Uduipi: Agricultural land reduced, population rises

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 16 June 2012: Udupi district is doing outstanding achievements in the fields of education and health, also leaps into the industrial field. The population increases day by day, but the agricultural land is reducing day by day! In the district every year about 800 hectare paddy growing agricultural land is disappearing. In the district the paddy was grown in 65,020 hectare during 2000 – 01. But this has dropped down to 56,339 hectares. During 2012 – 13 the paddy will be grown 55,000 hectare land.

 

At the same time the population is growing by 8.28% in the district per year. During 2000 – 01 the district population was 11,12,243, which increased to 12,04,336 in 2010 – 11. That means during the 10 years 92,093 and average 920 increase every year in population is taking place.

 

 

The agricultural land is reducing and at the same time population is increasing, means the agricultural produce is reducing, but the demand for the agricultural products is increasing. As per commerce this is the main reason for the raising prices. Accordingly the rice which was available for Rs. 5 ten years ago, is costing Rs 12 to 15 now. Also the cost of other food products have raised 3 – 4 times.

 

In one side the government – ministers are giving speeches asking to give importance to agriculture and to make self sufficient in food production, but on the other hand they conduct world investment seminars and also issues land to industrialists even by force if necessary. The best example for this is Udupi district.

 

 

During the last 4 – 5 years, the government has issued about 1,500 acres of land in Udupi district to companies such as Nagarjuna and Suzlon. Out of that land 75% of the land is greenery producing agricultural products, which is unfortunate.

 

Behind the disappearance of the agricultural land the hand of land mafias is huge. These land brokers who go into the villages and offer money to the farmers and purchase thousands of acres of land, convert them to site and sell. The agricultural land converts into residential area.

 

However, Udupi district which was popularly known as the district that depends on agriculture, will soon turn into the district depends on industry.