Growing dates in Karnataka: A farmer’s unlikely innovation

September 17, 2025 Innovation Valli Sarvani

When most farmers in Karnataka continued with traditional crops, Divakar Channappa, a former ISRO project scientist, took a bold and unconventional step, cultivating dates, a crop commonly associated with the deserts of the Middle East.

His innovation not only challenged long-held beliefs about climate suitability but also proved that non-traditional, high-value crops can thrive with the right methods, even in unexpected regions.

Dates typically require arid climates, high temperatures, and low humidity, conditions found in countries like Oman, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

But Divakar realised through research and experimentation that what the date palm truly needs is ample sunlight, warmth (around 40–45°C), and good soil drainage.

Although Karnataka’s summers peak at only 38°C, Divakar managed to replicate the required environment by:

Digging 2×2 feet pits filled with river sand for drainage.
Using organic soil enhancers like neem and castor cake, vermicompost, panchgavya, cow dung, and urine.
Avoiding chemical fertilisers entirely, making his produce organically certified.

He invested ₹4.5 lakh to purchase 150 saplings (₹3,000 each), a substantial upfront cost given the long gestation period.

But today, his 2.5-acre farm produces up to 5 tonnes of dates, with an income of ₹6 lakh per acre, a far cry from his early returns on traditional crops like ragi and tur dal.

Despite the success, the path to innovation was anything but smooth:

Scepticism from the community: Locals mocked the idea, questioning how a desert crop could survive in Karnataka.
Delayed results: It took four and a half years before the trees even flowered. Many believed his project would fail before it ever took off.
High initial investment: With no guaranteed returns and expensive saplings, the financial risk was significant. For years, his farm had been running at a loss.
No precedent or support: As the first date farmer in Karnataka, and likely South India’s first organic date cultivator, Divakar had no local models to follow. He had to travel to Tamil Nadu to learn from another pioneer farmer.
Slow mindset shift: Even as his success became evident, getting others to believe in non-traditional crops required media attention and visible results.

Divakar’s innovation has opened doors for:

Crop diversification in regions struggling with the profitability of traditional farming.
A shift toward organic, sustainable agriculture that meets modern consumer demands.
Inspiration for new farmers looking to break away from conventional practices with higher returns.

Date farming, if scaled properly, could reduce India’s reliance on imports, as most dates are currently sourced from Gulf countries.

It also fits well in regions with semi-arid climates, making it a viable option across parts of southern and western India.

Divakar’s journey is not just about growing an exotic crop. It’s about challenging norms, trusting science and observation, and patiently working through years of uncertainty.

His success shows that innovation in agriculture isn’t always about technology; sometimes it’s about daring to do things differently.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on February 25, 2017