DK farmer gets Gujrat govt award for agri innovations

For Prabhakar Mayya, a progressive farmer  in Belthangady taluk, who has already won several prestigious awards for his contribution to the agriculture sector, a feather on his cap has come in the form of yet another prestigious award given by the Gujarat government.

Mayya was conferred with an award in recognition of his experiments and innovations in the field of agriculture at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Agriculture Summit organised by the Agriculture and Co-operation Department of Gujarat government at Gandhi Nagar on September 9. The award was conferred upon Mayya in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The annual award is conferred on selected progressive farmers and others who have contributed significantly to farm and its allied sector. By receiving the award, Mayya has brought laurels to Dakshina Kannada district and to his tiny village. The award comprises Rs 51,000 in cash, citation and a memento.

The success story of Prabhakar Mayya did not come with ease, but after crossing all the hurdles. He quit his teaching profession a decade ago and took up farming with the love towards agriculture. Today, he stands as a role model to farmers, for he reaped from the land which was once barren.

He ventured into farming with just five kilograms of ginger and five kilograms of elephant yam (that would have cost him less than Rs 200 then) 10 years ago and he reaped 25 kg in the next year. In the fourth year, he reaped a whopping 5,000 kgs of ginger and elephant yam. Apart from cultivating a wide variety of vegetables and fruits including cucumber, brinjal, gherkins, urad dal, banana, he also cultivates arecanut, coconut and other commercial crops.

There is hardly any variety that he does not grow in his five acre land.
Apart from cultivation, Mayya has taken up the task of pisciculture, poultry, cattle and goat rearing. Over 210 teams of farmers and agriculture scientists have so far visited his farmland and study purpose.

He is also the recipient of Pragathi Sheela ward from GKVK Bangalore and best areca grower award by Indian Society for Plantation Crops.