Karnataka to Spend $13 Million on Integrated Farming
INDIA - In order to increase agriculture produce in the state, Karnataka government has allocated US$13 million that will be spent on implementing integrated farming system (IFS) on 125,000 hectares, including backyard poultry.The state-wide action plan for use of IFS model has been drawn jointly by all the farm universities in Karnataka.
The state government has also set aside $22 million to promote biofuels in the state, based on the model of the Rural Bio-Resource Complex.
University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru (UAS-B) has been associated with the state government following its success on the farm lands in the state.
Under the IFS, UAS-B has been ensured to effectively focus on functional links, marketing support and the establishment of commodity-based associations and biofuel extraction unit, which would be handed over to the Rural Biofuel Growers’ Association in Hadonahalli, Karnataka.
The project implemented in Dodabbalapur evolved in six factors, which includes promotion specific technologies, effective information support system, provide critical inputs which could be easily accessed.
UAS-B has been mandated to establish demonstration units at the Krishi Vignan Kendra in Hadonahalli, Karnataka at different interventions. It would need to set up agro-processing units in both Hadonahalli and Melkote.
Ragi (millet) and sunflower are among the crops that will be cultivated along with backyard poultry, tissue culture, bananas, nutrition gardens under IFS.
To market the produce, farmers will be linked to the Horticultural Producers’ Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society Ltd (HOPCOMS), Safal and Reliance Fresh to get better prices.