The striking feature of this year’s Krishi Mela being organised by the University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru is the interest being shown by farmers towards technology.
Unlike earlier, tech-related stalls or demonstration plots are a big draw now. A large number of farmers are visiting plots that display technology aided methods such as precision farming.
“I have been associated with technology related farming in the last six Krishi Melas. But this is the first time that I am witnessing farmers showing so much interest,” says the university’s agronomist Dr. Hanumatnhappa D.C., who has developed a precision farming model for integrated farming.
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According to him, more than 30,000 visitors have gone through the demonstration plots on precision farming in the last two days. “But I do not count it seriously, as they have just visited in a group. I can say that more than 200 farmers have shown keen interest and have approached me with suggestions for adoption of the technology,” he says, while counting on only those who met him and evinced interest.
Though the Mela is confined to 10 districts coming under the jurisdiction of UAS-B, even farmers from other districts, including the far-off Kalaburagi, have visited the precision farming plot, he points out.
Now, there is no differentiation between small and big farmers in terms of technology adoption, he says, while pointing out that farmers from different classes have shown interest in adoption of technology during the Mela. “The main intention is to help better your farm income through adoption of technology,” he remarks.
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