In a significant push for sustainable agriculture, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the state-level ‘Soil Health and Integrated Water Management in Sugarcane Growing Areas' project for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The launch event took place on Saturday at a farmer's field near Belagavi Sugars Pvt Ltd in Hudali village, Belagavi district.
Project Aims for Scientific Farming and Higher Profits
The ambitious project is designed to revolutionize sugarcane cultivation across Karnataka's major producing regions. Its core objectives are to promote scientific soil management and efficient water use. State officials believe this integrated approach will empower farmers to achieve higher productivity, slash input costs, and embrace environmentally sustainable practices.
Addressing a gathering of farmers and officials from key sugarcane districts like Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, and Mandya, CM Siddaramaiah reaffirmed his government's pro-farmer stance. He emphasized the administration's commitment to making agriculture a profitable venture and ensuring financial self-reliance for the farming community.
Addressing Fertilizer Misconceptions and Promoting Technology
The Chief Minister highlighted a critical issue plaguing modern agriculture. "There is a misconception that using fertilisers will increase yields, which needs to be addressed," Siddaramaiah stated. He urged farmers to reduce their dependence on chemical fertilizers and instead focus on soil health.
He pointed to Mandya district as a model, where farmers are reportedly engaging in development-oriented farming by leveraging government schemes. Siddaramaiah directed agriculture department officers to actively visit fields and create awareness about new technologies and maintaining soil fertility.
Ministerial Support for Farmer Empowerment
The launch saw strong support from the state's ministerial cabinet. Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy assured that the government is backing farmers by providing all beneficial schemes. District Minister Satish Jarkiholi drew an international comparison, noting that other countries achieve good yields on less land. He expressed the state's ambition to make Karnataka's farmers similarly self-reliant through scientific methods.
Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar stressed the importance of grassroots outreach, urging officers to visit villages and inform farmers about available facilities. Sugar Minister Shivanand Patil focused on economics, stating that continuous efforts are underway to secure better prices for sugarcane. He also suggested that exporting sugar to foreign markets could generate better income compared to the domestic market.
The high-profile event was attended by a host of dignitaries including the government's chief whip Ashok Pattan, MLA Babasaheb Patil, Hudali gram panchayat president Tabassum Bandi, and senior bureaucrats like Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr S Selvakumar and Sugar Commissioner Govinda Reddy.
On-Ground Benefits Distributed to Farmers
The inauguration was not merely symbolic. The event featured the distribution of:
- Soil health certificates.
- Tissue culture-produced sugarcane seedlings.
- Work orders for beneficiaries of modern farm machinery like sugarcane cutting machines (trash cutters) and covering machines (trash mulchers).
This project, a joint effort by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, agriculture department, and local sugar factories, marks a concrete step towards transforming sugarcane agriculture in Karnataka by placing soil health and water management at the forefront of its strategy.
