Belagavi's Nursery Revolution: Farmers Turn Saplings into Lakhs

In Karnataka’s Belagavi district, land availability isn’t a challenge, but farmers are moving beyond traditional agriculture to earn lakhs through a thriving nursery business.

Villages like Shindhikurubet and Arabhamvi, situated along the Sankeshwar-Yargatti highway, have transformed into nursery hubs, supplying high-quality saplings across Karnataka and four other states. With over 70 nurseries in just these two villages, thousands have found employment in this growing sector.

Initially, farmers imported saplings for their fields, but soon they started cultivating seedlings themselves. With irrigation support from the Ghataprabha river canal, they now grow vegetable and flower saplings, including chili, cabbage, tomato, watermelon, sugarcane, and marigold, under controlled environments.

These nurseries have evolved from open-field plantations to greenhouses and now poly-houses, ensuring higher yields and consistent quality. Farmers not only generate significant income but also provide employment to local youth.

Nursery owner Manjunath Gudikettar highlighted that over 1,200 people in the area have taken up nursery farming. Praveen Muthari, another owner, runs an eight-acre nursery with 50 daily wage workers. Saplings, priced between 50 paise and ₹1, are often pre-booked by farmers.

The horticulture department supports this initiative by offering a 50% subsidy on poly-house setup. Officials suggest that by aligning sapling production with market demand, farmers can maximize profits.

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