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

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

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

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

17. Bridging the Yield Gap

18. Initial Soil Test Results - 2nd Phase

19. Sharing Soil-test Results with Farmers

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

21. Field Days

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. ACHIEVEMENT -PHASE-II: 2010-11
Cluster Villages : 1340
Benchmark Survey :100%
Farmers registered: 8.70 lakh
Area: lakh ha
Farmer facilitators – 2,500
Lead farmers ,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

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

30. 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.

31. THANK YOU