Proceedings of the First Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Karnataka State Horticulture Development Agency (KSHDA) held on 12-1-2009 under the Chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner at 11.00 am in the Chambers of the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore The following were present 1 Dr. L. Shanthakumari Sunder, IAS Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner 2 Sri B.P. Kaniram, IAS Secretary to Government, Horticulture Department 3 Sri M.S. Srikar, IAS Director (RI), Representing Principal Secretary to Govt. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department 4 Dr. G.K. Vasantha Kumar Director of Horticulture 5 Sri. H. Ganesha Murthy Deputy Secretary-I, Representing Secretary to Govt. Finance Department (EXP) 6 Sri. S.M. Pasha Director (PF), Representing Principal Secretary to Govt. Planning Department 7 Dr. K. Ramakrishnappa Executive Director, KSHDA Chairperson Executive Chairman Secretary The Director of Horticulture welcomed the Chairman and members to the first meeting of the Executive Committee. The Chairman initiated the discussion as per the agenda, the details of which are furnished below. Agenda - 1: Registration of Karnataka State Horticulture Development Agency (KSHDA) and its objectives. The Executive Director, KSHDA informed that the Karnataka State Horticulture Development Agency as an autonomous body has been registered under Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960 as per Government Order No. AHD 88 HEG 2008, dated:14-11-2008 Vide Reg. No. SOR/BLU/DR/548/08-09 dated: 22-11-2008. He further informed that this agency will serve as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for successful and meaningful development of farms and nurseries of the Department of Horticulture and explained the objectives of the Agency. The Executive Committee noted the registration of the Society and accepted the objectives as per the Government order.
Agenda - 2: Adoption of Memorandum of Association, Rules and Regulations and Salient features of KSHDA. The Executive Committee noted the Memorandum of Association and Salient features of the Karnataka State Horticulture Development Agency and accepted the same for adoption with the following modifications Appointment of staff to all categories as required for the society, to fix their remuneration and to define their powers and duties shall be done with the prior approval of the Government. In the composition of the Executive Committee, the Secretary to Government, Finance Department or his representative not below the rank of the Deputy Secretary to be incorporated. Agenda - 3: Farms and Nurseries coming under KSHDA in the first phase. The Committee accepted the list of 237 State Sector Farms under the KSHDA management in the first phase and resolved to move the file for concurrence of RDPR Department and to bring the remaining 173 farms of Zilla Panchayath Sector under the fold of KSHDA as mentioned in the G.O. The Chairperson also suggested to take action for updating the land records of all the Horticulture farms and nurseries immediately with respect to RTC, Transfer Deeds, Possession Certificates and clearance of encroachments, etc. Agenda - 4: To change the address of the Registration Office of the Society from Bio centre, Hulimavu to Lalbagh, Bangalore. The proposal to change the address of the Registration office of the Society from Biocentre, Hulimavu to Lalbagh, Bangalore was approved. Agenda - 5: Opening of Bank Account in the name of the Society. The Executive Committee accepted the action taken in opening the Bank Account in the name of the Agency, jointly by the Director of Horticulture and Executive Director, KSHDA at State Bank of Mysore, Vidhana Soudha Branch and remittance of Rs.100.00 lakhs provided to the Society as Grant-in-Aid by the State Government. 2
Agenda - 6: Creation of Revolving Fund as mentioned in the G.O. The Committee gave approval for remittance of receipts from 237 Farms and Nurseries, Laboratories and Bio-centers in these farms to the accounts of KSHDA as per G.O and use it as Revolving Fund for further development and maintenance of these farms & nurseries. Agenda - 7: Remittance of Land Acquisition Revenue to the Accounts of the Society. The Executive Committee gave approval for remittance of Rs.8,57,319/- to the accounts of the society as compensation for acquiring 2 acres 35 guntas of land at P.R.S. farm in Chikkaballapur by the National Highway Authority. Further, the Committee resolved to move the concerned authorities who have acquired the land at other farms & nurseries to provide compensation as per the commercial value prevailing in that area. The Committee also accepted to move for the arbitration, if the land acquisition compensation is not provided as per the prevailing market value. Agenda - 8: Implementation of the Schemes of the Department of Horticulture connected with Production of Horticulture Seed and Planting Material. The Executive Director explained that the following schemes of the Department of Horticulture connected with the production of seed and planting materials will be implemented in the farms coming under the Agency Production of Aerophonic Potato seeds on Pilot basis: Under this scheme necessary infrastructures for production of Aerophonic Potato seeds at P.R.S. farm in Chikkaballapur District and Somanahallikaval Horticulture farm in Hassan District and further multiplication of tuberlets at Kemmangundi and Ooty horticulture farms will be taken up at a cost of Rs.100.00 lakhs in 2008-09 as per the Government order. Production and Supply of Quality Planting Materials of Horticulture Crops under RKVY: Under RKVY scheme production of seed and planting materials will be taken up in 92 farms coming under KSHDA as per approved DPR. The total cost of the project is Rs.86.00 crores for a period of 4 years and the first year allotment is Rs.20.50 crores (2008-09). The Committee after detailed discussion gave approval for the implementation of the above 2 schemes by following all technical and administrative procedures. 3
The Executive Director requested the approval of the Committee to include Halli farm (ZP) Basavakalyana Taluk, Bidar District in place of Halladakeri Farm for implementation of RKVY scheme as Halladakeri Farm is handed over to Horticulture University for establishment of Horticulture college and no other farm is suitable for implementation of scheme. The Committee resolved to take the concurrence of RDPR department immediately and implement the scheme at Halladakeri Farm in Bidar District. Agenda - 9: Outsourcing of Technical Consultants as Service Providers for Implementation of RKVY and Potato seed production schemes. After discussion of the agenda in detail, the Committee resolved to out source the services of Project Management and Implementation Consultants in place of Technical Consultants for implementation of schemes like RKVY and Aero Phonic Potato Seed production by the Agency. Agenda - 10: Authorisation for the officers of the Department of Horticulture to open Bank Account for operation of funds of the Agency. The Committee accepted the proposal of opening accounts in the name of the Agency Jointly by the DDH s and SADH s / ADH s (State Sector) in State Bank of Mysore for operating the funds released by the agency at district levels. However the Committee resolved that these officers shall have to operate only the funds released by the Agency and not the receipts of the farms strictly. The receipts of the farms shall be remitted to the Agency accounts and reconciliation of accounts shall be done every month. Agenda - 11: Authorisation of Deputy Director of Horticulture (Grapes) to Act as Drawing and Disbursing Officer of the Society at Head Quarters. The Committee after detailed discussion resolved to authorise Executive Director to act as Drawing and Disbursing Officer. However, the committee accepted the proposal of Deputy Director of Horticulture (Grapes) to serve as General Manager of the Society as per G.O and assist the Agency in inspection of physical activities under taken by the Agency at various farms and nurseries. Agenda - 12: Approval of the committee for meeting the expenditure of Rs.6.00 lakhs towards internal partition and furniture to the office of the KSHDA. The Committee resolved that estimates for internal partition and furniture to the office of the KSHDA is on higher side. Hence suggested the Director of Horticulture & Executive Director to inspect the building and submit the revised estimates for approval of the Chairman. 4
Agenda - 13: Nomination of Three Non official members to the Executive Committee. The Chairman directed the Executive Director to submit proposals in the ratio of 1:6 for nomination of representatives one each from Farmers, Biotech Companies and Nursery men to the Executive Committee. Agenda - 14: Suggestion of the members of the Committee in achieving the objectives of the Society. The committee after detailed discussion, suggested the following action points for meaningful and successful development of Farms & Nurseries. i) To make every farm to function as a profit centre. ii) iii) iv) To convert all the farms into organic farms and make them self sustainable by producing the inputs on farms with establishment of compost pits, vermicompost, bio-digester etc. Adoption of dry land farming practices with in-situ moisture conservation techniques, rain water harvesting, farm-pond and organic mulching. Develop each farm into Centre of Excellence with information centers by synergising local species and practices with advanced technologies like Drip / Micro irrigation, Green houses, high density cropping, mixed cropping etc. v) Prepare Gramapanchayath wise action plans under NREGS and submit to the concerned Gramapanchayaths for incorporation in their annual plan. Converging the NREGS schemes with the programmes of KSHDA will be helpful in development of farms meaningfully. vi) vii) Bring all Horticultural Farms and Nurseries (under Parks Protection Act 1975) in order to prevent the land being allotted to various non horticultural activities. To apportion some area in each farm for trying cultivation of new crops, practices of intensive cultivation. Agenda - 15: Any other subject with the permission of the Chair. i) The Committee approved the proposal of outsourcing the services of one Computer Assistant & one night security for the office of KSHDA. ii) The committee considered the proposal of construction of office of the ADH (Z.P) in Doodaballapur farm and suggested that only renovation repair of the existing office should be taken up, not reconstruction. 5
iii) Leasing 2 acres of land in PRS Farm Chikkaballapur to HOPCOMS for construction of collection, grading and packing unit was discussed in detail and resolved to authorise HOPCOMS to use the land only for the purpose it is given and the ownership will remain with the Department. iv) The committee also resolved not to lease out any land of Horticulture Farms and Nurseries to any Agency in future. The meeting concluded with the vote of thanks to the Chair. Sd/- Dr. L. Shanthakumari Sunder, IAS Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner and Chairman, Executive Committee (KSHDA) To, 1. The Principal Secretary to Govt, Planning Department, M.S Building, Bangalore 01. 2. The Principal Secretary to Govt, Rural Development & Panchayath Raj Department, M.S Building, Bangalore 01. 3. The Secretary to Government, Finance Department (Expenditure), Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore 01. 4. The Secretary to Government, Horticulture Department, M.S Building, Bangalore. 5. The Director of Horticulture, Lalbagh, Bangalore. Copy to P.S. to Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner, Government of Karnataka, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore with a request to kindly bring it to the notice of the Development Commissioner. Sd/- Dr.K.Ramakrishnappa Executive Director (KSHDA) & Secretary, Executive Committee, KSHDA 6