Bengaluru: UAS-B to launch paid consultancy for aspiring urban farmers

Bengaluru’s University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS-B) is set to introduce a paid consultancy service aimed at supporting urban dwellers interested in farming but lacking technical knowledge and experience. The initiative primarily targets weekend farmers and first-time agriculturists who are seeking expert guidance to manage their farmland effectively.

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Under the new scheme, UAS-B specialists will provide customised cropping plans tailored to the land’s size, soil condition, and labour availability. The consultancy will also include field visits by experts, resembling an architectural service model where site inspections are chargeable. Mechanisation options will be part of the advisory package.

The idea emerged from consistent feedback gathered at the university’s monthly santhes—a farmer’s market held on its GKVK campus. Many visitors to these events had recently acquired farmland and were seeking structured farming guidance.

The university has already received about 20 consultancy requests and plans to launch a dedicated consultancy desk within a month. Interested individuals will be able to connect online and submit details such as land maps and cultivation goals. Services will initially cover Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Chikkaballapura, and Kolar districts.

UAS-B hopes this initiative will revive interest in agriculture among urbanites who ventured into farming during the pandemic but later lost momentum. The university also aims to promote organic practices and foster innovation through this programme.