3rd March, Mumbai: By Dr. Avyaya Raghava: Mr. Dhareppa Kittur, born on August 1, 1968, is a renowned farmer from Terdal, a small village in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. He has been practicing organic farming since 1991 and has established himself as a pioneer in the field. His dedication and hard work have earned him numerous accolades and awards.
Mr. Kittur’s farming techniques are unique and innovative. He believes in using natural methods to enhance soil fertility, control pests and diseases, and increase crop yield. He uses organic manure, vermicompost, and bio-fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers. He has also developed his own bio-digester, vermin pits, vermin-wash unit, and Azolla to enrich the soil.
Mr. Kittur’s specialty lies in sugarcane cultivation. He uses each eye bud sowing at 8 x 3.5” spacing, with 150 kg of material per acre. He intercrops sugarcane with marigold, cucumber, soybean, methi, coriander, palak, cluster bean, and other vegetables. He also cultivates a variety of vegetables, such as cabbage, cauliflower, brinjal, radish, and ladyfinger, among others.
Mr. Kittur is not limited to crop cultivation alone. He also practices horticulture and forestry. He grows bananas, papayas, chikku, areca nuts, sitapal, coffee, and various vegetables. He has also planted teakwood, tamarind, serve plant, neem tree, glirisidiya, and sirani teakwood plant, among other forest trees.
Mr. Kittur believes in taking a holistic approach to farming. He believes that music has a positive effect on plant growth and development. Hence, he plays classical music from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am in his fields, which has resulted in a 5-10% increase in crop yield.
Apart from his farming practices, Mr. Kittur is also involved in animal husbandry. He owns buffalos, goats, and cows of various breeds, such as Murra, local breeds, Kilari, and Gheer breeds.
Mr. Kittur’s achievements in organic farming have not gone unnoticed. He has been honored with several awards and recognitions. He has received the Krushi Pandit Award 2006-07 by the Government of Karnataka, the Krushi Award 2012 by the Agricultural Department for first place in State Level Wheat Crop, and the Kayak Yogi State Level Sadbhavana Award by Mangal Art Aroodh Nandihal, among others.
He has also been awarded the Karnataka Seva Ratna Award by the Social Welfare Organization, Bangalore, and the Kalahari Award by the Kannada and Culture Department. He has received the Haniugarike Anna Award by Basava Jayan Gurukul and the Commendation Certification by National Meet of Innovative Horticulture Farmers, among others.
Mr Kittur’s passion for organic farming is admirable. He has shown that it is possible to grow crops without the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides. His innovative techniques and sustainable practices have contributed significantly to the field of organic farming. He is an inspiration to many young farmers and has shown them that it is possible to make a living through organic farming.
In conclusion, Mr Dhareppa Kittur is a true pioneer in the field of organic farming. His innovative techniques and sustainable practices have contributed significantly to the field of agriculture. His dedication and hard work have earned him numerous accolades and awards, and he continues to inspire young farmers to embrace organic farming.