Karnataka - Mysore   

Farmers urged to adopt mechanised cultivation

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Enhancing output:Agriculture Department Secretary Sandeep Dave (second from right) releasing publicity material on mechanised paddy cultivation at a workshop for farmers in Mysore on Saturday.

MYSORE: Director of the Department of Agriculture K.V. Sarvesh on Saturday urged farmers to take up precision farming and turn Karnataka into one of the leading States in mechanised farming by adopting upcoming technology, which would improve income from agriculture and cut down on expenditure.

Speaking at the inauguration of a division-level programme organised to promote mechanised paddy cultivation by the department at the Senate Bhavan here, Dr. Sarvesh said paddy production could be improved by adopting mechanised cultivation, which boosted yield and required a smaller quantity of seeds than the traditional method of transplanting. Dr. Sarvesh said that Karnataka produced 45 to 50 lakh tonnes of paddy a year, and the area of paddy cultivation had crossed 13 lakh acres. Nevertheless, there was plenty of scope for improving rice production in the State through mechanisation, he opined.

He said a paddy transplanter cost around Rs. 1.80 lakh and a subsidy of 50 per cent was given by the department to farmers who wished to adopt mechanised paddy cultivation. Efforts were on to educate farmers about such technology, as few in the State were aware of them despite availability in the market, according to the Director.

An assistance of Rs. 1,000 was provided to each farmer for planting using the traditional method.

Although investment in agriculture and the use of fertilizer had gone up substantially in the State, the crop yield had not improved.

The amount of fertilizer used had increased in recent years from 17 to 42 lakh tonnes, he disclosed.

He advised farmers to use micronutrients according to the characteristics of the soil.

He urged paddy farmers to form sanghas in their villages and promote the use of mechanised paddy cultivation.

Dr. Sarvesh asked the joint directors of agriculture present to work towards developing an action plan to promoting mechanised paddy cultivation among farmers and establish market linkages.

In his address, Karnataka Krishi Mission Chairman S.A. Patil India had about one lakh paddy varieties and the rice germplasm collections were stored at the Central Rice Research Institute in Orissa. Orissa had diverse rice varieties, he added.

Explaining about special rice varieties such as basmati, he said that Rs. 5,000 crore worth of basmati rice was exported to several countries as the demand for special varieties was on the rise. He stressed the need for breeding more rice varieties by employing eminent rice breeders and researchers.

On the occasion, Agriculture Department Secretary Sandeep Dave released publicity material on mechanised paddy cultivation.

Farmers from Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajnagar, Hassan and other districts participated in the programme.

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