Drip Irrigation System Archives - Progressive Farmers

Young Farmer Leading His Way By Adopting New Crop & Modern Farming Practices

In our country, farmers are more leaned towards conventional farming, but this practice does not provide expected profit as per the hard work. But, a swift shift has been encountered among the farmers of young generation.

It is observed that youngsters are adopting new farming patterns and techniques and they are giving preference to vegetable and fruit farming above conventional practices. And as we know those who dare to think and do different, only they can make a big change.

This is a story about one such young farmer, Amandeep Singh Sarao, who is cultivating a crop about which earlier he had no idea. He has gained a new identity in the society, with his hard work and passion.

Mansa (Punjab) based Amandeep Singh’s grandfather and father had bought many land pieces for their personal business interests. But due to lack of time, they rented their 32 acres of land to another farmer, on which conventional farming practices were being followed. He was not much influenced towards agriculture in the beginning, as there was not much farming work at home.

After completing his graduation, Amandeep visited Gujarat with his friends for outing. There, he visited a farm. His friends find that farm very odd, so he decided to go inside the farm and explore it. He discovered that it was a dragon fruit farm by the name GDF.

Very few farmers in our country know about dragon fruit, as it is a foreign fruit and that’s why Amandeep too did not know much about it. GDF farm’s owner Nikunj Pansuriya briefed him more about its farming. After coming back to Punjab, he consulted with his family about it and they praised their son that he has decided to do something different from the usual. Social media was the main source of information for him about the dragon fruit farming and he came to know many new things about it.

“After visiting GDF farm, Lakshmi Putra Dragon Fruit Farm and RK Dragon fruit farm, Vasupujya Dragon Fruit Farm, Shri Hari Horticulture Nursery, Sangar Nursary, I realized that our farmers have been stuck in the cycle of conventional farming from the beginning. Therefore, it’s time for the new generation to do something innovative in the field of agriculture. ” – Amandeep Singh Sarao

Through the internet, he came to know that in Punjab, a Barnala based farmer Harbant Singh Aulakh is also practicing dragon fruit farming. So, to gather more information he visited his farm and from there he felt encouraged & determined to start this new venture.

Amandeep took back 2 acres from the rented land. With the advice of GDF’s owner he get the poles ready and ordered plants from four different places. He named his farm – “Sarao Dragon Fruits Farm” and whenever he faced any difficulty, he took help from experts and internet. In the beginning, he planted red and white variety of dragon fruits.

As it is said that “Things which are happening around you are noticeable and does not require evidence or proof”, in the same way, first year’s fruit of Sarao Dragon Fruits Farm were very tasty and everybody relished it.

After starting dragon fruit farming, all my family members encouraged me and inspired me to work harder and then I never looked back. ” – Amandeep Singh Sarao

Amandeep’s sister-in-law, Harmandeep Kaur, works in the forest department and she advised him to grow sandalwood along with the Dragon Fruit. In our country, sandalwood has its own importance, as it is used for religious activities and its prices are also very high. So, he started collecting information about sandalwood farming.

Amandeep contacted and met Mr. Nitin Patel, the head of Chandan Vikas Association, Gujarat. Nitin Patel has about 2000 sandalwood plants at his farm. In the beginning, Amandeep took a few sandalwood seedlings to plant it on his farm on trial basis. And today, Sarao Farm has about 225 sandalwood plants.

“Do not let the situation overcome you so that you lose courage, rather keep courage in such a way that the situation can be defeated.” – Amandeep Singh Sarao

As a young farmer, Amandeep always thought about doing something new. So he started grafting Dragon Fruit plants. For this, he took training from Mary Ann Passaul, who is from Tangum Philipine Island.

There are 12 varieties of Dragon Fruits at Sarao Dragon Fruits Farm:

• Valdiva Rosa

• Asunta

• Connie Mayer

• Delight

• American Beauty

• Purple Haze

• ISIS Golden Yellow

• S8 Sugar

• Ausi Golden Yellow

• Vietnam White

• Royal Red
• Simple Red

Amandeep still gathers new information related to agriculture field and he has also installed drip irrigation system at his farm. Everybody nearby his village praises him because of his strong determination and hard work and many people visit his farm to know more about his farming techniques.

Future Plans

In the coming time, Amandeep is planning to start marketing its fruit produce on a larger level and along with that he also wants to prepare and sell products made up of sandalwood.

Message

“Farmers should adopt chemical free method of farming. Especially the young farmers, should come forward with their innovative thinking to create more employment in the field of agriculture.”

This farmer has proved that even a common farmer can do something innovative, something new

Walking in a crowd never creates an identity for an individual, something new has to be done to create an identity. Where everyone was working on some old things, a farmer took the decision to do something different. This farmer, Jaskaran Singh, son of Baldev Singh, is a resident of village Kauni, Tehsil Gidderbaha.

Baldev Singh used to practice conventional farming in 27 acres. Due to the family farming business, Jaskaran Singh started working with his father at a very young age, due to which he was unable to look after his studies and for that reason he dropped his studies. The moment when he stepped up in the field, an invaluable relationship was built up with soil. From the very beginning, his father used to cultivate wheat and rice, but Jaskaran Singh had something else in his mind.

When I saw people growing crops other than rice and wheat, it was struck in my mind to do something unique- Jaskaran Singh

Keeping this thing in mind of doing something different, he decided to cultivate strawberries. This decision of Jaskaran disappointed his father very much. His disappointment was natural because planting a crop that is not familiar is a big step. But after assuring his father, he along with his 2 friends set up a strawberry farm in 8 acres. Due to insufficient information and lack of studies, there was a fear of getting failed but passion was on the top of head and a belief that hard work never goes in vain. Hence, he took a training of horticulture and started his business.

He did not face much hindrance in starting strawberry cultivation. Initially he bought seeds from Delhi with his friends’ advice. Farmers avoid strawberry cultivation as it is labour extensive and demands a hard work. Meanwhile, his friends decided to drop this business after realizing that knowledge about strawberry cultivation is not enough. One of them started doing business to secure his future and another is still in hardship for going abroad. But, this enthusiastic person was not going to drop this idea at any cost.

Young blood is coming in trap of colourful lifestyle of abroad and no doubt they are moving there for securing their future. Instead of moving out of country, I wanted to do something innovative in Punjab so that new generation would get motivated and they could secure their future here – Jaskaran Singh

The fruit of his hard work was even more than his expectation, due to which he turned his full attention towards this farming. After this, he planted Himachali variety of strawberry and now he buy seeds from the ‘Hub of Strawberries’ Pune. Jaskaran Singh sells his strawberries at the Mandis of Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Malout.

Along with strawberries, Jaskaran also practice farming of muskmelon and cucumbers. He has made a good profit in just 4 to 5 years. Jaskaran Singh has developed his own vegetable nursery and is planning to make his own strawberry nursery.

The Water level is falling drastically so farmers should move towards drip irrigation system – Jaskaran Singh

Future plan

Jaskaran wants to do processing of strawberries and marketing of self-processed products in the future and to inspire other farmers for doing the same.

Message

“I want to say that the expenses of the farmers are increasing but there is not much difference in the price of wheat and paddy, so the farmers will have to do something different along with the conventional farming. In today’s time, we need to bring crop diversification in Punjab.”