Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, April 25, 2025, declared that Bengaluru must evolve into the nation's agricultural technology capital, mirroring its globally recognised status as an IT powerhouse. Speaking at the inauguration of the Global Agri Tech Summit-2026 in Bengaluru, he stressed that cutting-edge agricultural innovations must penetrate down to the grassroots level, reaching every individual farmer across Karnataka and beyond.

CM Siddaramaiah's Vision for Agri Tech Leadership

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made a compelling case for positioning Bengaluru as the nerve centre of agricultural technology in India, drawing a direct parallel with the city's dominance in the global information technology sector. He argued that just as Bengaluru transformed into a world-class IT hub, the same ecosystem of innovation, investment, and talent can be channelled into transforming Indian agriculture.

The summit was organised by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), bringing together stakeholders from agriculture, technology, and industry under one roof. The Chief Minister underscored that platforms like this summit are vital bridges connecting farmers with emerging technologies and modern agricultural practices.

AI and Technology as Pillars of Agricultural Growth

Highlighting the transformative potential of emerging technologies, Siddaramaiah called on the state to aggressively leverage advancements including artificial intelligence (AI) across all sectors to drive comprehensive development. He emphasised that AI-driven agriculture can help optimise crop yields, reduce input costs, and improve supply chain efficiency — outcomes that directly benefit farmers.

The Chief Minister appreciated the exhibition on organic farming and agricultural machinery organised alongside the summit, while suggesting that such exhibitions could be held as standalone events for greater impact and deeper engagement with farming communities.

Krishi Bhagya Scheme Revival and Key Financial Allocations

Addressing concerns about agricultural sustainability, Siddaramaiah referred to the revival of the Krishi Bhagya scheme, a flagship programme designed to support farmers — particularly those with dry land holdings. He alleged that the previous BJP government had suspended the scheme, and his administration has now restored it. Karnataka holds the distinction of ranking second among states with the largest extent of dry land, making this scheme especially critical.

On the financial front, the Chief Minister revealed that agricultural loans worth Rs 70,000 crore have been disbursed to approximately 83 lakh farmers under the current government. Additionally, Rs 8,000 crore was allocated in the previous year for infrastructure development under the Chief Minister's programme, signalling a robust financial commitment to the sector.

Youth Migration from Farming and the Profitability Challenge

One of the most pressing concerns raised by CM Siddaramaiah was the growing trend of youth migration away from agriculture. He noted that young people are increasingly abandoning farming, and argued that this trend would naturally reverse if agriculture became sufficiently profitable and technologically advanced.

He stressed that India remains an agrarian nation at its core, and ensuring the sustainability and profitability of farming must be treated as a national priority. He called upon industries to actively collaborate with the government in strengthening the agriculture sector, rather than treating it as a secondary concern.

Karnataka's Investment Push and Comparative Standing

While acknowledging that Karnataka ranks first in both industry and rural development, Siddaramaiah admitted that investment in the agriculture sector must be scaled up significantly. He argued that only with increased financial and technological investment can agriculture achieve its true economic potential in the state.

This comes amid a broader national conversation about farm income doubling targets and the increasing role of agri-startups in India's economic landscape. Notably, India's agri-tech sector has witnessed significant venture capital interest in recent years, yet the benefits remain largely concentrated in urban and peri-urban areas — a gap that initiatives like the Global Agri Tech Summit-2026 aim to address. As Karnataka prepares its next agricultural policy roadmap, all eyes will be on whether these ambitious declarations translate into measurable outcomes for the state's millions of farmers.