Ryots encouraged to grow soya beans

H D Kote taluk in the district has set an example for farmers in other taluks by cultivating  soya beans successfully. A first such experiment conducted by the department of Agriculture, along with Agriculture University, has paid rich dividends with a variety of legumes being cultivated in 30 hectares of land at Gandaththur village in the taluk.

This was disclosed here on Friday by the Joint Director of Agriculture Department Mahanteshappa to ZP president Pushpavati Amarnath during the progress review meeting of Agriculture and Watershed departments.

Mahanteshappa said that buoyed by the good yield the department was encouraging more farmers to take up cultivation of soya beans.

As part of the increasing call to take up organic farming, an exclusive programme called ‘Savayuva Bhagya’ has been launched in the district. A total of 100 hectares of land has been identified in 26 villages in the district.

Farmers here are being educated about the benefits of organic farming, along with allied matters like preparing organic manure, vermicompost, digging Japan model compost pits, among others.

The benefits provided by the government for such farmers will be distributed through the dedicated organisations, besides involving NGOs.

Mahanteshappa, however said that owing to depletion in rainfall in the recent days, there may be dip in the yield of maize and jowar. Tobacco and cotton crops were also expected to take a hit.

Though the district witnessed sufficient rains in May, rainfall in June and July had not been satisfactory. Till July 31, 113.9 mm of seasonal rain was recorded against the expected 128 mm. Though Mysore and Nanjangud taluks recorded good seasonal rainfall the other taluks had not been as lucky.

Pushpavati said that apart from encouraging the farmers in growing soya beans, awareness programmes should be conducted through adequate publicity measures at Raitha Samparka Kendras about the methods of cultivation.

Vice-president L Madappa warned the Agriculture department against the supply of low quality hybrid seeds, as there were allegations in this regard.