Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker G.S. Patil said that empowering woman farmers is essential for the country’s progress and called for greater recognition of their contribution to agriculture.
“If you invest in a farmer, an entire village prospers. But if you invest in a woman farmer, the whole country prospers,” he said while inaugurating the annual Krishi Mela-2026 at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, on Saturday (September 26).
Mr. Patil said women played a significant role in agricultural activities and deserved better opportunities, status and recognition for their labour. He also stressed the need to ensure remunerative prices for agricultural produce.
Describing the Krishi Mela as one of Karnataka’s prominent agricultural exhibitions, he appreciated the university’s efforts to familiarise farmers with improved seed varieties, modern farm machinery, innovative technologies and the latest agricultural research.
Technology-driven and profit-oriented farming practices had strengthened the agricultural sector, he said, urging farmers to adopt scientific methods to improve productivity and profitability.
The university presented the Best Farmer and Best Woman Farmer awards for 2025-26 to progressive farmers from Belagavi, Haveri, Gadag, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Uttara Kannada and Dharwad districts. Best Young Farmer awards were also presented to agriculturists from the seven districts under the university’s jurisdiction.
Several new crop varieties were also released during the inaugural ceremony.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was originally scheduled to inaugurate the four-day Krishi Mela on Saturday afternoon. However, because of poll code of conduct coming into force with the announcement on election to Karnataka West Graduates’ Constituency, the Chief Minister and Cabinet colleagues did not attend the event. Mr. Patil inaugurated the event in their absence.
S.V. Suresh, Vice-Chancellor of UAS, Bengaluru, Ashok Dalwai, chairman of Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha leader Virendra Patil and UAS-Dharwad Vice-Chancellor N.B. Prakash were among those present.
The annual Krishi Mela attracted thousands of people on Saturday. A large number of farmers and general public visited various stalls, purchased seeds, farm equipments, booked farm machinery and also interacted with farm scientists. The fruit and flower show and livestock show also attracted people.
