4,250 acres to come under natural farming in Mandya: Mandya Zilla Panchayat CEO

Mandya Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer K.R. Nandini said efforts are under way to bring about 4,250 acres of agricultural land in the district under organic and natural farming practices. Though the initiative has begun on a small scale, it is expected to expand significantly in the coming days to ensure sustainable development, she added.

She was speaking after flagging off the ‘Siridhanya Road Show’, organised by the Agriculture Department under the Food and Nutritional Security (Nutri-Millets) scheme, in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Mandya on December 31. The programme aims to create awareness among the younger generation about millet cultivation and consumption.

Ms. Nandini said educating the next generation about millets (siridhanya) is a collective responsibility of society. Efforts are being made to encourage women to prepare clean, tasty, nutritious and healthy dishes using millets, she noted.

In keeping with the New Year tradition of sharing sweets, the Mandya Zilla Panchayat, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and the Agriculture Department have jointly introduced millet-based food products grown through organic farming, making them available to the public at prices below ₹100. Nearly 450 orders were received for millet-based products.

She said government departments are spreading awareness about the importance of millets, which will also provide livelihood support to women from self-help groups.

Highlighting the importance of natural farming, Ms. Nandini said it gains momentum only when farmers come together to share their experiences. Natural farmers were given special importance during the Atmashreshta Krushi awards, and their experiences are being shared with other farmers through training programmes conducted by Krushi Sakhis.

The CEO stressed that the district’s fertile soil and water resources are divine gifts that must be preserved and used sustainably for future generations.

Ashok, Joint Director of Agriculture, said Mandya has taken the lead in the State by forming Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), which have so far procured 500–600 tonnes of paddy, promoting the concept of “farmers moving towards marketing”.

While the country has achieved food security, farmers are yet to attain income security. Farmer income lies in post-harvest activities, he said, urging farmers to treat agriculture as an enterprise rather than limiting themselves to production.