Krishna Prasada Ammankallu - Best Farmer Award winner of Badiadka Grama Panchayath explains how commercial-crop growers can manage rising costs, labor shortages and changing farm economics
Agriculture is changing. Labour is becoming harder to find, cultivation costs are rising and the younger generation is increasingly looking towards jobs outside farming. Yet, agriculture continues to offer opportunities for farmers who are willing to adapt, manage costs and make better use of their land.
For commercial-crop farmers in the Puttur region and neighbouring areas, the focus is increasingly shifting towards efficient cultivation, crop diversification and better management of farm resources.
Krishna Prasada Ammankallu, a Best Farmer Award winner from Badiadka Grama Panchayath, shares his observations on the changing economics of agriculture, the challenges faced by farming families and the opportunities that remain for those willing to adapt and adopt better farming practices.
In this interview with Umesh Kumar Shimladka, Senior Journalist, he discusses the future of agriculture, labour shortages, cultivation costs, crop diversification and the importance of making farming a sustainable livelihood for the next generation.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge for the future of agriculture?
Krishna Prasada Ammankallu: In most agricultural families, the future of agriculture is dark.
The next generation is not interested in agriculture. Even the parents are not encouraging any of their children to continue with agriculture. This is because the income per person in agriculture is less. If you go outside for a job, you can earn better.
Most agricultural families now have only one or two children. In many houses, only the old father and mother are taking care of agriculture. They have health issues, but for the future of their children, they continue to struggle and lead their lives. This is an important issue that agriculture has to address.
Q: Labour shortage is often described as one of the biggest problems. How are farmers adapting?
Krishna Prasada Ammankallu: Agriculture mainly relies on manual labour. Labour shortage has been the biggest problem for the last few years. The new generation is not interested in working in the agricultural field because it requires more physical work, and they think there is no future for them.
Daily-wage work means there is no income security. Because of this mindset, it is very difficult to do agriculture. Even if they get a job outside for ₹8,000–₹10,000, they are very happy. The shift of the new generation to towns and cities has created this situation.
Farmers are now finding ways to manage this. They hire labourers from North Karnataka, Assam, Bihar, Nepal and Uttar Pradesh.
Q: How important is efficient farm management in controlling cultivation costs?
Krishna Prasada Ammankallu: The cost of cultivation per acre depends on different factors. It depends on the total area of cultivation, what crop is being grown, the elevation of the land, road connectivity to the farm, rains and other factors.
The cost per acre for small farmers is always more. For an arecanut plantation per acre, the medicine spraying cost is around ₹25,000. The cost of arecanut plucking, collecting and drying in sunlight together is around ₹15,000. We need around 200 days of labour and the cost will be ₹1,20,000. Dehusking charges are around ₹10,000 and fertiliser costs around ₹40,000. All put together, the total is around ₹2,10,000.
The average crop you get is around 700 kg. At the present market rate, with an average price of ₹450 per kg, we can get ₹3,15,000. If we have more area, the labour cost will decrease by 10–12%.
Q: Does crop diversification provide additional income opportunities?
Krishna Prasada Ammankallu: If you grow pepper and coconut in addition to arecanut, the cost per acre will be around ₹26,000, and the income will be around ₹4,15,000.
Q: What kind of returns should a farmer expect from agriculture?
Krishna Prasada Ammankallu: If a farmer gets a 100% margin on his cost, then it is going to be a good deal because it is a very high-risk process. At present, agriculture is fetching 35–55% margin on the cost. But agriculture involves many risks, and most of the risks are not in the control of any farmer. If the rain is excessive, it is a problem. No rain or low rain is also a problem.
If disease occurs, again there is a problem. In summer, if there is water shortage, it is another problem. If electricity is not available properly, that is also a problem.
Q: How has the economics of farming changed over the last five years?
Krishna Prasada Ammankallu: The income in the last five years has reduced drastically. The price of arecanut has remained almost the same over the last five years, while the cost has increased by 25–30%.
This is a very dangerous situation. If the same situation continues further, the farmer cannot sustain. Even the pepper price is also more or less the same, around ₹650 per kg on average.
Agriculture needs adaptation, not just higher prices
Experience shared by Krishna Prasada Ammankallu presents an important perspective on commercial-crop farming. Agriculture undoubtedly carries risks. But farmers are also adapting to the changes taking place around them - from labour shortages to rising input costs and changing weather conditions.
For commercial-crop growers, efficient use of labour, appropriate crop combinations and careful management of cultivation costs can play an important role in improving returns.
His observations also highlight the importance of making agriculture economically attractive enough for the next generation. Future of farming will not depend only on market prices. It will also depend on whether farmers can improve productivity, manage costs and reduce their exposure to risks.
For an award-winning farmer like Krishna Prasada Ammankallu, the message is not that agriculture has no future. Rather, the changing conditions demand that farmers understand their costs, use resources efficiently, diversify where possible and adapt to the new realities of farming. That may be the key to keeping commercial-crop agriculture sustainable for the next generation.
Keywords: smart farming, commercial crop farming, sustainable agriculture, crop diversification, arecanut farming, Krishna Prasada Ammankallu, Citizen News Puttur