Proposal for ₹50 crore bio-economy mission in Kalyana Karnataka

According to a report by The Hindu, the Karnataka government is planning to launch the 'Kalaburagi Bio-Economy Mission 2026' at a cost of ₹50 crore to utilise local biological resources, increase agricultural productivity, and create new employment opportunities in rural areas of Kalyana Karnataka. The primary objective of this three-year initiative is to increase farmers' income and promote entrepreneurship in rural areas.

Priyank Kharge, Minister for Home, IT, Biotechnology, and e-Governance, stated that it is essential to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR), conduct a feasibility study, and obtain approval from the Karnataka government for the implementation of this proposal. Conceived by the Bengaluru Bioinnovation Centre (BBC), the mission will cover 7 districts of Kalyana Karnataka—Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, and Vijayanagar. It has been suggested to develop Kalaburagi as the main hub for this entire initiative.

The mission aims to identify the region's various plant resources, indigenous crops, microbes, and other agriculture-related biological resources. These resources will be used to develop agricultural solutions, value-added products, and local manufacturing ventures through modern biotechnology.

The mission will focus on six key areas. The first area is biological crop protection, which proposes to develop bio-based solutions to control wilt disease in pigeon pea, anthracnose disease in chillies, and thrips infestation. This initiative aims to reduce dependence on chemical inputs and improve crop health and productivity.

A second major aspect is the value addition of pigeon pea, which is one of the region's important agricultural products. Instead of selling pigeon pea merely as raw material, emphasis will be placed on transforming it into protein bars, protein concentrates, high-protein flour, nutritious beverages, and ready-to-eat products. This is expected to provide a major boost to local food processing industries.

Thirdly, the indigenous Kamlapur Red Banana variety of Kalaburagi district will be conserved through tissue culture technology. The aim is to develop the capacity to produce 2 to 3 lakh quality saplings per month, thereby making the cultivation of this unique variety more widespread.

The fourth area will focus on the identification and preservation of indigenous microbes through a regional microbial biobank. Research will be undertaken to use these microbes for biofertilizers, biological pest control, and improving soil fertility.

Fifthly, there is a proposal to establish an integrated Bio-Economy Industrial Park in Kalaburagi. This park will serve as a hub for research, biomanufacturing, tissue culture, food processing, quality testing, and incubation facilities to support startups.

Sixthly, under rural entrepreneurship, training and guidance will be provided to Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups, and rural entrepreneurs. Additionally, assistance will be provided in production value addition, market linkage, and export readiness to encourage the establishment of new ventures.

During this three-year period, the mission aims to identify the potential of more than 40 local biological products and study them by collecting 7,000 to 10,000 soil samples. The mission will attempt to conserve indigenous crops, increase agricultural productivity, and promote local manufacturing units based on value-added agricultural products.

According to Minister Priyank Kharge, this initiative, with the vision of 'From indigenous biodiversity to farmer prosperity', can give a new direction to the agriculture, industry, and rural economy of Kalyana Karnataka.