Farmers first

Adike Patrike, a monthly magazine published by the farmers, for the farmers, has created an information revolution among farmers.
There was a time when farm journalism in Kannada meant articles on farming written by farm scientists, professors, industry representatives, and the like. To tell the truth, these articles were neither read nor understood by farmers as they did not deal with ground realities or farmers’ actual experiences.
However, Adike Patrike, a monthly magazine about farming and rural development published in Kannada from Puttur, Dakshina Kannada, is different in many ways. It has challenged the conventional style of ‘farm journalism’ in Kannada by publishing ‘on-field’ experiences of farmers for two decades now.
Shree Padre, an eminent journalist and areca grower, is the man behind the concept. The idea of Adike Patrike took birth following a crash in the price of arecanut in the mid-80’s, when it was felt by the All India Areca Growers’ Association that a forum was needed to safeguard the interest of areca growers. Finally, on November 12, 1988, the first issue of Adike Patrike was released by Jnanapeeth awardee late Shivaram Karanth.
Initial responses
Very soon, Adike Patrike expanded its scope and started publishing articles related to farm machinery, farm enterprises, self-help groups, farm Q&As, rural recipes, medicinal plants, and so on.
‘“Farm magazine? What is there to write about? It simply won’t work,’ these were the initial responses we received. But our effort and farmers’ support has helped us come this far,” says Shree Padre, executive editor of the journal.

Focus on facts
Adike Patrike’s style of functioning is also different. It never sensationalises issues or subjects. Also, site visits are a must to check for facts before publishing stories.
Adike Patrike has global connections, too. Robert Trip, a researcher from the Department of International Development, UK, and Sophi Levlin, a PG student of Canada’s Gwelf University, flew down to Adike Patrike to study the impact of the ‘pen to farmers’ revolution.
Adike Patrike has been conferred with more than 18 state-level and national-level journalism awards in its 18 years of existence. Recently, it was conferred with the prestigious ‘L-RAMP’ award for excellence in the journalism category. Obyiously, winning awards has become more than just a habit for Adike Patrike!
For more details, contact: Adike Patrike, P.B. No. 29, Bhat Building, Yelmudi, Puttur, DK-574201, Karnataka.
Ph: 08251-231240;
E-mail: adikepatrike@gmail.com.
—B Jayakishore