Karnataka: Six women engage in community farming initiative in Chamarajanagar

MYSURU: In what is being perceived as a pioneering initiative, the forest department, intent on giving a push for community farming, has offered six women from Tulasikere village, which falls under the jurisdiction of Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills gram panchayat in Chamarajanagar five acres of arable land on a lease of Rs 15,000 per year.
The farming initiative kicked off on Wednesday. The funds required for the initiative were provided through the eco-development committee.
Rimmed by the forest, Tulasikere is around 70km from Kollegal.The women chosen for the initiative are homemakers, otherwise engaged in domestic duties, will now be employed in agricultural activities.
“The idea behind the initiative is to empower the women by engaging them in farming,” said Yedukodalu V, deputy conservator of forests (DCF) of MM Hills.
The foresters started preparing the ground for the initiative six months ago. “This is an organic farming initiative. Sugarcane, millets and vegetables will be cultivated on the five-acre plot employing a multi-crop pattern. Grass is also being grown on the parcel to facilitate animal husbandry. We will use ‘Jeevanamrutha’, an organic fertiliser manufactured using cow dung and urine,” Yedukondalu added.
Pointing out that one of the objectives of the initiative was to help the locals prosper through agriculture, Yedukondalu said, “We will not sell any of the crops grown raw. They will be released to the market after they have been transformed to market products.”
The locals are understandably pleased with the initiative. Former MM Hills GP vice-president B Mahesh said, “In Tulasikere, agriculture relies entirely on rain.” The whole of Tulasikere came together for the launch of the community farming initiative, he added.
Former GP member Kempa said that all residents of Tulasikere were very happy with the initiative.