Agri Minister inaugurates Krishi-Thotagarike Mela in Shivamogga, appeals farmers to adopt measures to face drought effectively

Agriculture Minister P.M. Narendraswamy after inaugurating the four-day Krishi-Thotagarike Mela in Shivamogga on Friday. | Photo Credit: S.K. Dinesh

Agriculture Minister P.M. Narendraswamy has said that farmers can manage drought successfully and make a profit by adopting mechanisation and proper water management. He was speaking after inaugurating the four-day Krishi-Thotagarike Mela, organised by Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, in Shivamogga on Friday.

The Minister urged the farming community to make the best use of the event to learn about innovative agricultural techniques and adopt them in their fields to deal with drought effectively. The mela, he said, would provide information on crops that can be grown with less water, new varieties that can withstand extreme weather, and micro-irrigation technologies. Greater emphasis was being placed on micro-irrigation, integrated farming, digital agriculture and the use of artificial intelligence.

Areca and ginger are widely grown in Shivamogga, spices in Chikkamagaluru and groundnut in Chitradurga, and farmers have been advised to prefer mixed cropping over single crops, he said.

Mr. Narendraswamy said the government had drawn up several programmes to help farmers. The “Negilayogi” scheme would be launched in November to help drought-hit farmers recover financially and to promote the use of farm machinery. An initial relief of ₹2,500 per farmer had already been released to farmers who suffered crop loss in the State.

Agritech Mission

Under the Karnataka Agritech Mission 2026, the government has approved ₹35.99 crore for the Chief Minister’s Raita Chaitanya Yojane, which will use remote sensing, drones and artificial intelligence to provide advice and services to farmers.

To give farmers timely, location-specific advice, the scheme is being implemented on a pilot basis in five districts: Mandya, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Hassan and Shivamogga. The Chief Minister launched it on September 10, and about 27.15 lakh advisory messages had been sent to farmers by October 17.

MP B.Y. Raghavendra released a special issue of “Negila Midita” on drought management, along with a collection of farmers’ success stories, and spoke on the occasion. Shivamogga Rural MLA Sharada Pooryanaik presided.

Padma Shri awardee farmer Sathyanarayana Beleri of Kasaragod, MLA S.N. Channabasappa, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Nomadic Communities Development Corporation chairperson Pallavi, Karnataka State Textile Infrastructure Development Corporation chairman Chetan K., Krishika Samaja’s Mahadevappa, university vice-chancellor M.V. Dhananjaya and others were present.

Published - October 30, 2026 06:35 pm IST