UAS Experts Offer Paid Guidance to Aspiring Bengaluru Farmers

Speedy Summary

• The University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru (UAS-B) is introducing paid consultancy services aimed at weekend farmers and urban professionals new to farming.
• Experts and scientists will provide custom cropping system plans based on the size, nature of fields, investment potential, labor, and mechanization needs.This service involves a fee similar to architectural site visits.
• Feedback from monthly santhe (shandies), where innovative farmers sell their produce at the GKVK campus in Bengaluru, prompted this initiative. Urban visitors showed interest in beginner-level farming guidance during these events.
• Consultancy requests have already been received from about 20 individuals; a dedicated desk for online submissions will be set up within a month for users to share land-related details.
• The service is targeted primarily at Bengaluru urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara (Bengaluru South), Chikkaballapura, and kolar districts.
• UAS-B aims to foster innovation among urban farmers in areas such as marketing via online platforms and promoting organic farming methods through this initiative.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The introduction of paid consultancy services by UAS-B marks an critically important intersection between emerging urban interest in agriculture and scientific expertise tailored for non-conventional farmers. This effort holds potential significance by rekindling post-pandemic enthusiasm among novice agriculturists who may lack technical skills but possess an interest in lasting practices like organic farming.

The targeted focus on districts around bengaluru indicates the university’s emphasis on proximity for logistical ease while also responding effectively to local demand observed during santhe events. Additionally, directing resources toward marketing innovations through digital platforms aligns with current technological trends-potentially empowering hobbyist farmers or small-scale producers with competitive advantages.

While it remains to be seen how scalable this model will be beyond suburban regions or its efficacy over time for addressing larger agricultural challenges in India like land management or resource scarcity-the structured outreach can serve as a meaningful step toward inclusivity in modern Indian agriculture practices.

Read more: The Hindu