Karnataka Agriculture Minister Urges Modern Farming Methods To Fight Drought

Agriculture Minister P.M. Narendraswamy has urged farmers to adopt farm machinery and proper water management to manage drought and earn a profit. Speaking in Shivamogga on Friday, he inaugurated a four-day event called the Krishi-Thotagarike Mela.

Event Details

The Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences organised the four-day mela. The Minister told farmers to use the event to learn about new farming techniques. The mela highlights crops that need less water, new plant varieties that survive extreme weather, and micro-irrigation systems. Organisers are also focusing on integrated farming, digital agriculture, and artificial intelligence.

Government Schemes

The Minister noted that areca and ginger grow widely in Shivamogga, spices in Chikkamagaluru, and groundnut in Chitradurga. He advised farmers to choose mixed cropping instead of growing single crops. The government will launch the Negilayogi scheme in November to help drought-hit farmers financially and promote farm machinery. Officials have already released an initial relief of 2,500 rupees per farmer for crop loss in the state. Under the Karnataka Agritech Mission 2026, the government approved 35.99 crore rupees for the Chief Minister's Raita Chaitanya Yojane. This yojane uses remote sensing, drones, and artificial intelligence to advise farmers.

Pilot Programme

Officials are running the scheme on a pilot basis in five districts: Mandya, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Hassan, and Shivamogga. The Chief Minister launched it on September 10, and workers sent about 27.15 lakh advisory messages to farmers by October 17. MP B.Y. Raghavendra released a special publication called Negila Midita alongside a book of farmers' success stories. Shivamogga Rural MLA Sharada Pooryanaik presided over the function, which included Padma Shri awardee farmer Sathyanarayana Beleri and several other leaders and officials.

Context

Agricultural universities in India regularly host such fairs to bridge the gap between scientific research and everyday farming practices. Drought management remains a major policy challenge in many Indian states, pushing governments to invest in digital tools and micro-irrigation. Local leaders and agricultural scientists often gather at these public events to share practical solutions with rural communities.