On the 30th of August 2009, Deshpande Foundation arranged a visit for Hubli Champions to see various NGOs working in Hubli, Kalghatagi and Dharwad Taluk. A group of champions under the leadership of Sri. Sudam Pawar visited our field at Kamplikoppa. We took them to Mr. Malleshappa Hakkalad and Mr. Nagappa Adargunchi’s field at Kamplikoppa. Both the farmers explained their achievements with BAIF support about the processes involved in changing the dry and unproductive land into lush green and productive wadi. Mr. Deepak Ksheerasagar explained that the energy neither created nor destroyed and it is more relevant to the farmer’s field wherein the energy is transformed from one form into another form. Farmers shared their experience how they secured from food, fodder, fuel and fertilizer from their wadi and are produced sustainably as they conserved these resources in their farming system. Visitors are much impressed with the tree based farming system. They understood the concept of soil and water conservation, incorporation of trees with crops, fodder on bunds and integration of livestock to increase the land fertility and income through milk. Visitors are convinced about the recycling of nutrients in wadi model. The visitors liked Mr. Nagappa’s management of livestock with rich source of fodder. The champions are very happy with Mr. Nagappa’s achievement on a small piece of land.
All the champions from different fields assembled at Gramachetana at Surshettikoppa for lunch. Programme Coordinator Sri. Naveen Jha from DF Hubli organized an interaction and sharing of their learnings from different NGOs’ fields.