ICRISAT helps boost agri productivity

Hyderabad : The 'Bhoochetana' scheme, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity with technological support from city-based ICRISAT, has helped 4.75 million farmers in Karnataka by increased agricultural productivity and incomes.

According to Karnataka Minister for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda, the 'Bhoochetana' initiative, which started with 0.2 million hectares in 2009-10 in Karnataka, has grown to cover 3.75 million hectares. This is helping around 4.75 million farming families who are harnessing the benefits of the scheme through increased agricultural yield and income. "The estimated net economic benefits from Bhoochetana of around US dollar 230 million prove that the potential of dry-land agriculture could be utilised to transform peoples' lives through partnership and convergence," Gowda said at an event as part the 41st anniversary of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), organised at its headquarters here.

The scheme, which started with six districts, now covers all 30 districts of Karnataka and those who adapted the practices of Bhoochetana project, their average income was increased by 25 per cent while average agriculture productivity was increased by 30 per cent per hectare, ICRISAT principal watersheds scientist Suhas P Wani said. "Almost all the crops grown in Karnataka, including sorghum, chickpea, millets, pigeon pea, groundnut, soyabean, maize have been benefitted with increased crop yield," he said.

ICRISAT Director-General William D Dar said: "Our partnership with Karnataka has showed the world that achieving impact lies in translating inclusiveness and convergence into action, with all partners working together for the benefit of small farm-holder and marginal farmers."