BANGALORE, Sept. 27 (Business Line) - The Karnataka Government hasannounced a subsidy of 25 per cent on certified seeds for small andmarginal farmers to help them boost agricultural production.The announcement comes in the wake of failure of the kharif crops, whichagainst the target of 74.5 lakh tonnes of foodgrains, is likely to reachonly 48.53 lakh tonnes.Announcing the subsidy here on Thursday, the Minister for Agriculture, MrT.B. Jayachandra, told mediapersons that it would be given for five crops- jowar, bengalgram, wheat, safflower, and sunflower. The Karnataka SeedCorporation would be procuring the seeds and distributing them through itsoutlets and 'raithara mitra' centres. He said Rs 1.43 crore had beenreleased as part of the subsidy.Mr Jayachandra said the deputy commissioners of the districts had beendirected to start procurement of farm produce at a price not lower thanthe minimum support price. The Minister announced that the minimum supportprice has been increased for commodities, and a notification has beenissued on Thursday.The Minister said rains in the last two weeks had helped commence sowingfor rabi crops in the northern districts. Crops sown late in the southerndistricts were recovering, he added. In the last two weeks, 20 taluks hadexperienced excess rainfall, 92 taluks had normal rainfall, and the resthad scanty rainfall.