American academicians at home in Gadag Hamlet

HUBLI: The residents of Kotumachagi, a backward village of north Karnataka, have new visitors to whom they are sharing their views on various issues in a forthcoming manner - students from the US.A village in Gadag district, Kotumachagi’s agrarian community has been dependant on dry land farming for several decades. 11 students from different departments of University of New Mexico, US, have been staying in the village for about 50 days, to study the agriculture in dry land. Led by Dan Young, director, research service learning programme, University of New Mexico.Young’s wife Shubha, a Bangalorean, assists the team as a translator.The University of New Mexico has been working on dry land farming for the last six years.The research unit of varsity has been spreading the importance of rainwater harvesting, especially in the developing countries.Young elucidated about the programme to Express: “Climatic conditions back home are entirely different from that in India. Here, the farmers await monsoon before sowing, which farmers there do not.” Young’s friend, Raghu Muttugadde, a science professor in atmosphere science in University of Netherlands, had suggested that he visit his native to study on the matter. “With help of Krushi Vijnan Kendra (KVK) of Hulkoti, we selected this village to study dry land farming.” He adds that in addition to their main objective, the visitors will observe the problems faced by the villagers.They plan to prepare a map of the village and provide mobile toilets for women and erect composting toilets in the village, provided the local government permits them. Young lauded the locals for their cooperation and hospitality.Shubha, the team translator, told Express that the team chose the families with they will stay.“The villagers are very happy to receive their guests,” she said.