Karnataka - Bangalore   

UAS to back integrated farming

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Farming methods: These low-cost polyhouses will be on display at Krishimela 2007, which begins on Friday at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore.

Bangalore: Two districts in the State’s dry zone — Chitradurga and Davangere — could become national models in integrated farming, offering economic solutions for small-scale farmers, according to P.G. Chengappa, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore.

Speaking to presspersons here on the eve of the Krishimela that begins on Friday, he said, “The Centre will be sanctioning Rs. 18 crore under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for the integrated farming projects slated for these districts. Eight taluks have been selected in all, and UAS will collaborate with a non-government organisation in each taluk.”

Integrated Farming System Models, or models that use an integration of several aspects of farming, such as cultivation, fishing and livestock rearing, can optimise the productivity of the land, he said. Integrated farming will also be one of the major thrusts of the Krishimela this year, he said.

“Our aim is to reach small and marginal farmers who account for 70 per cent of farmers in these districts. The failure of a crop need not mean the end of livelihood for a dryland farmer. A plot of land can still be economically viable if they can fall back on poultry or sericulture, for instance.” The 52 integrated models that have been developed at the UAS will now be reproduced on a large scale in Chitradurga and Davangere, Dr. Chengappa said.

Navigating the 400 stalls and demonstration plots on the sprawling 1,200-acre UAS campus where the four day Krishimela is to be held, can seem formidable. But fear not, the university says that buses have been arranged to ferry visitors from the entrance and through the campus.

New varieties of crops, machinery in crop production and post-harvest processing (some especially designed for women self-help groups) will be on display. “Value added jackfruit” finds a special place in the food stalls this time with a host of products ranging from halwa to finger chips, beverages to chapatti and pakora, all made entirely from jackfruit. And you will not miss the conspicuous emu at the animal stall.

Techniques in dryland farming, water management, new practices in horticulture (including low-cost polyhouses) and medicinal plant cultivation will be demonstrated.

The Krishimela will be inaugurated by Governor Rameshwar Thakur at noon on Friday, following which an interaction between farmers will be arranged.

On Sunday 34 farmers will be felicitated for their innovations and contribution to the sector.

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