Dapog, integrated farming methods hit with farmers

The two-day Krishi Mela, inaugurated in Brahmavar on Saturday, helped visitors most importantly youth, gain an insight into maximising farm productivity with help of technology and improved crop varieties.

A majority of stalls in the mela, organised by University of Agricultural Sciences, Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station among others, displayed a variety of agricultural and latest farm machinery.

The demonstrations on integrated farming method and `Dapog method’ of raising nursery by District Watershed department were huge crowd pullers.

High yielding varieties

High yielding rice varieties like ‘MO-4’, `Champak’, `Narunga’, `Mahaveera’ and `Phalguna’ were displayed on the occasion.

The stall on organic farming displayed varieties of vegetables, fruits and vermicompost containers.

The highlight of Mela, however, was the stall on benefits of mixed cropping system in horticulture. Another stall urged farmers to tap the potential in duck rearing and pisciculture.

Mahabala Rai, a farmer from Bantwal, said, “Farm equipment like manual crank-based rice transplanter demonstrated how transplantation of paddy saplings was possible with couple of labourers in few hours.”

Rai said he cultivates paddy and arecanut on 10 acres of land.

“Krishi Melas are of immense help in understanding the modern techniques on increasing the crop yield.”

The students were left mesmerised with the display of lifecycle of butterflies using live creatures.

Sanath, from Government High School in Brahamvar, said that the visit was a good learning experience.

Kissan Sangh president B V Poojary told DH that the farm fest urgently needs to adopt a different approach so as to help farmers realise how farming can become a profitable venture.

The financial condition of farmers should be improved in order to check the migration of farmers. The government should fix a scientific price for the farm produce, he added.

Raviraj Poojary, a young farmer from Amasebailu, said youth like him should take part in the exhibition so that they can improve their knowledge and make farming a profitable venture.