Under ICAR sponsored Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) programme, the UAS, Bangalore through eight AICRP schemes of Bangalore Center viz., Long Term Fertilizer Experiment, National Seed Project, Potential Crops, Agro-Forestry, Plant Parasitic Nematodes, Vertebrate Pest Management, Acarology, and Apiary organized a one-day programme on “Distribution of Agricultural Inputs & Training Programme”. The objective of the programme was to impart technical & scientific know-how on various aspects of these AICRP schemes besides, distributing the critical inputs.
Dr. M. S. Nataraju, Vice-Chancellor, UAS, Bangalore, in his inaugural address said STC programme is the flagship programme of Government of India (GOI) and ICAR. He ensured that University will make all the effort for uplifting of tribal farmers selected as beneficiaries under the scheme.
Shri. Vijay Lal Meena, the Chief Conservator of Forest, Dept of Forestry, Government of Karnataka, Chamarajanagara district, Chief Guest, said GOI is making all efforts through all the departments and states to bring these economically backward scheduled tribes into main stream of the society. He urged the selected tribal farmers beneficiaries to utilize the benefits given by the university schemes effectively for their overall development.
Dr. Y. G. Shadakshari, Director of Research, UAS, Bangalore, in his presidential remarks said STC programme is in operation in the university since 8 years, being implemented in different AICRP schemes in selected districts of the state, where schedule tribe population is concentrated. Since, the Chamarajanagara district has more than 12% Scheduled Tribe population, the district needs full encouragement to work for the tribal welfare.
More than 250 selected tribal farmers of Budipadaga and surrounding villages of Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka State were distributed the seeds and fertilizers required for growing 1 acre Finger Millet/ Maize and seedlings of the horticulture and forest species were distributed.
Dr. Niranjana Murthy, Co-ordinator of the programme delivered welcome address