Foodgrain production to reach 125 Lakh tonnes

BANGALORE: Karnataka’s food grain production will touch 125 lakh tonne mark this year even though more than half of the taluks in the state are reeling under severe drought conditions. After releasing the calendar and diary brought out by his department, Agriculture Minister Umesh Katti told reporters here on Thursday that he was expecting the state’s food grain production to touch 125 lakh tonnes even though 99 taluks were reeling under drought.Last year, the state’s food grain production had touched a record 140 lakh tonnes, recording a 4 per cent agriculture growth rate.With the Budget session round the corner, the Agriculture Department is hoping to get the lion’s share in the Budget. “We are seeking around Rs 2,800 crore in the upcoming Budget as we need to introduce mechanisation in farming in a big way.”CM Sadananda Gowda said he would follow the footsteps of his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa by presenting a separate budget for agriculture.