The International Society of Extension Education (ISEE) has proposed a five-point formula to States, particularly Karnataka, for bailing out farmers from crises and to make agriculture a profitable venture.
The ISEE is set to present the formula soon to the State government, according to its president K. Narayana Gowda.
The main component of the five-point formula is introducing data-based cultivation under which farmers of different areas would be advised to grow specific crops that suit their region, environment, and soil condition. Experts would assess the quantum of particular crops in the season and prevent excessive sowing and production. “This is to prevent farmers from glutting the market with certain crops by alerting them at the stage of sowing,” he said.
The second component is integrated farming to help increase incomes through multiple crops, including animal husbandry, fishery and floriculture among others. Third is value addition and processing, which includes setting up processing units to increase the shelf life of produce, besides reducing post-harvest losses.
The other components are setting up producers’ groups which would reduce cost of cultivation through sharing of production costs. This would also ensure easy access to extension network, besides paving the way for collective bargaining in the market. The final component is getting remunerative prices, which the society feels is possible if the government joins hands to eliminate the role of middlemen and introduce innovative marketing systems.
Mr. Gowda said the society was ready to provide expertise of international experts if any of the State governments showed interest in implementing this model.
The ISEE head said the farm crises were becoming an international phenomenon due to lack of co-ordinated efforts among authorities.