Opt for integrated farming, farmers told

While asking farmers not to expand area of cultivation of arecanut, Deputy Commissioner K.G. Jagadeesha has urged farmers in the district to diversify their crops and focus on integrated farming.

Speaking at a meeting of farmers here on Wednesday, Mr. Jagadeesha said that adopting integrated farming would help farmers face any crisis. Farmers in the district should consider growing crops namely pepper, pineapple and cocoa in arecanut plantations.

Agreeing with the suggestion, president of the district unit of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha Ravikirana Punacha said that they were making efforts to create awareness among farmers to limit the area of cultivation under arecanut.

Deputy Director of Horticulture H.R. Yogish said tha a majority of farmers have taken up pepper cultivation in arecanut plantations. Arecanut was being grown in around 35,000 hectares of land in district, he said.

Mr. Jagadeesha said that farmers can consider setting up a cooperative on the lines of the milk cooperative society that would effectively look into the aspects of cultivation, supply and marketing of fruits and vegetables in the district.

A workshop on post-harvest handling will be held shortly. Action plan was being drawn up on setting up a special agriculture zone, he said.