Organic Farming Research Station, Naganahalli, Mysuru – 570003

The Organic Farming Research Station, Naganahalli, was established in 1917 and transferred to the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in 1965. Later, it was transferred to the University of Agricultural Sciences, Mandya in the year 2025. It was converted into an exclusive organic farm in 2005. The station is located 8 km from Mysuru city along the Mysuru–Bengaluru highway at 12°22′ N latitude and 76°42′ E longitude. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 730.96 mm with a maximum temperature of 40.9°C and a minimum of 9.0°C. The farm soil is sandy loam and gravelly in nature with pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 and organic carbon content between 0.7 to 1.2 kg/ha. The total area of the farm is 24 ha, of which 15.2 ha is irrigated, 2.0 ha is rainfed and 6.8 ha is under roads and buildings.

The station is engaged in crop-based activities involving cereals, pulses, oilseeds and fodder crops, and animal components such as dairy, sheep, goat, piggery and poultry. Various organic manures including FYM, compost, vermicompost, azolla, vermiwash, jeevamrutha, beejamrutha, humic acid, neemastra, waste decomposer and biodigester are produced on the farm. The research programmes mainly focus on nutrient management in cereals, pulses, vegetables and horticultural crops and on organic pest and disease management.

The major mandates of the station are:

• Production and supply of quality seeds, seedlings and planting materials to farmers.
• Development of organic package of practices for cereals, pulses, vegetables and fruit crops.
• Management of pests and diseases in organic farming systems.
• Conducting multilocation trials.
• Organizing training programmes on organic farming.

In addition, the station is actively involved in organizing Krishimelas, exhibitions, frontline demonstrations and bi-monthly workshops in Mysuru district. It also creates awareness among school children, NGOs, self-help groups and farmers, and participates in All India Radio and television programmes on pest and disease management and weather forecasting.

Several research experiments are being conducted, including studies on the effect of organic nutrient sources on paddy under SRI and direct-seeded conditions, finger millet, maize and bhendi with respect to soil health, crop productivity, nutrient uptake, grain and fruit quality, and economics. And also studies on the different units of farm houses such as crop, dairy, sheep, goat, pig, poultry, rabbit, fish, azolla, biodigester, bio-inputs, vermicompost, compost, model nursery and millet processing units.

In recent years, the farm has recorded a productivity of 12.6 to 18.0 q/ac in paddy (MTU-1001) and 3.7 to 6.1 q/ac in ragi (KMR-301 and KMR-630). Thus, the Organic Farming Research Station, Naganahalli, continues to serve as a model centre for research, training and dissemination of organic farming technologies to the farming community of Karnataka.

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