In a significant boost to practical agricultural education, 65 students from the College of Horticulture in Bidar are actively participating in a hands-on farming programme. This initiative, part of the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), is equipping the next generation with real-world skills in chemical-free cultivation while proving to be financially rewarding.
Learning by Doing: From Campus to Market
The experiential learning programme is meticulously designed to move beyond textbook theory. Under the guidance of professors Dr Vijay Mahantesh and Dr Priyanka Mulage, the students are immersed in a variety of horticultural activities. Their core projects include producing organic vermicompost, cultivating leafy vegetables and mushrooms, preparing pure green stevia powder, and extracting citronella oil.
Girish Badole, the Bidar Zilla Panchayat CEO, emphasized the dual purpose of the scheme. He stated that while it promotes organic farming, the students themselves become ambassadors, spreading awareness about the benefits of chemical-free agriculture. "This initiative provides hands-on exposure and practical skills, fostering entrepreneurship. It empowers students to start their own businesses instead of just seeking employment," Badole explained.
Turning Waste into Wealth and Profit
The programme has demonstrated a successful circular economy model right on campus. Students primarily utilize waste generated from hostel premises, college grounds, and the district's APMC yard. This waste is transformed into valuable organic products. The financial results have been impressive. After selling their produce in the first month, the student group generated a profit of Rs 30,000.
SV Patil, Dean of the Horticulture College, provided further details on the programme's structure and success. "The programme runs for five months. We have also trained 60 women as Agricultural Sakhis (Krishi Sakhi), who received a monthly stipend of Rs 4,000," he said. He revealed that students have collectively earned Rs 1 lakh this year from the Krishi Sakhi training programme under NMNF.
Starting from August, the students sold vermicompost, leafy vegetables, and marigold flowers cultivated on 10 acres of land. The revenue distribution is strategic: 25% is transferred to the college administration, while the remainder is reinvested into student learning practices covering cultivation, packing, and marketing.
Building Future Agri-Entrepreneurs
The learning is supported by a dedicated team of resource persons, including agriculture officials, horticulture experts, and progressive farmers. This comprehensive training is shaping student aspirations. Students like Priya Chavan, Sumalatha, Ravi Ozi, Shreya VP Singh, and Gayatri Nayak shared their transformed outlook.
They expressed a firm decision to engage in organic farming on their own family lands and sell healthy vegetables directly to consumers. "We learned through this programme that consumer demand is increasing due to the quality of vegetables we produce at our college," the students added, highlighting the market viability of their new skills.
This initiative at the Bidar Horticulture College stands as a replicable model, effectively bridging the gap between academic knowledge and sustainable, profitable agricultural practice, all while supporting the national push towards natural farming.
