Taking forward the 'Bhoochethana' initiative aimed at boosting productivity of rainfed agriculture through science-led interventions, the Karnataka government today launched the second phase of the programme in partnership with city-based ICRISAT and other organisations.
The objective is to enhance agricultural productivity by 20 per cent and a 25 per cent increase in net incomes of farmers in the next five years by covering rainfed and irrigated crops in all 30 districts of Karnataka.
The KrishiGyanSagar (KGS) and Krishi Vani (KV) project, part of 'Bhoochethana-II' will be piloted in four districts of Tumkur, Chikmangalur, Raichur and Bijapur covering 10,000 hectares each in the first year and scaled up to 322 thousand (3.22 lakh) hectares subsequently, by covering rain-fed areas in all 30 districts of Karnataka.
"After the initial intervention, we have launched 'Bhoochethana II' which is a more comprehensive solution provider to improve agricultural productivity, so that farmers get better income," Karnataka Minister for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda told reporters at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
ICRISAT Director-General William D Dar said that more than four million farmers benefitted from 'Bhoochethana-I' which was launched in 2009-10 in Karnataka resulting in increased crop productivity in 30 districts, largely through soil test-based integrated nutrient management, improved seeds and soil-water management interventions.
"Karnataka is showing the way to other states in the country. Other countries in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are in the process of adopting the 'Bhoochethana' approach. We see 'Bhoochethana' becoming a platform for green revolution in dry-land and rain-fed areas," Dar said.
