Increase irrigation cover: Mathikatti

Legislative Council Chairman Veeranna Mathikatti, on Wednesday, said the government should give thrust on increasing the total extent of irrigated land in the state.

He was speaking after inaugurating the honey bee culture training programme organised by Young Farmers’ Association in Bangalore. At present only 27 per cent of the total agriculture land was irrigated and farmers of the remaining 73 pc were dependent on rains. Production of agriculture produces would increase only when irrigation facilities were increased.
Association’s Central Advisory Committee chairman Dr N Rama Reddy said that political parties and politicians would remember farmers only during the elections. They make many promises during the campaign and forget them once they occupy positions, he alleged. Many farmers who have been successful after taking up honey bee culture, sericulture as their subsidiary occupation, were felicitated on the occasion.

Veeranna Mathikatti was stuck in lift for nearly 10 minutes before attending the function organised at Krishik Samaj on Nrupathunga Road in Bangalore. The programme was organised in the auditorium on the third floor in the Bhavan. Due to technical problem the lift did not move up after Mathikatti and a few others took the lift to reach the auditorium on the third floor.

The police who were on duty helped the chairman come out by opening the lift-door. Later he took steps to reach the auditorium.