'Lab to land, or land to lab' CM challenges agri varsities amid crop losses

Siddaramaiah highlighted over five lakh hectares of crops damaged by excess rains and called on scientists to tackle declining soil fertility, pushing for innovations that move swiftly from “lab to land.”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday urged the agriculture department and  agricultural universities to take up research and innovation and introduce new technologies to farmers by adopting ‘lab to land’ and ‘land to lab’ approach.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating Krishi Mela on UAS-Dharwad campus, Siddaramaiah said, “Rainfed agriculture accounts for more than 60% of farming in the state. The agri universities should educate the farmers about the crops to be cultivated and cropping patterns.

The chief minister said that the early rains and a favorable monsoon had encouraged farmers to take up sowing on a larger scale this season, with the cultivable area expanding to 80 lakh hectares

“However, excess rains in several districts, including Dharwad, have caused extensive crop damage,” the CM said According to preliminary assessments, standing crops spread across more than five lakh hectares have been destroyed.

Siddaramaiah assured that deputy commissioners have been instructed to conduct joint surveys of the damage, and compensation will be disbursed soon after the reports are submitted. “There is no dearth of funds to provide compensation,” he added.

Saying that the food production is decreasing due to the diminishing soil fertility, the chief minister urged the scientists to look into the ways to improve the soil fertility.

Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy announced that the government would construct 12,000 farm ponds and promote 6,000 agri-startups. “Each startup will receive financial assistance of Rs 15 lakh,” he said. He added that the long-awaited Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Vijayapura and the College of Agricultural Sciences in Belagavi will be established soon.