Karnataka Budget: CM Siddaramaiah announces ‘Krishi Vistara’ scheme, AI farmer call centre and organic farming push

Quoting a vachana by Shivalenka Manchanna, the Chief Minister unveils several agriculture-focused initiatives aimed at improving farmers’ income through technology, organic farming and stronger market access.

Presenting the agriculture-focused initiatives in the state budget, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced several new schemes aimed at strengthening the farming sector. While presenting the proposals, the Chief Minister began with a vachana line by Shivalenka Manchanna, highlighting the importance of purity in agriculture and soil. He emphasised that “Karnataka will prosper when farmers prosper.”

The budget focuses on providing comprehensive support to farmers from seed to market, with major emphasis on technology adoption, market expansion and promotion of organic farming practices.

One of the key initiatives announced is the “Chief Minister Krishi Vistara Scheme.” Under this programme, the government will support post-harvest agricultural activities such as processing, value addition and improving market connectivity. The scheme aims to help farmers earn additional income. It will be implemented over the next three years with an allocation of ₹100 crore.

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To improve access to timely information, the Agriculture Department’s Farmer Call Centre will be upgraded using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. Through this upgraded system, farmers will be able to quickly receive information related to weather conditions, market prices, agricultural techniques and government department services in a single platform.

The government also announced a new initiative called “Vasudhamruta Programme.” This programme will focus on improving soil health by increasing organic carbon levels and strengthening the physical and chemical quality of soil. The initiative will be implemented over the next three years to promote sustainable and environment-friendly farming practices.

In another step to support farmers, MSIL Farmer Malls will be set up on a pilot basis in every taluk of **Kolar district. These malls will provide farmers with easy access to quality seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and agricultural machinery at affordable prices under one roof.

The government has also decided to take strict action against the supply of fake seeds and pesticides. Authorities will curb the sale of defective agricultural inputs and prevent traders from selling them at prices higher than market rates. For this purpose, a state-level advisory committee will be formed to study the issue and recommend measures.

To further encourage cultivation and promotion of millets and organic produce, the state government will develop a Millet Hub (Siri Dhanya Hub). This hub will function as a self-reliant institution, offering farmers and new entrepreneurs technical assistance, processing facilities and quality certification services.

In Mandya district, the government has proposed to convert Pandavapura taluk into a “Fully Organic Taluk.” An official organic certification system will be introduced to support farmers shifting to complete organic farming.

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The budget also includes plans to strengthen agricultural education. Based on expert committee recommendations, the government will provide initial infrastructure for establishing a new agriculture college in Athani in Belagavi district.

Apart from these initiatives, several additional measures were announced. Under the High-Tech Harvester Hub scheme, modern transplanting and harvesting machines will be added to reduce labour and save time in farming operations. The agricultural training centre in Babbur will be upgraded into a state-level agricultural enterprise training centre.

To address climate change challenges, farmers cultivating paddy will be encouraged to adopt the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method, which improves water efficiency. The government will also increase subsidies for farmers using seeds of newly developed pulse varieties.

Additionally, steps will be taken to ensure that all laboratories under the Agriculture Department obtain NABL accreditation, enabling them to provide accurate and reliable testing reports for agricultural inputs and soil samples.

Through these initiatives, the state government aims to strengthen the agriculture sector, improve farmers’ income and promote sustainable farming practices across Karnataka.