Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Gurupadgouda S Patil formally inaugurates the Krishi Mela-2026 at UAS, Dharwad. (TOI)
Dharwad : Karnataka legislative assembly Speaker GS Patil inaugurated the four-day Krishi Mela-2026 at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, on Saturday after chief minister DK Shivakumar was unable to attend following the enforcement of the model code of conduct (MCC) for the legislative council election to the West Graduates’ Constituency. During the inaugural programme, the university presented the 2025-26 Best Farmer and Best Woman Farmer awards to progressive farmers from Belagavi, Haveri, Gadag, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Uttara Kannada and Dharwad districts. The university also released several new crop varieties during the inaugural programme.
Addressing farmers after inaugurating the mela, Patil said empowering women farmers was key to the country’s progress and called for remunerative prices for agricultural produce. But if you invest in a woman farmer, the whole country prospers,” he said. Patil said women now play a crucial role in almost every stage of agriculture and deserve greater recognition, opportunities and social status for their contribution.
“If you invest in a farmer, an entire village prospers. He described the Dharwad Krishi Mela as one of Karnataka’s biggest agricultural fairs, drawing farmers from across the state every year. Among those present were UAS-Bengaluru VC SV Suresh, Agricultural Price Commission chairperson Ashok Dalwai, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha leader Virendra Patil and UAS-Dharwad vice-chancellor NB Prakash.