Farmers’ family home named after MB Patil as irrigation transforms its fortunes

Hubballi: A 30-member joint family in drought-prone Somadevarahatti village of Tikota taluk has named its newly built house after industries minister MB Patil, crediting him for transforming their lives through irrigation projects.

The Hiremath family, which owns 40 acres of farmland, said they once depended solely on rainfall-based farming. When Patil served as water resources minister between 2013 and 2018, irrigation water reached their fields, enabling them to shift to grape cultivation and raisin production. The family now produces around 100 tonnes of raisins annually. Their income from raisins has risen from Rs 1.5 crore two years ago to Rs 4 crore. “We can never repay Patil’s debt, so we named our house after him,” family members said.