Karnataka farmers are more privileged when compared to other farmers across India as the state government is set to change their lives through organic farming. When Chief Minister Dr BS Yeddyurappa announced in his budget speech on July 17, 2008 that his government is seriously thinking of setting up Karnataka Agriculture Mission to boost agriculture sector, nobody imagined that it is going to be implemented so soon.
The vision of the Chief Minister became a reality when Organic Farming Mission (OFM) was formed on August 29, 2008 with an allocation of Rs. 100 crore budget and on date 51,760 agricultural families in 173 taluks have voluntarily registered in the Organic Farming Mission Societies in their taluks. More than 50,000 organic farmers will assemble infront of Vidhana Soudha on January 26, 2009 and will take an oath to remain as an organic farmer lifetime.
Former President of India, Dr Abdul Kalam will be present on the occasion and oath will be administered by Smt Meerathayi Koppikar, 82 year old self practicing organic progressive farmer from Mudhol taluk under Bagalkot district.
According to AS Anand, chairman of OFM farmers in large number are assembling in front of dignitaries like Dr Abdul Kalam, Chief Minister and the Chairman of Karnataka Agriculture Mission, Ministers, MP?s, MLA?s, MLC?s, Officers, NRI?s, etc., on January 26 and will take oath to protect the mother earth from poisoning by not using chemicals. ? Farmers are not coming to Vidhana Soudha for demanding anything, but to declare that they will make the world beautiful by restricting themselves to organic farming. They want to prove a point that organic farming is complete by nature. They can produce the seeds and manure by themselves. There is no need to ask for the government to supply pesticides, as pesticides and chemicals are not used in organic farming. They equip themselves in this unique project, one of its kind in the country, as the farmers interested in organic farming, an ancient method of agriculture, get the benefit of experts advice, support and care by registering their families by paying one time of Rs. 250,? he said.
Bengaluru is looking forward to welcome these organic farming community who are coming on their own expenses from far away places.
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