Daijiworld Media Network - Mandya
Mandya, Nov 18: In a pioneering initiative, a group of teachers has established a 'Raithara Shale' or 'Farmers' School' in Alakere village of Mandya taluk. This initiative aims to prevent youth from migrating to cities and to attract educated individuals towards agriculture. The primary objective is to empower those engaged in farming and those eager to take it up as a profession or hobby.
Led by lecturer Satyamurthy from Mandya, the seven-member team includes teachers from farming families. They decided to open the school after witnessing the rising farmer suicides during last year’s drought and the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team's main goal is to make farming profitable and to promote self-reliance among farmers in all aspects, thereby curbing the trend of youth migrating to cities in search of jobs and preventing farmers from selling their land.
The team has visited over 200 villages to listen to farmers' issues and is working with agricultural experts and progressive farmers to provide assistance. In addition to educating farmers, the team is eager to conduct training camps, field visits, and sessions by experts at the 'Farmers' School.' The foundation stone for the school was recently laid by the Kempegowda Okkaliga Welfare Group. The school will showcase success stories of farmers from various countries, including Israel. Within two months, a seminar hall and several classrooms will be ready in Alakere. Plans are in place to establish several such schools across the state, as informed by Satyamurthy.
Speaking about the initiative, Satyamurthy said that farmers are welcome to seek guidance at the school. "We will provide mentorship to youth, including tech-savvy individuals eager to engage in agriculture," he stated.
Lecturer Pradeep Kumar mentioned that the group has distributed seeds to 500 small and marginal farmers and is encouraging them to save the seeds for the future. This effort aims to reduce dependence on multinational companies for seeds. With many farmers migrating to nearby towns and cities in search of jobs, numerous homes in Alakere and Keelara villages have been locked. "We hope they will return and restart farming," he added.
The initiative also includes plans to provide farmers with agricultural equipment, such as paddy harvesting machines, for minimal rental fees. The school has prepared a list of progressive farmers to encourage organic and natural farming and to reduce dependence on fertilizers and pesticides.