CTRI chalks out alternate plan for cash crop in Karnataka

Mysore, Aug 31 (UNI) The Central Tobacco Research Institute(CTRI) had prepared an alternative plan for the cash crop grown in rain-fed areas in Mysore and parts of Hassan and Shimoga districts in the State.

CTRI sources told UNI here that the Institute had come out with two integrated farming system modules, involving holistic agricultural approach that tobacco farmers could profitably adopt after surrendering their licenses.

As no single crop was found to be a viable alternative to the Flue Cured Variety (FCV) tobacco in the region, the CTRI had developed a non-tobacco-based integrated farming system and tobacco-based integrated organic farming system for the rain-fed areas. Both the systems involve holistic agricultural approach of growing Kharif and Rabi crops during different seasons under cropping system fields, establishing agrihorti system, besides integrating with subsidiary activites and enterprises such as agro-forestry, animal husbandry and rain-water harvesting, said Dr Shenoi, who was monitoring modules along with a senior scientist M Mahadeswamy.

After developing modules on two plots of land at Hunsur in this district, the agriculture department would explore the possibilities of promoting the concept among the tobacco farmers, who had given up the cultivation of the crop.

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