Karnataka: Crop switch does wonders for farmers

Hubballi: Twenty-seven-year old sugarcane farmer Yallappa Logavi of Mirji village in Mudhol taluk of Bagalkot district has grown horticulture crops in his seven acres of farmland of the total 17 acres owned by him.

As many as ten varieties of crops including flowers, onion, brinjal and tomatoes have fetched him three times higher revenue than income from the crisis ridden sugarcane crop. Now, he is planning to shift entirely to horticulture by growing 20 varieties of crops in the next three years. He is using drip irrigation availing subsidy being provided by the horticulture department.

Amidst rising cases of suicide by farmers because of non-payment of their arrears by the sugar mills, more than 25 such cane growers in Mudhol taluk have joined hands to shift to multi-crop system. They shared information on growing horticulture crops by gradually reducing the cultivation of sugarcane that has proved to be a bitter experience for them. The Horticulture University in Bagalkot has been assisting them by providing technology and market information.

"I am earning Rs 3 lakh revenue per acre every six months by cultivating horticulture crops as against Rs 60,000 per acre by growing sugarcane for a year. I used to wait for more than a year to get sugarcane yield and payment from the factories. The shift to horticulture has changed the economic condition of my family. We are planning to bring more sugarcane growers into our society formed to make farmers shift to horticulture", said farmer Yallappa Logavi.

Sugarcane crop is being grown in more than 1 lakh acres in Mudhol taluk. But Horticulture University experts claim that Mudhol has black soil which is suitable for growing horticulture crops. They say the quality of soil will deteriorate if more water is used.