<p class="bodytext">Agriculture is like a laboratory. The land provides a platform for the laboratory. Farming is a continuous activity, said dairy farmer Keshavamurthy from Hanumanahalli. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Keshavamurthy owns five acres of land and has been engaged in organic farming. To supplement farming, he has taken up dairy farming.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Keshavamurthy and his brother Venkatanarasimha are science graduates and were working in Bengaluru and earning a good income. However, they were attracted to farming and purchased five acres of land at Hanumanahalli.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After seeking information from experts, they started dairy farming. Now, they rear 17 cattle which produce 3,200 litres of milk in a month. The cow dung produced by the cattle is used as manure for farmland. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The duo was growing Napier Grass and Australian Rhodes grass for the cattle. Following drought, they faced a shortage of green grass. As a solution to the problem, they have found silage. They prepare silage in 300 plastic tanks. Each cattle is given 2 kg silage along with ragi grass twice a day, in addition to water and 2 to 3 kg of cattle food. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Keshavamurthy said, “We not only grow grass but also purchase ragi fodder from farmers. The milk is supplied to KMF dairy. We fetch<br />Rs 27.50 per litre of milk. We use grass cutting machine and milking machine. In addition, vermicompost unit has been set up in the farmland.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">Keshavamurthy added, “Dairy farming requires hard work and commitment. Through dairy farming, we can free our farmland from chemical fertilisers. The farming is not only profitable but also provides satisfaction.”</p>
<p class="bodytext">Agriculture is like a laboratory. The land provides a platform for the laboratory. Farming is a continuous activity, said dairy farmer Keshavamurthy from Hanumanahalli. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Keshavamurthy owns five acres of land and has been engaged in organic farming. To supplement farming, he has taken up dairy farming.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Keshavamurthy and his brother Venkatanarasimha are science graduates and were working in Bengaluru and earning a good income. However, they were attracted to farming and purchased five acres of land at Hanumanahalli.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After seeking information from experts, they started dairy farming. Now, they rear 17 cattle which produce 3,200 litres of milk in a month. The cow dung produced by the cattle is used as manure for farmland. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The duo was growing Napier Grass and Australian Rhodes grass for the cattle. Following drought, they faced a shortage of green grass. As a solution to the problem, they have found silage. They prepare silage in 300 plastic tanks. Each cattle is given 2 kg silage along with ragi grass twice a day, in addition to water and 2 to 3 kg of cattle food. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Keshavamurthy said, “We not only grow grass but also purchase ragi fodder from farmers. The milk is supplied to KMF dairy. We fetch<br />Rs 27.50 per litre of milk. We use grass cutting machine and milking machine. In addition, vermicompost unit has been set up in the farmland.” </p>.<p class="bodytext">Keshavamurthy added, “Dairy farming requires hard work and commitment. Through dairy farming, we can free our farmland from chemical fertilisers. The farming is not only profitable but also provides satisfaction.”</p>