District-in-charge Minister R.B. Thimmapur asked horticulture scientists to bring advanced cultivation and harvest technology directly to farms. He spoke at the Horticulture Mela inauguration at the University of Horticulture Sciences in Bagalkot. "Research and development should not be limited to universities and institutions. They should be taken to farmers to help them achieve better yields and materialise better market prices," he said. The Minister urged university professors to work closely with farmers and solve their problems. "Farmers have several problems. They have nowhere to go to seek redress. The university should have a full-fledged Raitha Samparka Kendra where they offer counselling services and volunteer to visit the fields of farmers," he added. He said the State government would help set up such RSK centres in Bagalkot and other campuses. MLA Bheemsen Chimmanakatti said the university should help farmers improve soil fertility, raise yields, cut costs, simplify post-harvest processing, and get better prices. "It is a matter of pride that the University has gained importance at the national level. But farmers should benefit from it," he noted. Rajya Sabha member Narayanasa Bhandage praised the university’s growth and its efforts to inform farmers through demonstration plots. He congratulated the farmers honoured by the university. MLC P.H. Pujar said Bagalkot and Vijayapura districts have good climate for horticulture and urged the university to assist farmers in growing profitable crops. MLC Hanamant Nirani encouraged farmers to use government schemes and work together to benefit from equipment sharing. Also present were Vice Chancellor Dr. Vishunvardhan, Regional Commissioner Janaki K.M., Deputy Commissioner Sangappa, Additional DC Ashok Teli, and university board members including S N Vasudeva, H G Manohar, Anita K V, Thammaiah N, Balaji Kulkarni, and Janardhan.