BANGALORE: An innovative spirit, a strong desire to do something novel and going back to nature have brought success to these farmers, who have now been recognised by the Government as `Krishi Panditas' (experts in agriculture).

The `Krishi Pandita' award-winners for 2002-03 are: Cherkadi Ramachandra Rao of Udupi district and Chandrashekara Rudrappa Nimbaragi of Mahalingapura in Mudhol taluk, second prize; D.P. Savyasachi of Hosahalli in Shimoga taluk, Y.R. Mallikarjuna of Yelavatti in Shimoga taluk and K. Aravinda Rao of Jogalabettu in Karkala taluk, third prize; and K.S. Chandru of Ashoknagar in Bhadravati taluk, fourth prize.

The winners for 2003-04 are: Peter Miranda of Mantradi in Mangalore taluk and K. Monappa Karkera of Mundur in Puttur taluk, second prize; P. Eshwar Bhat Vittla of Mudnur in Bantwal taluk, H.K. Raghavendra Hodabatti of Sorab taluk and Prakash Chinnappa Danareddy of Mallapura in Ron taluk, third prize; and Shivanna S. Arahunase of Mallapura in Ron taluk, Adinatha Hanamantha Rao of Heera Rudrawadi in Aland taluk, Srinivasa Murthy of Korlahalli in Hubli taluk and K. Appaji Rao Kanthamangala of Ajjavara in Sullia taluk, fourth prize.

The winners for 2004-05 are: Srinivasa Rao Pailur of Mudnur in Sullia taluk and S.C. Veerabhadrappa of B.G. Kere in Molakalmur taluk, second prize; Gurunath R. Odugoudar of Hulikote in Gadag district, B.C. Aravinda of Bhutanadu in Chikmagalur district and Shivamma of Dummalli in Shimoga taluk, third prize; and Devaraja Mukunda Rathi of Jagadala in Bagalkot district, Somanatha Reddy Porma of Kodla in Sedam taluk, Nagalingappa Manappa Badigera of Shalavadi in Dharwad district and V.C. Narasimha Murthy of Ashisara in Sirsi taluk, fourth prize.

The second prize comes with a purse of Rs. 1 lakh, the third prize with a purse of Rs. 50,000 and the fourth prize with a purse of Rs. 25,000.

Novel methods

Cherkadi Ramachandra Rao owns a 2.2-acre farm at Cherkadi in Udupi district. His system of natural resource management and self-sustaining paddy cultivation has come to be known as the `Cherkadi Method.' Mr. Savyasachi began to spray liquid organic manure to improve soil fertility and came up with a simple method to control the coconut mite menace.

Mr. Mallikarjuna started growing coffee and banana in his areca plantation. He does not use chemical fertilizers.

Mr. Miranda adopted integrated farming, which includes pigeon rearing and pisciculture.

Mr. Raghavendra got a yield of 15 quintals of rubber per acre and 40 quintals of arecanut per acre by using improved sprayers, soil and water conservation methods and green manure.

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