Moodlukatte, November 30: Defence Minister George Fernandes said the Centre was making every effort to solve problems of farmers and growers of arecanut, coffee, tea, rubber and coconut besides farm labourers in the country.  Fernandes, who was here to attend 'Moodlukatte doddamane kambala' (buffalo race), told reporters here that the problems of farmers have been compounded due to several factors, including ban on gutkha and a crash in prices of sugar and coffee in the international market among others.  To overcome the situation to rescue the farming communities, these problems were now being addressed by the union Government, he said.

On the issue of demand from Central Arecanut Marketing and Processing Cooperative (CAMPCO) and areca growers to extend the period of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) facilitating the procurement of arecanut from the growers, he said that earnest positive steps would be taken soon. The Union Government would support the Karnataka Government which had taken the initiative step on the scheme, he said.  Replying to a question, Fernandes said the activities in the sugarcane growers areas, including in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, have now come to a stand still due to large number of sugar factories ceasing to function.

Former BJP Lok Sabha member I. M. Jayaram Shetty joined Samata Party in the presence of national president and Defence Minister, George Fernandes.  Announcing this at the press conference, Fernandes who was here to participate in the ‘Kambala’ on the invitation by Shetty, said that he had asked Shetty to take responsibility at the top level to strengthen the party in the State.

Replying a query whether Shetty would be offered with state presidentship of the party, Fernandes said that there is already a president for the State unit. “I have asked Shetty to take the lead in organising and strengthening the party base in the State.”  Shetty a two time MLA from Byndoor and one time MP from Udupi contesting on the BJP ticket.