Karnataka - Bijapur   

Farmers using vermicompost to get increased incentive

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visit: Minor Irrigation and district in-charge Minister Govind Karjol at the vermicompost unit at the Krishi Mela in Bijapur on Sunday

Bijapur: Steps have been taken to increase incentive from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000 in order to encourage farmers in the district to use vermicompost, Minor Irrigation and district in-charge Minister Govind Karjol has said.

Speaking after inaugurating the two-day Krishi Mela at Hitnalli Farm, 10 km from here on Sunday, Mr. Karjol said the amount would be released under the district action plan.

In recent times farmers used vermicompost as it helped in giving more yield and cost less. The method also helped to improve fertility of the soil, he said.

He said that the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) had taken up a pilot project called “Beeja Grama” (seed village) at Aalmel of Bijapur district to encourage traditional methods of farming.

It had met with an overwhelming response from the people, he added.

Mr. Karjol said that earlier the mela was not popular due to lack of awareness about it among farmers. But now farmers had started attending the mela in large numbers to improve their farming methods and get more yields.

He said that three cells would be set up at the mela — transfer of technology, consultancy and agriculture value addition. Under transfer of technology, farmers could visit the stalls, numbering 60, and get information on seeds, fertilizers and the latest farm equipment.

Under consultancy, farmers could get their problems solved by over 30 agriculture experts.

Under agriculture value addition, seminars would be conducted on how farmers could grow alternative crops to improve their economic conditions.

It would also create awareness among farmers on steps to be taken to minimise damage during adverse climatic conditions, he added.

The vermicompost unit and the stall on preparing grape wine at home attracted the most farmers.

In the afternoon, a seminar on “Changes in climatic condition” was held.

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