Tag: Fishery

Amarpreet Singh

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Unlocking Agricultural Potential: The Journey of a Visionary Farmer Towards Integrated Farming Success

In the sacred grounds of Chamkaur Sahib, where the echoes of historic battles still linger, a modern warrior treads a different path. Amarpreet Singh, a farmer with a relentless spirit, has harnessed the power of integrated farming techniques to revolutionize his 28-acre farm. Drawing inspiration from his forefathers’ bravery, Amarpreet has rewritten the story of agriculture in his own way, utilizing innovative methods to maximize his land’s potential and secure a sustainable future.

Embracing Change: The saga of Amarpreet Singh’s agricultural journey began when he decided to trade his corporate suit for the farmer’s plow. In 2010, Amarpreet left behind his role as an Assistant Manager at HDFC bank to pursue his calling in farming. His father’s fishery business laid the groundwork, but Amarpreet’s vision extended beyond traditional boundaries. Armed with an MBA degree, he fused modern business acumen with ancestral wisdom to craft a thriving and sustainable plan.

The Rise of Fishery: Fish farming, often fraught with market unpredictability, became a canvas for Amarpreet’s ingenuity, which he practiced in 21 acre of farm. Recognizing the need for strategic marketing, he ventured into collaborations with local vendors. By forging partnerships with chicken vendors, he ensured a steady market for his fish. Technical expertise gained from the Fisheries Department, Ropar, was pivotal in mastering the nuances of fish farming. Five distinct breeds (Golden or Common Carp Fish, Rohu Fish, Grass Carp Fish, Catla Fish, and Mrigal FIsh), recommended by the Punjab Government, took root in his farm, enabling a consistent and quality fish yield.

Managing a fishery isn’t without its challenges. Amarpreet’s insight unveils the delicate dance of nurturing fish to optimal size for market demand. Subsidies from the Punjab Government ease the financial burden, making fishery a viable venture. Wise netting practices, combined with innovative tactics such as underground pipelines, optimize water usage and harvest yields. His farm now resonates with the symphony of diverse activities that contribute to a harmonious ecosystem.

Pig Farming: Amarpreet Singh specializes in breeding large white Yorkshire pigs, a choice driven by their rapid growth rate and substantial litter size. On average, a female pig produces ten offspring. Presently, his farm is home to 63 pigs, with an average weight ranging from 60 to 65 kg. In terms of feeding, there are three primary methods: utilizing commercial feed, preparing homemade feed, or relying on waste products. Amarpreet Singh Ji favors commercial feed due to its superior formulation and mechanized production processes. Notably, the use of commercial feed enhances litter size; on this regimen, he records an average of 10 offspring per cycle, which occurs at least twice.

Sales transactions take place on the farm, facilitated by vendors who assess the pigs’ weight before making purchases. The average pig’s weight falls within the range of 80 to 85 kg. Typically, this sales approach involves immediate cash payment to the farmer.

In some instances, pig farming encounters challenges such as the disruption of pig sales caused by African Swine Fever. This viral disease can lead to a temporary suspension of sales for approximately a month, after which regular business operations resume as usual.

Goat Farming: Amarpreet Singh’s agricultural journey continues to evolve, as he ventures into goat farming with the Beetal breed, a recommendation by the Punjab Government. Despite his relatively short six months of experience, he has already witnessed growth in this sector. This growth is particularly evident due to the significant number of pregnant goats under his care, contributing to a growing inventory of approximately 20 goats in total.

In the midst of successfully integrating various farming aspects, Amarpreet Singh envisions further expansion by incorporating duck farming into his repertoire. Recognizing the potential benefits for his fisheries business, he believes that introducing ducks could enhance his overall farming dynamics.

Amarpreet’s dedication and accomplishments have garnered recognition, including the Chief Minister’s Award in 2019 for his achievements in piggery and integrated farming. Presented by the Punjab Government, this award was bestowed by the former Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, during a ceremony held at the PAU University in Ludhiana. Over the years, Amarpreet Ji has also earned multiple certifications, showcasing his commitment to honing his expertise.

Throughout his journey, Amarpreet attributes a substantial portion of his success to his supportive family. He acknowledges their instrumental role, particularly during his transition from a private job to becoming a full-time farmer. His wife, who is also well-versed in fish farming, provides valuable insights and guidance that have propelled his agricultural pursuits forward.

Thriving in Diversity: In addition to fishery, pig farming, and goat farming, Amarpreet’s farm boasts poultry and crops such as pulses, mustard, and turmeric. His prudent land use practices exemplify his commitment to maximizing returns. Poplar trees stand as a testament to his holistic approach, nurturing nature as much as his profits.

A Glimpse into the Future: As his journey continues, Amarpreet envisions integrating duck farming, yet another promising venture that complements his existing operations. Awards and certifications acknowledge his dedication, culminating in the Chief Minister’s Award for his contributions to piggery and integrated farming.

Family, Learning, and Advice: Amarpreet credits his family’s unwavering support for his success, particularly during his transition from the corporate world to farming. He encourages educated individuals to embrace integrated farming, highlighting its role in bridging the gap between mankind and nature. A testament to resilience, he urges fellow farmers to diversify their income streams and embrace integrated farming as a route to sustainable growth.

Conclusion: The story of Amarpreet Singh’s transformation from a corporate professional to an integrated farming pioneer is a testament to the untapped potential of modern agriculture. Through innovative techniques, thoughtful collaborations, and a deep commitment to environmental harmony, he has not only maximized his land’s yield but also set an example for a new generation of farmers. His journey showcases how harnessing the power of integration can pave the way to prosperity while treading lightly on the Earth.

Gurwinder Singh

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Gurwinder Singh: A Pioneer in Bee Farming and Fish Farming

Recognizing the potential for diversification, Gurwinder ventured into fish farming, implementing the RAS method. His farm boasts 15 tanks, each with a diameter of 4 feet and a depth of 4.5 feet, capable of accommodating 7000 fishes. With careful feeding and maintenance, the fish are ready for sale within 5 to 6 months, offering a considerable profit margin of ₹70,000 per tank.

Gurwinder’s success can be attributed to his meticulous approach and continuous learning. He availed a 5-day training program from a government centre in Haryana and extensively researched online to enhance his knowledge. Notably, he has introduced the Vietnamese and Singhi fish variety, which exhibits a low susceptibility to diseases.

An advantage of Gurwinder’s farming endeavours is their low labour requirement. A single person can manage bee farming, and the trading of fishes can be done directly with buyers or through the Mandi in Ludhiana. To maintain optimal conditions, the farm employs a well-designed roofing structure that aids in regulating temperatures throughout the year. In winter, the tanks are completely covered, while in summer, a green net cover is used, complemented by the RAS system filters. Temperature monitoring meters have also been installed to ensure precise control.

Gurwinder Singh’s success story demonstrates the potential of sustainable and profitable agriculture practices. Through his dedication and family support, he has transformed his small-scale ventures into flourishing enterprises. Aspiring farmers can learn from his experiences and strive to make a difference in the agricultural landscape by embracing innovative approaches and leveraging the wealth of opportunities available closer to home.

Message to farmers

Gurwinder Singh’s achievements stand as an inspiration to fellow farmers. He encourages them to explore local opportunities and highlights the importance of focusing on labour within India, even in small-scale businesses. In a noble gesture, he extends his support by offering free training to any farmer interested in learning these techniques.

Sapinder Singh

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Sapinder Singh Taking Allied Agricultural Activities to the Next Level in Punjab by Integrating Fishery with Piggery

In most part of India, farmers are adopting integrated agricultural allied activities to support their domestic economy. And why not they would be doing that, Integrated Farming System not only provides reasonable livelihood to the rural community but also provides a backup support in case if one of the business faces loss due to any reason. Following the same example, progressive farmer Sapinder Singh from Sangrur adopted fisheries along with pig farming and is setting an impressive example for the other farmers in Punjab.

This is the story of a retired personnel – Sapinder Singh, who after dedicating 18 years of his life to the Military Engineering Service decided to come back to its roots in Punjab and devote the rest of his life to farming. Coming from an agriculture background, it was not difficult for Sapinder Singh to continue farming again. But the major crops, Wheat, and Paddy was not a profitable venture from him, which was one of the reasons he was influenced towards allied agriculture activities.

In-between this period, once Sapinder Singh visited Sangrur city for some personal affair and there he came to know about the process of fish seed production at a Fish Seed Farm. After approaching the workers at the fish farm he came to know that 5-days-training-program is organized once in a month to train the ambitious farmers who want to adopt fish farming as their career for life.

“And this was when I decided to follow fish farming. My mother and I took five days training program in October 2013. From there I came to know that fish seed is supplied only from March to August.”

Not missing even a single moment after the training, Sapinder Singh decided to prepare his own pre-culture tank (nursery tank) and stock it with fish seeds. For the tank preparation, he dug a pond on his land after getting his land checked under soil and water testing. Fishery department also helped him in loan application and loan instalment process was also very smooth for Sapinder Singh.

“For fish farming, I applied for a loan of Rs. 4.50 lakhs and after sometime Rs 1.50 Lakh was the first loan instalment that I received. The remaining loan payment was also on time, due to which I never faced any type of financial problem during the establishment of my fish farm. ”

Fishery officers played the important role in enlightening Sapinder Singh with the information at the right time. They suggested Mr. Singh about integrated farming and then he decided to start pig farming as well. After undergoing the training process, Sapinder Singh applied for the loan of Rs 4.90 lakh to establish the piggery shed.

Currently, Sapinder Singh is following fish farming in 3.25 acres with 200 piglets. There was a profit of net worth Rs. 8 Lakh from the integrated farming system of fish with pig farming. Fishery and Animal husbandry, both the departments disbursed Sapinder Singh subsidy of Rs. 1.95 Lakh and Rs. 1.50 Lakh. Both Departments and District Administration fully co-operated and provided him full opportunity to flourish his business.

Currently, Sapinder Singh is running his farm successfully and whenever he gets the chance he tries to motivate the farmer to join KVK training camps, District Training Programmes by GADVASU for proper farming knowledge.

With his accelerating curiosity, he wants to stay one step ahead always. Sapinder Singh also knows what should be his next step to progress, and that is why he is planning to invest in processing plant of pig-fish unit.

Sapinder Singh is a modern progressive farmer who changed his farming method according to the latest trends and took advantage of every opportunity. Other farmers also have to understand Sapinder Singh’s approach if they want to progress in the agriculture field.

Message

If farmers want to earn well and improve their domestic status economically then they have to adopt Agri-allied professions along with crop cultivation.

Gurpreet Shergill

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Man Bringing Flower-Farming Renaissance in Punjab

In the recent years, floriculture has emerged as a rising agri-business in India and 20% annual growth in exports has been observed in the floriculture industry. This is a good insignia representing the development of agri-sector in India which is only possible due to the contribution of some hardworking revolutionary countrymen.

1996 was the year when the man behind the Punjab Flower Farming Renaissance- Gurpreet Singh Shergill, took his first step towards floriculture, and today he is well-recognized floriculturist associated with many prestigious government bodies.

Gurpreet Singh Shergill – “After completing my degree in 1993 in Mechanical Engineering, I was confused about my career choice. I always wanted to do a work which makes me happy and gives me recognition, not that work which gives my worldly pleasures.”

Gurpreet Singh Shergill chose the farming field and along with that he also started dairy farming as his full-time profession. He never felt satisfied with his work, which made him work harder and think deeper. That was when he realized that he is not here to fall into the trap of wheat-paddy cycle and it took 3 years to understand this. Flowers always fascinated him, so with the expert advice of his father – Baldev Singh Shergill and support of his brother – Karanjit Singh Shergill, he decided to give floriculture a try. Marigold was the first successful yield that he got in that season.

After that nothing stopped him from achieving what he wanted…One main person to whom Gurpreet Singh Shergill gives the major credit, apart from father and brother is his wife, she is the main supporting pillar throughout his farming venture.

Marigold harvest was followed by Gladiolus, Gulzafri, Rose, Statice and Gypsophila harvests. This is how he turned into someone from a regular farmer.

Some stats about his foreign trips

In 2002, his quest for knowledge and know-how, took him Holland, where he attended Floriade (International Flower Exhibition organized after every 10 years).

He also visited world’s largest auction centre for fresh flowers in Aalsmeer, Holland.

In 2003, he also attended World Rose Convention in Glasgow, UK.

How he diversified his farming activities…

With his flourishing floriculture work, he established Vermicompost plant and added fishery in his farming practices.

Vermicompost plant is supporting him dually- he is using the compost in his field as well also selling it in the market.

He has also created his product line which includes Rose Water, Rose Sharbat, Aloe-Vera and Amla Juice. Compost and Rosewater are sold under the brand name “Balson”, and Rose Sharbat, Aloe Vera and Amla Juice under the brand name of “Shergill Farm Fresh”.

With his sheer hard work and dedication, he transformed his passion for agriculture into a successful business.

Many agriculture-related government bodies soon recognized his efforts and awarded him with multiple awards… some of the prominent awards are:

• Punjab Chief Minister Award, 2011 by PAU, Ludhiana

• Jagjivan Ram Innovative Farmer Award, 2012 by ICAR, New Delhi

• N.G. Ranga Farmer Award, 2014 by ICAR, New Delhi

• Innovative Farmer Award, 2015 by IARI, New Delhi

• Nominated for Member of National Advisory Panel (NAP) for Farmer’s FIRST Programme, 2016 by IARI, New Delhi

Even after, accomplishing so much, Gurpreet Singh Shergill never brags about his achievements. He is a very clear-head person who always seeks different information sources to grab knowledge and relate it to his farming practices. In the pastime, he likes to read agriculture magazines like Modern Kheti, Floriculture Today, Kheti Dunia etc. He is also an active participant in agriculture fairs and events. He believes in sharing the knowledge and he never let down any farmer who come for help. To help the farmer community, he is playing a major role as an Apni Kheti expert by contributing his knowledge.

Gurpreet Shergill has shown that if one is dedicated and hardworking, one can achieve success. And in today’s time when farmers are reeling with losses and debts and committing suicides, he stands as a torchbearer for the entire agricultural community by demonstrating that diversification is the need of the hour as well as the path to a better future for the agricultural community.

To know more about his diversified agriculture business visit his website.