Spanning more than 11,330 hectares, SLIS-3 has adopted advanced drip irrigation for crops like maize, sunflower, green gram, onion, chili, and various flowers

Netafim India, a leading provider of smart irrigation solutions, recently organized Pragati, a farmer training-cum-felicitation programme in Gadag, Karnataka. The initiative targeted farmers under the Singataluru Lift Irrigation Scheme (SLIS-3), aiming to enhance their knowledge and adoption of modern irrigation techniques.

Spanning over 11,330 hectares, SLIS-3 has seen significant uptake of drip irrigation systems for crops such as maize, sunflower, green gram, onion, chili, and flowers. Farmers are also increasingly adopting fertigation—supplying nutrients via drip irrigation—tailored to each crop’s requirements.

As part of Pragati, 30 progressive farmers recognized for effectively implementing these practices will advance to Netafim’s next-level training modules and serve as community ambassadors for sustainable farming.

The day-long training session covered topics including the benefits of the SLIS-3 project, yield improvement through drip irrigation, fertigation techniques, system maintenance, digital agriculture tools, and cropping strategies.

Girish Maraddi, Director of the Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI), lauded the programme as a pivotal step in empowering local farmers. “By offering practical training in drip irrigation and resource management, Pragati helps farmers adopt more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices,” he said.

Girish Deshpande, Assistant General Manager at Netafim, emphasized the programme’s grassroots impact: “With Pragati, we aim to build a community of progressive farmers who inspire peers to embrace modern, sustainable agriculture. Real change starts farmer to farmer.”