Category: Agriculture

KARNATAKA: AGRICULTURE, INNOVATION, LIVING MUSEUM, RECORDS: Farmer Anil Balanja Grows 700 Different Types of Exotic Fruits from 40 different Nations on His Farm

Anil Balanja, a farmer in Karnataka, has been growing exotic fruits from 40 different nations on his land for the past 20 years.

Anil Balanja, a native of Karnataka, grew up seeing his father grow several jackfruit and mango varieties. He always knew he wanted to be a farmer, and at the age of 19, he began by sowing areca, coconut, and rubber.

The youngster made the decision to emulate his father five years ago. On his farm, he grew a variety of exotic fruits that are uncommonly grown in the nation. This includes foods like avocados, Malaysian santol, Indonesian kepel, and many others.

Currently, Anil’s farm in the Dakshina-Kannada district is flourishing with over 700 exotic fruit types gathered from 40 different nations. Each fruit’s seeds are obtained from nurseries and his international pals.

Additionally, he maintains a thorough record of every fruit, including its scientific name, therapeutic properties, ideal growing temperature, and kind of soil. To continue growing the fruits he collected, he now owns and operates his own nursery.

source/content: krishijagran.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: BIRD CONSERVATION: Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is Karnataka’s First Ramsar Site

Ranganathittu sanctuary also finds a place in the Important Bird Areas (IBA) list of 42 sites in Karnataka that are identified by the Bombay Natural History Society.

After a wait of over ten years, Karnataka got its first Ramsar site on Wednesday.

The ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) declared Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Mandya as a Ramsar site. With this, the forest department, local administration and tourism department will not just be able to ensure better conservation but also scale up its eco-tourism potential to international standards. Located in the mid-stream of the Cauvery river, Ranganathittu is an integral part of the wetland system and spreads across 517.70 hectares.

It also finds a place in the Important Bird Areas (IBA) list of 42 sites in Karnataka that are identified by the Bombay Natural History Society. Ranganthittu houses 188 species of plants, 225 species of birds, 69 species of fish, 13 species of frogs, 98 species of medicinal plants and 30 species of butterflies.

It is an important breeding site for around 20 species of water birds, 17 of which breed on trees growing on islands on the spot. It houses healthy populations of mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris), smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and the endangered hump-backed mahseer fish (Tor remadevii).

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA RECORDS: NATURE & CONSERVATION: Karnataka’s First Wild Orchidarium to come up at Forest Department’s Kali Tiger Reserve in Uttara Kannada

In an effort to conserve the wild orchid varieties of Karnataka, the forest department is all set to establish an orchidarium in Kali Tiger Reserve (KTR) of Uttara Kannada district.

The orchidarium is being constructed at Nujji vilage of Joida (Supa) taluk of the district and soon, it will be open for nature enthusiasts and visitors.

The building work has been completed and about 40 varieties of wild orchids that are found in KTR are being grown in the orchidarium.

In the coming days, most of the orchid varieties found in the Western Ghats will be added, said Sachin Anil Punekar, Conservation Biologist and Founder of Biospheres-Ecosphere who has been helping the KRT set up the orchidarium project.

The Western Ghats is home for a rich orchid population and a majority of them are found in the Kali Tiger Reserve, especially in the Anshi region of Uttara Kannada district. “Out of 170 orchid species that are found in Karnataka, 80 species are from the Anashi region alone. Nearly 20 wild orchids are endemic to this region only. The orchidarium will act as a rescue and rehab site for wild orchids,” Punekar said.

source/contents: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA RECORDS: AGRICULTURE: Bidar Farmer Apparao D Bhosle Achieves what is Considered Impossible. Grows Apples in a 3-acre Orchard

A farmer hailing from Ghatboral village of Humnabad taluk in Bidar district has achieved that which is considered impossible for many of his peers. Apparao D. Bhosle has successfully created his own apple orchard on three acres of land.

Bhosle knew that Humnabad taluk is no Kashmir Valley but he was determined to prove that anything can be grown if there is fertile soil.

While the apple trees of this variety usually bear fruit in about four-five years in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, the saplings planted on his land started flowering and bearing fruit within two years. The trees bore 20 to 25 fruits and the yield is expected to be better in the second harvest. Though the fruits are small, they are tasty. The trees have grown 10 ft to 12 ft in height, Bhosle said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA RECORDS: SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENT: Dr.Nagnath V Yadgir, Doctor and Environmentalist has been Healing Kalaburagi’s Green Cover by Planting over 18,000 Saplings

Nagnath V. Yadgir, an Ayurveda doctor by profession and environmentalist by passion, has created a green cover in Kalaburagi city by planting 18,000 saplings in the last seven years.

Mr. Yadgir said that the first tree he planted in 2015 was in his compound. He brought some 30 saplings from the Forest Department and planted them in different places near his locality.

His team has planted 7,000 saplings at Sharan Sirasagi village on the outskirts of the city and 3,000 plantations on a single patch of barren land at Belur Cross. The team focuses on school compounds, community parks, and even graveyards, Mr. Yadgir added.

The ones most commonly planted are pongame oil (Millettia pinnata), neem, custard apple, bassora tragacanth, gulmohar, samanea saman, melia dubia, mango, banyan, sheesham, drumstick, guava, tamarind, and ashwatha trees. During the lockdown, even the school students joined him. He taught them the process ofmaking a nursery and educated them on the importance of trees.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA RECORDS: AGRICULTURE & FOOD: Sugar Factories in the State Crushed a Record 622 lakh Tonnes of Sugarcane in 2021-22. About 181 lakh Tonnes More Than the Previous Year.

Sugar factories in Karnataka have crushed a record 622.26 lakh tonnes of sugarcane in the year 2021-22, 181.14 lakh tonnes more than last year. 

Speaking to the media after chairing a meeting with members of the Sugarcane Control Board, Sugar Minister Shankar Patil Munenakoppa said sugar factories in Karnataka have produced 59.78 lakh tonnes of sugar during the same period.

According to the minister, there are 89 registered sugar factories in Karnataka of which 72 are operating.  In Karnataka, 32 sugar factories are producing Ethanol, he said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

RARE RECORDS: AGRICULTURAL PHENOMENON: Over 2,000 Coconuts Growing on a Single Tree in Hosakuli Village, Karwar

Generally 100 to 200 coconuts are seen on a single coconut tree. However, one coconut tree at Hosalkuli of Honnavar taluk has created a record by giving 2,000 to 3,000 coconuts. Many agricultural lovers visit this place, just to see this tree.

This tree is from a rare species which gives an enormous number of coconuts. This unique coconut sapling was planted 12 years ago at Subraya Parameshwara Shetty’s house, a resident of Hamsaramakki in Hosakuli village. Within three years of planting itself, this tree began giving an excellent yield. One bunch holds around 300 to 400 coconuts. Once in every two months, the crops are cut and it is giving good returns to the owner.

The species of the coconut tree is not known yet. The Horticultural Department officials have informed that they will inspect and let the owner know.

In the meantime, many people have taken the plants that are grown from the coconuts of the said tree. Some have even ordered 500 plants to be made ready. 

source/contents: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INDIA RECORDS: PATENT : KARNATAKA RECORDS: FOOD & BEVERAGES : National Institute of Technology, Surathkal (NITK) Faculty gets Patent for Cashew Apple Wine

The faculty of NITK, Surathkal has received a patent for producing wine using cashew apple and raisins.

The technology is developed by Dr Prasanna Belur Devarabhatta, associate professor in the department of chemical engineering. The patent is titled ‘A process for production of an alcoholic beverage from cashew apple and raisins and the alcoholic beverage produced thereof.”

The NITK had filed an application for the patent in 2012 and received it on May 4, 2022.

Now, NITK is looking forward to transferring the technology (licensing) to the interested entrepreneurs/companies. Further, the NITK will also provide required technical support to the licensee during the implementation of the said technology.

source/content: deccanherald.com (edited)

KARNATAKA: Bengaluru’s Vani Murthy, the Only Urban Farmer in List of Environmental Changemakers by National Geographic India

Meet the only urban farmer from Bengaluru who made it to the list of environmental changemakers by National Geographic India.

 In 2007, Vani Murthy started composting at her Malleswaram home on a whim and posted details of her zero-waste lifestyle on Facebook. Today, the ‘worm rani’ as she is known, has a following of 23,80,000 on Instagram and has made it to the list of the ‘One for Change’ campaign by National Geographic India.

Bengaluru to make it to this list, Murthy says that there’s never been a day when she feels like she’s actually working. “I love all things trash — from composting to making things sustainable. That’s the only thing I never complain about, so I absolutely love what I do and I’m thrilled to be recognised for my passion.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (edited)

KARNATAKA RECORDS : ‘Sarvottama Seva Awards’ Conferred On State Government Officers And Staff

In recognition of their services at various Government sectors, a total of 20 State Government officers and staff were conferred with ‘Sarvottama Seva Awards’ for the year 2021 and 2022 at a programme jointly organised by the District Administration and Karnataka State Government Employees Association at Kalamandira in city this morning as part of State Government Employees Day celebrations.

They are with MLA L. Nagendra, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. Bagadi Gautham, Zilla Panchayat (ZP) CEO B.R. Poornima and others.

The awardees include — 2021:

Dr. M. Sadashivappa, Senior Pulmonologist, PKTB and CD Hospital;

H.L. Manjunath, Senior Assistant Director, Kannada and Culture Department;

D.M. Rani, Assistant Director, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Department;

G. Ravi Shankar, Junior Training Officer; Narahari, Development Officer, Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj;

G. Satish Babu, Office Superintendent, ESI Hospital;

K.B. Shantala, Nursing Superintendent;

Hilda D’Souza, Senior Nursing Officer, K.R. Hospital

T.G. Sripathi, Bailiff, District Court.

2022:

Dr. H.M. Chandrakala, Medical Officer, Health Department; 

H. Channappa, Assistant Director, Kannada and Culture Department;

A.D. Jayalakshmi Bai, Superintendent, District Institute of Education and Training (DIET);

G. Varadaraju, Superintendent, Agriculture Department;

Sreenivas Raj Urs, First Division Assistant (FDA), Revenue Department;

G.N. Prasanna, Junior Training Officer, Government Industrial Training Institute;

G. Krishna Prasad, FDA, Police Department;

Karigowda, Assistant, Horticulture Department;

M.L. Vishwanath, Superintendent, Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj

Zulfikar Kalligudi, FDA, Employment Exchange Department.

source/content: starofmysore.com (edited)