Karnataka department of agriculture has set up Raitha Samparka Kendras, a chain of farmer centres to enable them access information about farm related activities. The project is aimed at giving a fillip to farming communities.
According to the department, there are 745 Raitha Samparka Kendras spread across Karnataka—one for each Hobli or sub-block level. The kendras cater to the need of 5,628 gram panchayats covering 78 lakh farmer families.
The department of agriculture created the kendras primarily to provide agricultural extension services to farmers. It is also looking at transferring latest technical knowledge to the farming community, introducing high yielding varieties, laying demonstrations, and imparting training to farmers to improve skills and knowledge to boost up the agricultural production and yield, according to some officials belonging to the department.
Now the kendras at Hobli level are created with the objective of providing updated crop production related knowhow, and arranging critical agricultural inputs supplies, primary soil and seed testing facilities and interface with public and private sector technologies.
These kendras are established with the sole aim to provide technical information on crop selection, crop production related knowhow, market information and so on to farmers. Further, it will offer primary seed and soil testing facilities locally. It is designed to facilitate onsite provision of critical inputs like seeds, bio-fertilisers and plant protection chemicals.
Besides they will provide a forum for interface and on-farm demonstration. This will cover details about new technologies developed by both public and private sectors. The state government is also making efforts to ensure transfer of latest technology developed by agriculture university scientists or progressive farmers by way of demonstrations in farmers’ fields.
It will conduct ‘Kshethrotsava’ on farmer’s field on a selected day. Here the intent is to provide technical support to farmers when they approach the Kendras with problem of pest and disease problems, selection of seeds, fertilisers, and cropping pattern, among other issues.
Similarly, farm machinery such as tractors, power tillers, maize shellers, threshers, besides other useful equipment are also distributed under various subsidy schemes. There is also a subsidy for the establishment of custom hiring centres for agriculture equipment. Distribution of drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation devices to farmers at 75% subsidy is offered. Here 40% of the amount is from Central government assistance and 35% from state government support, according to officials.
According to the department, in sync with the importance of organic farming, to increase use of organic manure utilisation for crop production, there is an urgent need to produce and supply organic manure to the farming community. It is planned to extend the organic village site programme to Hobli level.
