Bengaluru, February 6: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called on farmers across the state to unite against what he termed a “conspiracy” by the central government. He claimed this conspiracy aims to dismantle the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replace it with the “Developed India Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural).”
Siddaramaiah made these remarks during the International Trade Fair 2026, focusing on post-harvest agriculture, farmer empowerment, and the state-level Agricultural Scientist Awards ceremony.
The Chief Minister emphasized that his government has consistently supported the agricultural sector, prioritizing profitability and empowerment for farmers. He highlighted the importance of involving farmers in post-harvest activities to enhance agricultural profitability.
He stated, “Farmers should become entrepreneurs. Alongside crop cultivation, they must actively engage in storage, processing, packaging, marketing, and the development of by-products. More women should participate in agriculture. The achievements of the women farmers honored today are truly inspiring.”
Siddaramaiah noted that the government is providing high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, along with a subsidy of ₹1,500 crores for purchasing agricultural machinery. Karnataka has become the leading state in implementing the crop insurance scheme, distributing ₹6,000 crores in insurance compensation to farmers so far.
He pointed out that farmers primarily focus on crops like sugarcane and ragi, stressing the need for greater participation in post-harvest activities.
“Prices for sugarcane were determined after discussions with farmers. Similarly, procurement centers for tur dal were opened a month in advance for the benefit of farmers,” he added.
Regarding maize production, the Chief Minister mentioned that yields could reach up to 5.4 million metric tons. The central government has set the price at ₹2,400 per quintal.
He revealed that discussions have been held with maize-based industries and ethanol producers to ensure the purchase of 4 million metric tons of maize.
Siddaramaiah urged the youth to embrace farming in greater numbers, noting that before independence, about 80% of the population relied on agriculture, a figure that has now decreased to 62%.
He asserted that India has achieved self-sufficiency in food production and that many promises made in the Congress election manifesto have been fulfilled, including the crucial revival of the Agriculture Fortune Scheme, which the BJP government had previously halted. “Our government has restarted it, allocating around ₹200 crores for this purpose,” he said.
The Chief Minister highlighted that state government guarantee schemes—Shakti, Griha Jyoti, and Griha Lakshmi—are vital for women. Under the Anna Bhagya scheme, the poor are managing to save money and invest. These public welfare schemes aim to provide equal opportunities for all.
Siddaramaiah remarked that the MGNREGA scheme was initiated during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tenure, providing employment to women, tribals, and laborers. Under this scheme, work was determined in village assemblies.
He concluded, “Now, the central government has taken these rights into its own hands, deciding what work will be done and how much funding will be allocated. I urge all farmers in the state to demand the restoration of MGNREGA and reject the VB-G Ramji scheme.”