Malleshagouda Amaregouda Mattur is the proud recipient of the ‘Krishi Pandit’ award presented by the State government last year. His methods of cultivation have served as important lessons for other farmers in the region.
Malleshagouda Amaregouda Mattur is not your ordinary farmer. Hailing from Mattur village of Lingasugur taluk in Raichur district, one of the most arid and backward regions of the State, this farmer is the proud recipient of ‘Krishi Pandit’ award presented by the State government for 2010-2011. Malleshagouda taught himself methods to raise crops with minimal use of water. In 1974-75, he enrolled into a training institute for farmers, and took to sericulture. With that, he put Mattur on the State’s sericulture map for the very first time.
Following this, the scope of his work and his knowledge expanded. Because the groundwater level on his plot was not high, he installed bore wells and ensured that water was conserved. Also, he has dug farm ponds, small tanks to conserve water and big open wells. To ensure that there is enough water through out the year for irrigation purposes, he plants different crops at different times of the year. Also, this farmer has paid more attention to organic methods of cultivation, rather than to the use of chemical fertilisers. He has a gobar gas unit on his farm, and uses organic manure on his crops to ensure soil fertility. He thus ensures that minimal water is used, but fertility of the soil is maintained. His methods of cultivation have served as a role model for other farmers to emulate. He raises a mulberry crop at least seven-eight times a year, and has reaped profits following this. He has also won an award from the Sericulture Board.
His sericulture methods including drip irrigation for mulberry cultivation, use of well-planned structures to raise silk worms, have been followed by other farmers as well. A visit to Malleshagouda’s farm is a must for anyone who wants to take up farming. Apart from all this, he has also taken up dairy farming. He was among the first people who started distributing milk in packets, in the region. He also set up a co-operative society for all dairy farmers in the region. He uses mulberry as fodder for cattle.
He is known to cultivate a variety of crops such as bajra, pomegranate, papaya, lemon, sapota, coconut and drumstick. In order to generate organic manure, Malleshagouda has raised gliricidia (called Mother of Cocoa or gobbarada mara in Kannada) and honge. Apart from constructing farm ponds and improving groundwater levels, he has also taken to pisciculture.
His many experiments have brought him profits and laurels. The Raichur and Dharwad Agricultural Universities have given him the best farmer title and honoured him. The district administration has also recognised his efforts. Malleshagouda is a familiar face on many a panel discussion on agriculture, apart from serving as a resource person.
