DAVANGERE: A delegation of pomegranate growers of the state will be taken to meet Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to seek waiver of farm loan and its interest, said Horticulture Minister S A Ravindranath. He told reporters here on Thursday that pomegranate was grown in about 10,000 acres in the state and it was fetching good returns to growers. But, the dangerous diseases that attacked the pomegranate plants had burdened farmers with huge loans and interest had not been paid due to crop loss.On horticulture course, he said from 2012-2013, the state government will start a two-year diploma course in horticulture for farmers’ children who had passed SSLC with merit in nine horticulture colleges. In each college, the students’ intake will be 50 and good teaching faculty and hostels will be provided, he added.With the government’s move to give more priority to start new colleges in agriculture and horticulture sector, a new horticulture college for Davangere will be sanctioned as we have all basic facilities like land and other infrastructure, he said.In February and March, 120 selected farmers from the state will go for Israel tour to study the pattern of growing more crop with less water utilisation, drip irrigation, marketing and processing techniques for horticulture crops, the minister saidand added that from each district four farmers will be selected.Meanwhile, the government has given permission for palm plantations in Dakshina Kannada and surrounding areas including Sullia and Puttur.
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