh tonnes. “It looks like that we may not touch that target.”
Katti said the state has fixed the MSP for tur at Rs 4000 per quintal which includes a a subsidies of Rs 500 and Rs 200 from Centre and state respectively. “Rs 5 crores have been released for tur procurement centres. Ministers and officers have been directed to ensure that middlemen do not take advantage of the same,” he said.