The University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru (UAS-B), is preparing to host its annual Krishi Mela from November 13 to 16, a four-day festival of agricultural innovation, sustainability learning, knowledge exchange, and community bonding. The event is expected to draw thousands of farmers, students, researchers, agri-entrepreneurs, and policy experts from across Karnataka and beyond. Every year, Krishi Mela aims to empower farmers through exposure to emerging technologies, improved seeds, mechanisation models, climate-adaptive practices, and value-addition methods that can transform agricultural outcomes. Organisers reaffirm that this year’s edition will focus strongly on farm resilience, market linkages, and eco-friendly cultivation.
The mela will be conducted at the UAS-B GKVK campus, which annually transforms into an experiential landscape representing diverse farming realities. Farmer visitors will have opportunities to interact directly with scientists, input manufacturers, and government departments. Demonstration plots on the latest crop varieties—especially for millets, paddy, oilseeds, pulses, and horticulture—will provide practical insights. Scheduled workshops will explain how small and marginal farmers can adopt cost-efficient technologies without harming soil health. The organisers emphasise that this year’s theme underlines strengthening rural livelihoods through knowledge-led growth.
Experts note that Krishi Mela has become more than a knowledge platform; it is now a community gathering that sustains agricultural identity. Many farmers return annually because of the mela’s ability to present realistic technologies that align with their resource limitations. According to UAS-B event coordinators, equal importance will be given to innovations and traditional systems. Several programmes will celebrate indigenous seed conservation, water stewardship, and inter-generational knowledge. The mela will also highlight sustainability concerns facing the State—erratic rainfall, rising input costs, and shrinking farm incomes—while proposing solutions rooted in scientific evidence.
The mela will host stalls from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), self-help groups (SHGs), farmer-producer organisations (FPOs), government research institutes, and private firms dealing with seed, fertiliser, tools, and irrigation systems. Many first-time participants interested in agri-business incubation will receive guidance on business planning, certification, and financial support schemes. Agricultural officers observe that farmers increasingly want value-addition know-how to diversify risk beyond cultivation. Sessions will thus focus on post-harvest technologies, agri-branding, and direct marketing models. With digital marketplaces emerging rapidly, organisers aim to help farmers navigate new platforms while maintaining bargaining power.
The event will also spotlight Karnataka’s continued leadership in millet cultivation, especially after the International Year of Millets. Improved varieties and processing solutions will be showcased alongside recipes and nutritional workshops. Millet entrepreneurs and cooperatives will share business models adopted to capture niche markets domestically and overseas. The mela will emphasise that value-added millet products—such as flours, snacks, and ready-to-cook ingredients—have strong market potential. Experts believe focused training during the mela can push many young farmers to explore entrepreneurial diversification, particularly in semi-arid regions where millet cultivation is best suited.
Farmer interaction sessions remain a key attraction. These open forums allow participants to share challenges directly with experts, whom they may not usually access. Most farmers reportedly seek advice on water management, pest control, seed selection, and fallout of climate variability. Scientists at UAS-B insist that dialogue is essential because technology adoption becomes meaningful only when shaped by real farm problems. Social science researchers at the mela will also map farmer priorities to enhance future extension programmes. The University maintains that its field interventions are strongest when guided by firsthand farmer experiences.
Many visitors come specifically to witness live demonstrations of integrated farming systems (IFS). This model promotes combining crops, livestock, horticulture, fisheries, and value-addition to increase productivity per unit land. Demonstrations show how farmers can recycle resources, reduce dependency on external inputs, and diversify income. In drought-hit districts, IFS has helped families buffer price volatility by balancing multiple farm-based enterprises. During Krishi Mela, subject experts will illustrate how small farms can redesign layouts to accommodate poultry, biogas units, and kitchen gardens, while maintaining soil nutrition and biodiversity.
One of the headline features this year will be climate-smart agriculture, which integrates weather-adaptive crop planning, micro-irrigation, organic nutrient management, and smart forecasting tools. Scientists argue that climate unpredictability makes traditional cropping assumptions inadequate. Technologies like sensor-based irrigation and remote advisory services can help farmers anticipate drought and pest cycles. Demonstrations will explain how these tools can be adopted at scale with minimal investment. Event planners believe this focus is timely, given the alarming frequency of unseasonal rains and erratic monsoons in Karnataka.
Entrepreneurship cells at the mela will mentor youth interested in agriculture-linked industries—vertical farming, hydroponics, processing units, on-farm tourism, and farm-to-consumer retail. Students pursuing agriculture degrees are likely to benefit from industry interactions and live case studies presented by innovators. Women entrepreneurs will also play an important role, with dedicated stalls highlighting their contributions to seed conservation, processing, and micro-manufacturing. Sessions will address credit access challenges and ensure that women farmers gain awareness of gender-inclusive schemes.
Large crowds traditionally gather at Krishi Mela’s livestock pavilions. Breeders and veterinarians will counsel farmers on high-yield cattle, disease resistance, feed optimisation, and indigenous breed preservation. Many families specifically attend to learn advanced poultry and dairy practices that increase household income. Officials from the Department of Animal Husbandry are expected to showcase subsidy-based programmes. Demonstrators will illustrate how farmer collectives can set up low-investment dairy units managed with community participation and shared profit models.
STRONG KNOWLEDGE, SHARED FUTURES
Beyond technologies, Krishi Mela nurtures agrarian bonding—a sentiment that organisers say is vital in times of market uncertainty. Farmers from different districts bring stories of success and struggle, forming a support network that extends beyond the mela. Elders often share experiences that help younger farmers contextualise newer interventions. This intergenerational exchange is particularly meaningful in regions where youth are increasingly migrating away from agriculture. The mela becomes a space where young farmers witness how sustainable models can still yield viable livelihoods.
The mela also strengthens the university-farmer connect. Researchers get real-time feedback that shapes long-term experiments, while farmers learn how research outcomes can be adapted to their local context. UAS-B officials emphasise that extension is most effective when based on mutual respect rather than one-way instruction. Over the years, farming families have developed trust in UAS-B, returning consistently for guidance. This long-term engagement is considered central to Karnataka’s agricultural progress, particularly in pulses, horticulture, and dryland farming.
This year, Krishi Mela is also expected to engage policymakers in sessions that reflect on agricultural priorities and budget allocations. Many experts argue that expansion of cold-chain networks, agro-processing clusters, and institutional credit access are necessary to ensure that innovations showcased at events like Krishi Mela translate into material gains. Policymakers will likely discuss subsidy rationalisation, insurance coverage expansion, and water-security strategies. Observers hope this platform will encourage alignment across departments, helping to build a unified roadmap for farm development.
The mela’s cultural programmes reinforce agriculture’s social roots. Folklore, storytelling, traditional seed festivals, and local food stalls celebrate rural heritage. Culinary demonstrations introduce urban visitors to sustainable food systems. This focus is not ornamental but intentional—organisers want people across class boundaries to see farming as a dignified profession that fuels the economy and shapes identity. By maintaining a strong cultural element, Krishi Mela blends modern science with lived traditions, creating a holistic experience.
Sessions on organic farming remain in high demand. Many farmers are concerned about soil degradation, chemical dependency, and rising input prices. Experts will guide them through low-cost composting, integrated pest management, biological plant protection, and certification pathways. Demonstrations on preparing botanical pesticides using local ingredients are popular because they reduce financial burden. Certification experts will advise on building market credibility. Organisers emphasise that organic farming is not merely a rejection of chemicals but a regenerative philosophy based on soil life.
Water scarcity will be another focal topic. Karnataka’s recurring droughts and erratic rainfall patterns have heightened anxiety in agricultural communities. Rainwater harvesting, check-dam construction, watershed models, and micro-irrigation solutions will be showcased. Demonstrations will break down their technical aspects and financial feasibility. Experts will explain how community-driven watershed projects have transformed productivity in some semi-arid regions. The mela aims to highlight how collective action has long-term benefits beyond individual farms.
For urban residents curious about agriculture, Krishi Mela acts as an entry point into food systems. Many visitors, including families and students, explore terrace-garden workshops and small-scale composting options suited for apartments. This aspect helps city dwellers reconnect with nature and understand food sourcing. Event organisers hope such engagement can inspire better consumption habits, including supporting farmer-collectives and local produce markets.
A PLATFORM FOR FUTURE-READY FARMING
As climate pressures intensify, agriculture is transitioning toward models that emphasise knowledge-sharing, resilience, and diversified income. Krishi Mela plays a critical role in this journey by democratizing access to expertise. The organisers state that innovation must be inclusive—suited to both resource-rich and resource-poor families. By showcasing cost-effective tools alongside advanced technologies, the mela maintains accessibility.
Youth engagement will be pivotal this year. Coordinators note that agriculture needs fresh perspectives, especially from young farmers who can integrate digital tools. Many sessions will highlight precision farming, satellite-based forecasting, drone spraying, and data-led planning. Experts insist that digital literacy can significantly reduce uncertainty, helping farmers choose appropriate sowing windows, fertiliser schedules, and crop plans. However, they caution that digital adoption must be supported through training.
Farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) will receive special focus, with discussions on aggregation for better pricing, market intelligence, cold-chain partnerships, and export pipelines. Many small farmers struggle individually but find strength through collective bargaining. The mela aims to accelerate FPO formation and strengthen existing ones that lack managerial capacity. Experts from cooperative models will share successful case studies of collective marketing that have improved income stability. The sessions will highlight how FPOs can negotiate better terms for input purchase and product sale.
Seed companies, nurseries, and biotechnology groups will display drought-tolerant varieties and disease-resistant hybrids. Farmers will learn how to evaluate new cultivars, balancing yield with ecological suitability. Demonstrations will discuss the importance of seed purity, storage, and seasonal planning. Extension officials assert that seed selection remains one of the most significant determinants of profit, yet many farmers take unverified advice. Krishi Mela hopes to correct this gap, helping farmers make informed choices.
Soil health testing will be a major service at the event. Many families lack access to testing labs, leading to guesswork in fertiliser application. At the mela, experts will demonstrate how soil composition affects crop choice, input planning, and water strategy. Sustainability guidelines encourage farmers to treat soil as a living entity—requiring balanced nutrients, organic matter, and microbial life. Visitors can submit samples and receive tailored recommendations. Officials emphasise that healthy soil is central to long-term productivity.
Packaging and branding workshops are being planned for small entrepreneurs seeking better market presence. Specialists will discuss how visual appeal, storytelling, accurate labelling, and compliance standards influence consumer decisions. As direct-to-consumer sales rise, farmers stand to benefit from improving their marketing capabilities. Many young entrepreneurs view agriculture through the lens of value-addition rather than raw production. The mela aims to nurture this shift by combining technical and business-centric knowledge.
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