He was speaking at the State-level seminar on dry farming in Kolar on Monday. It was jointly organised by AME Institution, Bangalore and agriculture varsities.

In India since independence 30 per cent of all the research has been on crops that are based on irrigation.However, no technological development and research has been done on dry farming, which comprises 70 per cent of our agriculture. Moreover, not much of thinking has been done in this regard. Thus, thrust needs to be given on dry farming, he observed.

After liberalisation, globalisation processes farmers practising dry farming are in grave danger and are in need of immediate intervention of the State. However, the efforts of the AME institution in this direction is commendable, he added.

Programmes that bring suitable income to farmers needs to be designed. Also, progressive farmers federation needs to be created, wherein the farmers can fight for their own rights, added Mr Deshpande.

There needs to be a change in the crops grown under dry farming. The fertility of the soil is severely affected due to the incessant use of fertilisers and pesticides. Thus, the farmers need to resort to manure and bio-fertilisers. Also, the farmers need to be encouraged to take up organic  farming, he said.

Moreover, irrigation experts should be part of the committees instituted for chalking out programmes for dry farming. The practitioners of dry farming should be infused with new skills, techniques, scientific knowledge of farming and vigour. Also, they should be equipped with the right kind of information and suggestions, he added.
Also, the farmers inorder to improve their economic condition should diversify into poultry, dairy farming etc, he suggested.
The seminar was inaugurated by Zilla Panchayat President  A C Nagaratna.

Also, speaking on the occassion State Agriculture Director Dr Rajanna said that enough funds are not being allocated to dry farming. As a result the farmers are in dire straits. Thus,  in the present scenario agriculture should be converted into a large scale industry. Farmers should be economically, technically and socially empowered. Thus, watershed development  department, agriculture department and other voluntary organisations should strive together for the development of dry farmers.

In his keynote  address Dr R Dwarakin, president of the AME Institution noted that green revolution only made the rich farmers rich, while a greater majority of the poor and marginal farmers continued to remain poor. It only accentuated the already existing gaps and poverty continues to plague our rural areas.