BHOOCHETANA Rainfed Agriculture Mission for Productivity Enhancement in Karnataka Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka Bengaluru, , Karnataka, India

Background Karnataka has the second largest area under dryland agriculture next only to Rajasthan Crop yields in dryland areas are low GoK has initiated a Mission mode project in 2009 to improve rainfed agriculture Mission goal is to increase agricultural productivity by 20 per cent in the 24 rainfed districts covering 40 lakh ha phase-wise in 4 years

Unlocking the Potential of Rainfed Agriculture Good potential exists to double the productivity and contributes to world’s food basket from rainfed agriculture What to do is known but how to do it? Poor crop and land management in rainfed areas Soils of Rainfed areas are not only thirsty but also hungry Large scale deficiency of micronutrients is observed resulting in low productivity

Yield Gaps for the Selected Rainfed Crops Grown in Karnataka * Figures in braces show % yield gaps from current levels

Genesis of Bhoochetana Brainstorming Meeting by the Development Commissioner to discuss agricultural productivity Ex-commissioner WSD stressed the need to emphasize rainfed agriculture and discussed success of Sujala-ICRISAT success and need to scale-up GOK officials visited ICRISAT and assessed the potential of improved management to increase productivity ICRISAT was asked to present proposal and to initiate work and Mission was formed

Bhoo Chetana Project: Mission Goal Increase average productivity of selected crops in the state by 20% in four years

Consortium Approach Partners Department of Agriculture – Nodal Department Watershed Development Department UAS, Bangalore UAS, Dharwad UAS, Raichur Community-based organizations

Strategy Mission mode Adoption of principle of convergence for implementation Adopt IGNRM-holistic “Seed to Food” (plate) chain strategy Consortium approach SAUs – Government line departments – Farmers - ICRISAT Identification of one or two major rainfed crops in selected districts Establishing participatory action research cum demonstration trials Ensuring the timely availability of quality inputs Detailed planning and monitoring at different levels Farmer facilitators as trainers and para-agricultural workers

Strategy (Contd..) Assessment of soil health in project area Identification of high-yielding cultivars preferred by the farmers thru PR&D approach Establishment of village seed and nutrient banks at cluster level Providing machinery needed through custom hire centers Taluk-wise fertilizer recommendations based on soil analysis Providing necessary and timely technical back-up Share knowledge with farmers statewide through farmers days, videos, literature in local language and train farmers as master trainers (provide space and resource) Ensuring procurement by providing MSP

Project Launching The Bhoo Chetana project was launched on 23rd May 2009 by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri B. S. Yeddyurappa at Haveri. ICRISAT and Government of Karnataka signed an MOU on providing technical backstopping for this mission mode project

Capacity building of stakeholders Team building of the state level mission staff, training of the district and taluk level implementing officials, field facilitators and lead farmers for the BhooChetana project on technology interventions in each district

Empowering the Farm Facilitators in all the Clusters Empowerment through capacity building measures Provided identity as Bhoochetana staff Honorarium for the Farmer Facilitators Setting the targets , roles and accountability

Mean yields of Groundnut from farmers’ fields in six districts of Karnataka during kharif season 2009

Mean yields of ragi, maize and soybean from farmers’ fields in different districts of Karnataka during kharif season 2009

Soybean pod yield in farmers’ trials of Dharwad with farmers’ practice and improved management

Maize pod yield in farmers’ trials of Haveri with farmers’ practice and improved management

Bridging the Yield Gap

Initial Soil Test Results - 2nd Phase

Sharing Soil-test Results with Farmers

Rabi crop seed yields in Chitradurga and Haveri districts of Karnataka, 2009

Field Days

Learnings Lot of relearning by departmental staff and researchers along with farmers Scientific approach and technical support enabled dry land farmers to enhance crop productivity significantly (32 to 66% for rainy season and by 23-43% for rabi crops). Communities can be effectively organized and utilized for increasing productivity of dry land agriculture All the incentivised inputs to be bundled as a package else farmers are tempted to go for selective inputs like seeds etc., Clear and timely flow of written communication to districts has hastened timely actions

Learnings Contd.. Timely and well ahead planning increased success and will avoid pressure with clear results Timely release and availability of funds to districts enhanced commitments of staff which contributed for enhanced impacts Early identification of target villages, beneficiaries, lead farmers, facilitators and their training is critical for the success Frequent meetings of the State Co-ordination Committee facilitated the mission project and helped in overcoming the bottlenecks to certain extent

Learnings Contd.. Supply chain for quality inputs need to be strengthened and put in place ahead of the beginning of the Team building enhances attitudinal change with commitment in Mission mode project Institutionalization of programme has benefitted the Mission and impacts can be improved further

Challenge 2010-11 Cover 1.27 million ha covering 16 districts Growing expectations of the farmers as well as of the policy makers Ensuring micronutrient application based on soil test results Soil sampling in the remaining nine districts-3rd phase

IMPLEMENTATION-10-11 12.72 lakh ha., 5030 villages covering 8.50 lakh farmers 2550 farmer facilitators and 12,500 lead farmer's services Wall writings in all villages- crop specific management practices and soil fertility maps Trainings & Field days : District level, Taluk level and village/ cluster village Regular Review & monitoring through Video conferences & meetings

IMPLEMENTATION-10-11 No of Districts: 16 Taluks: 88 Villages : 5,030 Major Crops covered: Groundnut,Ragi,Maize, Redgram, Blackgram,Greengram,Soyabean, Sunflower, Bajra,Jowar & Cotton Inputs Distributed: Input Distributed Gypsum (tons) 32,140 Boron (tons) 373 Zinc Sulphate (tons) 2,617 Bio-pesticides(kg/lt) 3,81,589 Plant protection chemical (kg/lt) 2,29,364 Bio-fertlizers (kg) 10,06,370

ACHIEVEMENT -PHASE-II: 2010-11 Cluster Villages : 1340 Benchmark Survey :100% Farmers registered: 8.70 lakh Area: 11.72 lakh ha Farmer facilitators – 2,500 Lead farmers -10,264 Wall writings: In all villages Trainings (No.): State: 01 District: 41 Taluk : 142 Positioning of scientists: In all implementing districts No. of Video conference conducted: 05

Targeted District and Crops in Rabi Season DISTRICTS CROPS GULBARGA, BIJAPUR, BIDAR, RAICHUR, DHARWAD, GADAG, HAVERI, CHITRADURGA, DAVANGERE JOWAR, CHICKPEA, SUNFLOWER

Bhoo Chetana - A Flag Ship project of GOK. Our Resolve Contributing to growing India with up-liftment of farmers in Karnataka through Bhoo Chetana - A Flag Ship project of GOK.

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