'Lay emphasis on horticulture in state'

Renowned agriculture expert M S Swaminathan has suggested that the state government should strengthen the horticulture sector to improve the economic condition of farmers.

Swaminathan met Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy at Vidhana Soudha on Friday on latter’s invitation. Swaminathan also advised the chief minister that the government should not only focus on improving agricultural production but also lay thrust on their pricing. Karnataka should make use of its abundant coastline to make a foray into ‘ocean agriculture’ like seaweed farming, he suggested.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kumaraswamy said the suggestions made by Swaminathan will be followed suitably in the state. The government will attempt to replicate best practices of agriculture being adopted in various parts of the world. Agriculture Minister N H Shivashankar Reddy will convene a meeting of officers of the agriculture department soon to discuss problems faced in each district. Efforts will be made to find district-specific solutions, he added.