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Prashanth Prakash, a founding partner of Accel India and venture capitalist, inaugurated the Ksheera pilot scheme to promote animal husbandry and to boost milk production in Vijayapura district of Karnataka, on November 8. “Once the project is successfully implemented, we are confident that Vijayapura district will be among the top three milk producing districts in India in the next five years,’’ the Padma Sri awardee said. He launched the project by distributing milk to government school children. The project is being jointly implemented by the BLDE Society, Krishikalpa Foundation and Akshayakalpa Foundation to promote sustainable dairy farming in the district. “For the last 15 years, I have focused on promoting innovation and urban development. Now, however, I am focusing on encouraging industries in rural areas, as part of the ‘Beyond Bangalore’ initiative,” he said. “This is being taken up in collaboration with Minister M. B. Patil.” “DE Deemed University Chancellor Basanagouda Patil, has held around 15 meetings with me concerning the Ksheera project. A plan has been prepared to increase milk production using advanced technology. The people of Vijayapura district are known to be hard working. They will contribute to the ‘White Revolution’ in the coming days. I am sure it will succeed in the next five years, as the Minister is the backbone for the project.” Minister M. B. Patil said that this is a pro-farmer, pro-women, pro-youth and non-partisan project. He sought the involvement of everyone, just as in the crore tree campaign that was taken up in Vijayapura. He said that they had plans to promote dairy farming on a small scale and expand after course corrections. “This will help the youth to increase their professional skills and get involved in the industry, and through this, increase production by adopting horticulture and dairy farming scientifically. Farmers selected for the pilot project should make good use of this,” he said. Krishikalpa Foundation Chief Executive Officer C.M. Patil said, “A detailed study was conducted by visiting 16 villages in Vijayapura district before starting the pilot. A lot of discussions were held before a plan was formulated. We have selected five villages suitable for implementation of the project and taken steps to increase the income of farmers on the model of Tiptur. In this regard, training has already been given to young farmers in the district. Start-ups will also be given opportunity in collaboration with the organisation’s incubation centre Steps will be taken to increase the income of farmer producer organizations, create markets, and grow dairy and entrepreneurship.” Akshaykalpa Foundation founder Shashi Kumar said. “In the last 40 years, over 2/3 of the world’s arable land has been destroyed. If the situation continues like this, arable land will completely disappear in the next 60 years. We need to wake up now. Our organization will work under this project to maintain soil quality and increase agricultural production. Training will be provided to produce fertilizer and dairy by-products locally. This will make it possible to increase milk production by providing appropriate training in animal health protection, scientific fodder production, and milk processing. Steps will be taken to create consumers according to production.” Deputy Commissioner Anand K. said that this agriculture-oriented project would lead to comprehensive rural development. He said that all departments, including agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and KMF, should join hands to ensure the success of this project. Vijayapura and Bagalkot Milk Producers Association President Eranagouda Karigoudra said, “Steps will be taken to increase the number of milk producers’ associations in Vijayapura district.” Mahantesh Biradar explained the details of the project. He said BLDE had provided financial assistance of ₹50 lakh each to help implement this pilot project in Arjunagi, Nagaral, Nidoni, Kumathe, Yakkundi villages. He said Minister M. B. Patil had taken initiatives for irrigation projects in the district for the last 20 years. The fruit of that effort was the crore tree campaign, which had attracted global attention.
