Visitors examine agricultural models on display at the Agricultural Museum in Dharwad, showcasing sustainable and integrated farming practices
Photographs highlighting the practices of 10 progressive farmers from Karnataka were released for wider dissemination. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news. They included the initiatives of Shaukat Ali Lambunavar, a PhD graduate and progressive farmer from Naganur village in Navalgund taluk. The museum is expected to encourage farmers to explore resource-efficient, diversified and sustainable agricultural practices. Download the TOI App.
Spread across two acres, the museum cultivates more than 50 varieties of fruit crops alongside agricultural and horticultural crops, illustrating the potential of diversified farming on a small landholding. Dharwad : An agricultural museum established by department of agriculture and SELCO Foundation on Dharwad-Belagavi Road is demonstrating how barren land can be transformed into a productive, sustainable farming ecosystem through scientific planning, resource conservation and integrated agriculture. Designed as a practical learning and knowledge-sharing centre, it offers farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), students and other stakeholders insights into traditional practices, modern technologies, sustainable cultivation, soil and water conservation and efficient use of natural resources. Based on the principle of saving water, nurturing soil and diversifying agriculture, the museum incorporates farm ponds, rainwater harvesting, solar-powered systems and agricultural waste recycling. It demonstrates how prudent water use, soil conservation and environment-friendly technologies can improve productivity while reducing dependence on external resources. Farmers can also explore technologies suitable for adoption on their land. The museum showcases integrated farming by combining crop cultivation with poultry, fish farming, dairy, sheep and goat rearing. Integrating vegetables and other crops with livestock and allied activities can provide farm families with multiple income sources, reduce risks associated with dependence on a single crop or seasonal harvest and improve economic resilience. It also seeks to promote innovation and the exchange of practical experience among farmers, FPOs and agricultural experts by bringing together technology, traditional knowledge and sustainable resource management. Joint director of agriculture Manjunath Antravalli; Centre of Excellence for FPOs, Bengaluru, deputy director Sadanand GK; director Vasudev KV; deputy director of agriculture Nataraj TA; Karnataka Bank regional head Iranna Nagaraj; and SELCO Foundation associate director Rachita Mishra attended the inauguration.