** Bengaluru gets largest Miyawaki forest

“The project started in November 2018 and now the saplings stand tall and dense. The area will be with us till January 2023 after which it will be handed over to the Railways.

The 4.75 acres of Miyawaki forest created on Indian Railway Institute of Disaster Management land in Hejjalla, Mysuru Road, is the largest man-made forest in Bengaluru, according to Say Trees, an NGO group. The area is covered with 60 native species in four layers — trees, sub-trees, canopy and shrubs.

** Farmer’s feat in growing apples in Chitradurga surprises others

Jyoti Prakash from Godabanahal village in Chitradurga has made people turn to him in awe. The farmers here have struggled and lost in their effort to successfully grow areca nuts.

Many have maintained plantations by getting water in tankers for years together. Jyoti Prakash thought differently and planned to raise this alternative crop.

After getting to know that apples can be grown in this climate, he planted 300 apple saplings in his plantation. He brought these saplings from Himachal Pradesh.

** Israel model of farming to be implemented in Kalaburagi district

As part of his ambitious Kalaburagi Vision 2050, a 30-year programme for changing the backward scenario in different economic sectors in Kalaburagi district, Mines and Geology Minister Murugesh Nirani said that Israel model of farming would be implemented in all taluks of the district. The Israel model is known for high productivity with limited resources.

“Israel is known for its unique methods of farming using advanced technologies to achieve high productivity with limited resources. We are planning to implement such farming on 100 acres in each taluk of Kalaburagi district on a pilot basis. We can expand to other areas after assessing the results,” he told mediapersons at the Aiwan-e-Shahi Guest House in Kalaburagi on Tuesday.

** Technology weaves a stronger silk supply chain

Silk occupies a prime position in our country’s sartorial profile. The Indian wardrobe is rarely complete without silk garments, especially saris, that function like a cultural calling card for the country’s weaving communities. Places like Mysore, Kanchipuram, Tirubhuvanam, Varanasi, Bhagalpur and Chanderi are famous for their silks even among those who may have not visited them.

India is the only country that produces all the five known commercial silks — mulberry, tropical tussar, oak tussar, eri and the distinctive gold-tinted muga. Of these, mulberry silk is the most widely produced, with 25,345 metric tonnes produced in 2018-19.

** Agro centres to tie up with Israel, help double farm income in India

A collaboration between the two countries in this sector will improve quality and profitability, he said.

The centres are located in Kolar, Bagalkot and Dharwad, and will provide scientific inputs and methodologies.

Giving the example of the mango, he said the Alphonso, Mallika and Raspuri are local mango varieties but farmers have long been complaining of dwindling profitability. Innovative solutions can make the mango crop better again, the CM said. Tomar said new methods would help not just production, but also post harvest management.

** Mangaluru: Rambutan fruit farming proves to be more profitable than arecanut, rubber

Progressive farmer Krishna Shetty of Kadaba taluk of the district took a bold step under these circumstances and started growing Rambutan fruit.

He planted 500 saplings of the fruit during the first lock down and has got overwhelming yield during the second lock down.

He has got a whopping seven tonnes of yield in just one and a half years and expects to get around eight to 10 tonnes this year.

** A campaign to brand white okra launched in Karkala

In a concerted effort by elected representatives, Horticulture Department and a cooperative society, a campaign has been launched in Karkala, Udupi district, from Tuesday to promote the widespread cultivation of a local variety of “bili bende” (white okra) involving 20,000 families under the brand name ‘Kaarla Bende’. Kaarla in Tulu means Karkala.

** Agri university alumni link mango farmers with urban market

The University of Agricultural Sciences’ Alumni Association has again stepped in to help farmers in distress on account of COVID-19 and the lockdown. The Association, which had lent a helping hand in marketing of grapes during the last year’s lockdown, has this time chosen mango growers for direct marketing assistance.

About 30 mango farmers have been identified by the Association for assistance in not just marketing, but also scientific method of harvesting of fruit and its ripening and packaging.