September 2025
Basanagowda Rayanagowda Patil, a progressive farmer of Papanashi village in Gadag taluk, is 77 years old. However, he is full of enthusiasm, pursuing farming passionately and leading a healthy life.
While studying for his B.A. degree, he decided to make farming as his livelihood associating with the Mother Earth and lead a life of contentment and respect. He quit his B.A. degree halfway and started farming with his father, firmly aspiring to be a model progressive farmer. He has been continuously involved in agriculture, horticulture and forestry, from the time he was 21 years old. Being in farming since 55 years, he has gained immense knowledge in crop management. His younger son Praveenagouda Patil helps him in managing the plantation crops.
Basanagowda is a 40-acre landowner. There are about 80 types of agricultural/horticultural/forest crops in his farm. Seasonal crops such as sugarcane, wheat, jowar, chickpea, fenugreek, peanut and cowpea are cultivated. He is enthusiastic in growing crops including pulses based on discussions with scientists. The farm has flower crops such as rose, jasmine, aster. Vegetable crops such as beetroot, cabbage, cauliflower, golden tuber, brinjal, and tomato are grown in half an acre each.
Three years ago, as a new experiment, he brought 400 areca saplings from Banavasi and planted them in one acre. The crop is doing good. They have two acres of chrysanthemum, one acre of banana, and half an acre of curry leaves. Trees on the farm include, tamarind, coconut, custard apple, ram fruit, water chestnut, guava and lemon. Forest plants such as jatropha, neem, bamboo, honge, teak, sandalwood are found in Gowda’s garden. There are medicinal plants like aloe vera, Japanese mint, basil, amrita balli, and jackfruit. Home remedies made from these are given free of cost to neighbors in need.
Equipments like tractor, seed drill, plough, rotovator, harrow, special harrow, rain gun, sprinkler irrigation unit, drip irrigation unit etc., are used for managing the farm. There is an open well in Gowda’s garden. This is scientifically filled without wasting water during the rainy season leading to good recharge of tubewells. For soil and water conservation, he has implemented techniques like field bunds while planting fodder grass on the bunds. Eight years ago, he has built a 21-meter-wide farm pond pit in his garden in Lakkundi with support from Dept. of Agriculture’s Krishi Bhagya scheme.
Not only maintaining a model diverse farm, he is keen on teaching and motivating others to be self-reliant and progressive. He is thus truly a role model helping all those aspiring to be successful in farming.
Recognizing Gowda’s achievements, he has been awarded the District Level Best Farmer Award by the Agriculture Department for the year 2023-24.
He visited several places including China, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu. By interacting with farmers there, he has been able to adopt various technologies on his farm. Through visits and regular contact with Department, has been maintaining about 80 types of plants/trees/trees that can be seen on a single farm.
Overall, Basanagowda is always keen to do something new. He believes farming has made him self-sufficient, giving him immense satisfaction economically too. He strongly feels that young farmers should not hesitate to adopt integrated agriculture to make farming successful. He expressed that after deducting all the farm and family expenses, an estimated net income of four to six lakhs is obtained. His house which is located on the farm welcomes all those young farmers willing to learn something new from him.
Basanagowda may be contacted on his mobile number 9845876143.
Note: This write up has been compiled by Ms. Hema Moraba, a journalist at Gadag. She can be contacted on 9844615364.
