He was speaking after presenting a paper during the session on the comprehensive development of the district, in the 10th district literary meet on the Boys’ Government College Grounds in Kolar on Tuesday.
There is no considerable technological innovations in the agriculture sector even 60 years after the independence, he said. The farmers in India might be poor but they are not in inefficient, he observed.
Stressing the immediate concern over innovative technology to address the problems faced by the farmers, he said, there is no dearth of brinjal and the Bt brinjal is not of an urgent need. Besides, there is uncertainty over the long-term effects of Bt brinjal, he added.
On the farmers’ requirements in the district, he said: there is a need to look for an alternative water sources to avoid dependence on the borewells; the need to find out more agriculture-dependent jobs; setting up processing units to preserve and market tomato, mango and other crops; the farmers should think of growing foodgrains and oilseeds to become self-reliant. Dr Muniswamappay presented a paper on education and Dr H Gourinaidu spoke on history. Dr Chandrashekhara Nangali presided over the session.
Poor maintenance
Literateur S Raghunath, who presided over the session on the trends of district literature, said the literature and culture section in Kolar district gazetteer is not maintained properly. The Sahitya Parishat should update the gazetteer and compile the cultural history of the district, he advised.
Others who presented the papers during the session: K Nirmala and Dr D Dominique on the 21st century literature; Dr S L Srinivasmurthy on man’s perspectives on women’s literature; Dr Poornima on feminist reading of literature; a special lecture by Suggandahalli Muniraju on the ‘movements in the district. The literary meet also featured folk songs by folk artiste Rajappa.