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The partnership between agriculture universities’ and the International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (Icrisat) in watershed management has boosted the crop yield in rain-fed areas in Karnataka.
Icrisat’s watershed and soil enrichment initiative, called ‘BhooChetana’ in the State, has improved farm productivity and incomes by 20-25 per cent.
“Farmers, who implemented this, have improved their farm management practices and are experiencing the benefits of inter cropping on their fields,” said Suhas P. Wani, Principal Scientist-watershed, Icrisat.
Another reason for higher productivity is through the propagation of efficient water usage and disbursement of improved seeds, micro nutrients, seed treatment with bio pesticide and fungicides, he added.
The UAS-Dharwad and Icrisat chose Niralakatte village in Dharwad district to roll out watershed development initiatives about two years ago. Now, it has become an example for training farmers in the neighbouring taluks and districts.
“After the successful implementation at this village, both Icrisat and UAS-Dharwad have been showcasing it as a successful model to roll out in the state,” said R.R. Hanchinal, Vice-Chancellor, UAS Dharwad. After trial runs in Haveri and Dharwad districts two years ago, the State Government now plans to roll out in the entire State.
The State Government plans to roll out ‘BhooChetana’ to 50 lakh hectares in rain-fed districts in 2012-13.
Currently, the scheme covers 28 lakh hectares and has helped 22 lakh farmers. In the first year (2009-10) of BhooChetana initiative, about two lakh hectares were covered in six districts.
Icrisat is planning a consortium approach for its roll out, where in it has partnered with the department of agriculture being the nodal department; others include: Watershed development department, UAS Bangalore, Dharwad and Raichur, community-based organisations.
According to Hanchinal, “Universities like us have been roped in to offer services to farmers and help empower them as farm facilitators at village, taluk and district levels.”
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