In mid-September the P-Green Solutions team spent five days in North Karnataka, across Raichur, Kalaburagi and Bidar districts. The visit combined time with farmer producer companies (FPCs), a two-day planning and learning programme, and conversations with local institutions. Here is what we saw and what we are taking forward.
On the ground: farmer-owned enterprises
We visited FPCs in Raichur and Bidar districts that are building businesses around pulses, oilseeds, rice and horticulture. Three things stood out.
- Processing is arriving. Solar-powered dal and rice processing, and new oilseed pressing capacity, are bringing value addition closer to the farm gate.
- Markets matter more than machines. Leaders told us that reliable buyers and better prices are the biggest need, ahead of equipment.
- Weather is a real risk. Uneven rainfall this season is putting pressure on rain-fed crops, and farmers are asking for water security alongside better practice.
Digital tools workshop at KVK Kalaburagi
At Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kalaburagi, we took part in a full-day workshop on digital tools for agricultural production and market access. Farmers and facilitators were joined by start-ups working on soil and water testing, financial inclusion and export markets, and the discussion kept returning to one question: how can small producers use technology to reach better buyers?
Planning for the long term
A full day was set aside to think through a five-year approach for the region: where farmers and FPCs stand today, what is working, where the gaps are, and what a stronger, more climate-resilient farm economy could look like. We used a structured Theory of Change process, with the team working bottom-up from field experience.
The discussion pointed to several themes we will keep working on:
- Institutions: stronger governance and finance readiness in FPCs.
- Markets: linking producers with institutional buyers and new channels.
- Climate and water: practices and infrastructure that help farmers cope with weather variability.
- Women and youth: wider participation in leadership and in new income opportunities, including dairy and small ruminants.
- Public schemes: helping households claim the entitlements they are eligible for.
Partnerships
We also met scientists and extension staff from the agricultural university system, and discussed collaboration on seed production, integrated pest management and improved varieties for dryland crops. Strong local knowledge partners will make a real difference to what reaches the farm.
What next
Over the coming weeks we will work with ISAP India on the Theory of Change, the assessment of results to date, and follow-up on the connections made during the visit. We will share more as the work progresses.
