Bengaluru Hosts Global Agri-Summit, Charts New Path for Farmer Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Futures
BENGALURU, February 6, 2026 – In a powerful vision for the future of Indian agriculture, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the International Agri Trade Fair 2026 at the Bengaluru Palace Grounds on Friday, framing the event not merely as an exhibition, but as a crucial pivot towards entrepreneurial farming, women’s leadership, and ecological sustainability.
Inaugurating the three-day mega-event, organized by the Department of Agriculture, the Chief Minister moved beyond traditional rhetoric, issuing a direct challenge to the farming community. “The era of viewing cultivation as the finish line is over,” Siddaramaiah declared. “True sustainability and profitability will come only when our farmers become agri-entrepreneurs—masters of post-harvest management, value addition, and brand creation.”
From Fields to Fortune: The Entrepreneurial Mandate
His address underscored a significant policy shift, emphasizing that government support must evolve alongside farmer ambition. “Our commitment is to empower, not just subsidize. The future belongs to those who process, package, and market,” he stated, highlighting the government’s focus on making agriculture a financially rewarding enterprise.
The Chief Minister reserved special praise for the award-winning women farmers present, positioning their success as a non-negotiable blueprint for the sector. “Their achievements are not just inspirational; they are directional. Greater participation of women in farming and allied sectors is imperative for a holistic agricultural revolution,” he asserted.
A Living Showcase of the Green Transition
Spread across Tripuravasini, the fair is a tangible manifestation of this vision, featuring over 300 stalls that starkly contrast with conventional trade shows. Here, the spotlight is firmly on organic produce, millets, indigenous seeds, beneficial insects, and native livestock breeds—a comprehensive ecosystem for sustainable farming.
Sharanappa Mudugal, Additional Director of Agriculture for Organic Farming, told ETV Bharat that the event is a strategic intervention. “This is a platform for transformation. We are actively guiding farmers away from chemical dependency towards practices that heal our soil and biodiversity,” Mudugal explained. He detailed the state’s strategy of designating dedicated organic taluks and the fair’s focused stalls on branding, packaging, and financial aid, all aimed at helping farmers capture greater value from their harvest.
Farmers Speak: Demand for Market Access and Collective Power
The farmer voices at the fair, however, grounded the high-level vision in on-ground realities. For many like Raghava of the Sahaja Krishi community, the event is a vital lifeline to markets. “Our expertise ends at harvest. The real struggle begins with finding a buyer. Direct access to consumers and exporters here is invaluable for our survival,” he shared.
Echoing a sentiment of collective strength, farmer Basavanna emphasized unity. “Individual smallholders are vulnerable. By federating into collectives and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), we can build brands and bargain for our rightful price,” he said. Participants noted a refreshing change: the dominance of corporate stalls has given way to farmers proudly displaying their own value-added products, with women-led enterprises featuring prominently.
The Road Ahead
As the fair continues until February 8, drawing thousands of farmers, innovators, and buyers, the message from Bengaluru is clear. The future of Indian agriculture is being redefined—moving from a production-centric model to a holistic, market-linked, and ecologically resilient system where the farmer is the chief executive. The success of this transition hinges on converting the fair’s dialogues into durable market linkages and empowering policies, ensuring the seeds sown here yield lasting prosperity.
