KSNUAHS Agriculture and Horticulture Fair 2026 Attracts Over One Million Farmers and Stakeholders, Showcases Innovations in Drought Management

30 October–2 November 2026, Karnataka

The Agriculture and Horticulture Fair 2026, organised by Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural Sciences (KSNUAHS), Shivamogga, Karnataka, from 30 October to 2 November 2026, witnessed participation of more than one million farmers and stakeholders. Organised on the theme “Innovative Agriculture for Drought Management,” the four-day fair focused on showcasing advanced agricultural technologies, promoting climate-resilient farming practices and addressing challenges associated with drought management.

The fair was organised under the leadership of Dr M. V. Dhananjaya, Vice-Chancellor, KSNUAHS, and coordinated by Dr Raghavendra K. Mesta, Director of Extension, and Dr S. Shridhara, Director of Research. The event was inaugurated by Mr P. M. Narendraswamy, Agriculture Minister, Government of Karnataka.

Dr M. Prabhakar, Director, ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Bengaluru, visited the fair on 2 November 2026 and interacted with farmers on drought management, climate change adaptation and the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies. The discussions highlighted the importance of farmer participation, climate-resilient and water-efficient farming practices, entrepreneurship development, agri-based enterprises and value addition for enhancing farmers' income.

A major attraction of the fair was the dedicated Drought Management Pavilion, which showcased innovative solutions and practical technologies for mitigating the impact of drought across agriculture and horticulture sectors. Exhibits featured drought-tolerant crop varieties, water-efficient irrigation techniques, rainwater harvesting, soil moisture conservation practices, micro-irrigation systems, protected cultivation and other climate-smart agricultural technologies.

The fair also provided a platform for farmer–scientist interactions, technology demonstrations and dissemination of region-specific agricultural advisories. Technical sessions conducted over three days covered themes such as climate-resilient agriculture, women's empowerment in farming and the future of Indian agriculture, with emphasis on innovation, sustainability and adaptation to changing climatic conditions.

A total of 12 ICAR institutes, State Agricultural, Horticultural and Veterinary Universities, private agri-enterprises, Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation Limited (KAPPEC) and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) participated in the fair, showcasing their research outcomes, technologies and development initiatives. The exhibition featured 586 stalls, including 191 hi-tech stalls, 308 economy stalls, 21 industrial stalls, 9 nursery stalls and 57 food stalls.

The fair served as a major platform for technology dissemination, knowledge exchange and strengthening research-extension-farmer linkages. The extensive participation of farmers and stakeholders and the wide range of technological exhibits reinforced the importance of innovation, scientific interventions and collaborative efforts in building a sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural sector.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone XI, Bengaluru)