Ethanol unit to improve farmers’ income: CM

NT Correspondent

Haveri: The setting up of an Ethanol unit in a dugar factory will help in the economic empowerment of sugarcane, maize and paddy farmers, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for an Ethanol unit in the premises of the under construction VINP Sugar factory at Jakkanakatte village in Shiggavi taluk of Haveri district. Farmers can get a good price for their produce when it is processed and value added. The VINP Sugar factory will help in the economic empowerment of sugarcane growers from Konanakere to Tadasa. Farmers would get a better price for their sugarcane, Bommai said.

Ethanol Policy

The Union government has formulated an Ethanol Policy with an overall perspective of environment protection, economic activity and farmers’ welfare.

Karnataka is on the path to get maximum benefit from it. Ethanol units have been set up in some Sugar factories. Provision has been made for production of Ethanol from Maize and Paddy too, Bommai said.

Employment for local youth

The Chief Minister wished that the new Sugar factory would provide employment to local youth and bring prosperity to local people, farmers and youth.

All round development of Shiggavi

Long term plans are being drawn for all round development in Education, Infrastructure and Industrialisation in Shiggavi constituency. Garments and textile units are coming up in the region. The ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ project has been launched to bring some of the industries which are confined to Bengaluru to areas in Northern Karnataka. These industries are being set up to brighten the future of youth. Lift irrigation projects at Savanuru, Byadagi and Hanagal have been taken up to fill the irrigation tanks in the region, Bommai said.

KMF Unit

There has been a demand for a separate KMF unit in Haveri as the district is a big producer of milk. The state government is working to improve the living conditions of farmers. Already Rs.30cr has been granted for setting up of a KMF unit and a milk processing unit is coming up at a cost of Rs.20cr, he said. Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol, PWD Minister CC Patil, Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar and others were present.