#### Agriculture is Not a Business but Our Way of Life: Dr. Karnatak

Teams from eight Krishi Vigyan Kendras reached 1.20 lakh farmers

Maize set to become one of the world’s costliest crops

Sevenfold increase in food grain production since Independence

Udaipur,  Agriculture is not merely a business, but a way of life. About 65% of the country's families are engaged in farming, and most have grown up in fields. Now, there is a need to align agriculture with market-based approaches. India became independent in 1947, and by 2047 – a century later – it is on its way to becoming a developed nation. Since independence, Indian agricultural scientists have raised food grain production to 354 million tonnes, a sevenfold increase. In the same period, the population has grown fourfold, reaching 1.4 billion.

<br /><img src="http://www.pressnote.in/upload/515567A.jpg" style="max-width:400px; padding:5px;" align="left"><br />

These views were expressed by Dr. Ajeet Kumar Karnatak, Vice Chancellor of Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, during the concluding ceremony of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan held on Thursday. The event took place in Kotri village of Binota Panchayat near Udaipur, where a large number of male and female farmers participated.

Dr. Karnatak administered an oath to villagers, reminding them that their ancestors practiced diverse agriculture – not only wheat and maize but also fruits and vegetables, benefitting the entire family. Although new technologies have emerged, they have not reached farmers easily. Through this campaign aimed at connecting the lab to the land, eight Krishi Vigyan Kendras under MPUAT reached out to 1.20 lakh farmers in just 15 days, disseminating technical information that will benefit them in the upcoming Kharif season.

He also emphasized the importance of integrating farming with cattle rearing, goat farming, poultry, and beekeeping for economic support. Cattle not only provide compost for fields but also supply pure milk and curd to households.

Quoting the popular saying, "Gehu chhod makka khano, Mewar chhod na kathai ni jano", Dr. Karnatak said that maize is poised to become one of the most valuable crops globally. Initially cultivated as animal fodder, maize has now evolved with scientific advancements into several varieties like popcorn, sweet corn, and baby corn. Its kernels are used to extract oil and starch. Ethanol is also being produced from maize starch, which is now permitted to be blended with petrol. In Banswara, farmers are even harvesting three maize crops a year.

He encouraged farmers to take pride in their profession. As long as life exists, hunger will never end – and only the annadata (food provider) farmer can satisfy this hunger. To boost productivity and income, farmers should adopt modern techniques such as mobile applications, drones for fertilizer spraying, natural farming, 20% seed replacement with composite varieties, and timely irrigation during critical stages of crop growth.

Dr. R.L. Soni, Director of Extension Education, presided over the event and informed that in this fortnight-long campaign, 13 teams operated across nine districts of South Rajasthan, organizing approximately 550 camps and reaching 1.20 lakh farmers. They shared insights from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and MPUAT's various research initiatives. He urged farmers to adopt innovations, conduct soil tests, use fertilizers based on recommendations, increase cropping intensity, and choose quality seeds. On this occasion, he also announced free mini kits of maize seeds for 15 farmers.

Earlier, Dr. P.C. Regr from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Rajsamand, presented a report on the activities carried out during the campaign. Ranjana Audichya, Assistant Agriculture Officer, provided information on departmental schemes such as pipelines, fencing, farm ponds, and government subsidies on agricultural equipment.

Soil scientist Dr. Mahaveer Nogiya, Shri Naval Singh Jhala, Shri Gopal Singh Rana, Shri Ram Kishore Yadav, Dr. Latika Vyas, and Dr. Adarsh Sharma also interacted with farmers, sharing strategies to increase their income.