The chat room: Let's mix it all up. Pisciculture, horticulture, agriculture'

Though an agricultural state, Karnataka is not doing enough for the farming community in terms of agricultural extension services or imparting of technical know-how. Also, a recent study revealed that around 60,000 hectares of agricultural land was converted to non-agricultural purposes every year in the state over the last decade. A major portion (60-65%) of the state’s population is dependant on agriculture and it is the second largest state involved in dryland farming. When it comes to dryland farming, tech education of farmers is crucial, says Dr H. Shivanna, Vice-Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, during a chat with Joyeeta Chakravorty

The Cauvery dispute has brought the troubles of Karnataka’s farmers to the fore. With little water for their needs presently, they are also crying for more support in terms of agricultural extension services and technical know-how. Compounding their misery is the erratic rainfall.  While  North Karnataka is being flooded on account of heavy rain, farmers are losing their crops due to lack of it in the south of the state. “Some 10 to 12 districts in south Karnataka have gone for  60 days without rain. They don’t have enough drinking water either. These are tough times for  farmers,” observes Dr H Shivanna, Vice Chancellor of the University Of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru.

Seated in his quiet office overlooking a sprawling lawn, Dr Shivanna  is happy  to speak  about farming, a subject  close to his heart, but makes it  clear  he will not get into the Cauvery water crisis.  

He warns  that agriculture needs more focus before it is too late. But then adds, “I would be wrong if I say there has been no work going on post Independence in the field. We cannot jump from zero to hundred when it comes to agricultural output. There has been gradual growth."

Although an agricultural state, Karnataka, he believes is not doing enough for the farming community in terms of agricultural extension services or imparting of technical know-how.  “Also, a recent study released on the cropping pattern in Karnataka has shown that around 60,000 hectares of agricultural land has been converted to non-agricultural purposes every year in the state over the last decade. But this is only one of many issues at hand. A major portion(60%-65%) of the state’s population is dependant on agriculture and it is the second largest state involved in dryland farming. When it comes to dryland agriculture, technology education for farmers is crucial. They need to be sensitized to technology and taught water management," he notes.

So why cannot  farmers be educated to opt for the right crops when there isn’t enough water?  "If you ask me why we cannot educate farmers to switch to different crops when the rains are so erratic, all I can say is they  cannot suddenly make a jump from one crop to another. Paddy planters  cannot be asked to grow another crop all of a sudden,” he explains

What is the solution then ? "There is so much of wastage both in terms of water and foodgrains. The country produces some 250 million tonnes of foodgrains and is able to store only 40 million tonnes of it. The rest is wasted.  So we need proper post harvest technology to reduce this kind of wastage. We should adopt a public-private model and work on the infrastructure, technology and management of such  aspects," he suggests

Observing that agriculture does not receive the importance it deserves, he goes on,  " It has to get attention like any other profession. People need to see it as a return on investment and not loss. Agriculture contributes some 13% to the national GDP, but the government  invests only 0.8% of the GDP in it. It is not sufficient. We should learn from China and Japan and not let politics get in the way of ethical issues. Now the production is 250-260 million tones, but it has to be doubled in the next 10 years as the population will also double and there will be a huge number to feed. If agriculture is not given its due importance we will have a crisis at  hand.”

Speaking of the declining land availability, he points out that a family cannot survive on one or two acres. “So we are now advocating an integrated farming system as sustaining only on agriculture is not viable for a family anymore.  There needs to be a mix of fisheries, horticulture and the like. Investment has to be increased in agriculture  and proportionate increase in research and development is also required."