Karnataka is predominantly an agrarian State. 80% of the area depends upon the monsoon for agriculture. Quite often even the meagre water from the unpredictable rains just drains away. People resort to digging bore wells indiscriminately resulting in the gradual depletion of the water table. If the rain water is prevented from draining away and stored properly, the ground water table gets recharged and the crops can get adequate water during critical conditions. Government of Karnataka has initiated, as a part of the Suvarna Karnataka Year celebrations, an ambitious programme to encourage the SC/ST and small and marginal farmers, who are solely dependent on agriculture, to construct a Suvarna Krishi Honda by providing a maximum subsidy of Rs.9800 per unit
Recharge and rejuvenate ground water table
Mitigate drought situations
Provide water to people and animals during drought situations
Improve farmers' economic conditions by encouraging agricultural productivity
5692 village panchayats in 745 blocks coming under 176 taluks of the 27 districts of Karnataka have been brought under the purview of this scheme.
Krishi honda of minimum dimension 9 mtr length x 9 mtr width x 3 mtrs depth would be built with inlet-cum-outlet and silt trap.
The project details have been designed in keeping with the extent of dry lands, rainfall and the farmers' economic conditions in each taluk. A maximum subsidy of Rs.9800 per unit would be paid by the state government towards the cost of construction of these hondas.
Selection of beneficiaries will be done by the Watershed Development Department official on the basis of technical feasibility. While selecting the beneficiaries, 40% have to be SC/ST farmers and the balance 60% to be marginal farmers (owning less than one hectare) and small farmers (owning less than 2 hectares). The cost of construction exceeding Rs.9,800 has to be borne by the beneficiary.
Stores water preventing it from draining away. Recharges ground water. Provides a good water source to crops and cattle.
Farmers can grow horticultural crops such as tamarind, jack, amla, lime and guava around the krishi honda.
Farmers can also grow Forest species such as jamun, teak, silver oak etc.
lmporved varieties of fodder root slips Like signal, napier, guinea and rhodes could also be cultivated around these hondas to rovide fodder to the cattle.
The Watershed Development Department with people's participation creates awareness about water management, rejuvenation and recharging of ground water among the villagers and encourage them to adopt krishi honda in their lands.
Invites applications from the interested farmers and the selection is done based on technical feasibility.
Under guidance from the technical experts of the department and with the co-operation of the field level officers the scheme is implemented.
Since the water is constantly stored in the honda during the monsoon months, farmers can also develop fish farming.
Monday - Saturday 10am to 5.30pm (Except 2nd Saturday) Sunday & Govt Holidays Closed