Tag: Fruit Farming

Padam Singh

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Padam Singh: Cultivating a Rooftop Oasis of Organic Abundance

In the bustling urban landscape of Basai Darapur, New Delhi, where concrete dominates and green spaces are scarce, Padam Singh’s story emerges as a testament to the extraordinary transformation that passion and dedication can bring about. Born into a family of farmers, Padam always harbored dreams of creating something exceptional for his environment his relentless pursuit of knowledge and unwavering commitment eventually led him to create “The Terrace Garden,” an awe-inspiring organic haven in the heart of the city.

Padam Singh’s journey towards becoming an urban farming pioneer began long before he retired as the Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Delhi, in 2021. During his tenure, he would often frequent PUSA, Delhi, India’s National Institute for Agricultural Research, where he immersed himself in the world of home-based farming and agriculture. His maternal grandfather’s orchard provided valuable insights into fruit farming, and he supplemented his learning with extensive online research and videos.

In 2013, Padam Singh took a significant leap by establishing his Organic Farming Kitchen Garden on the rooftop of his home. Spanning 2500 square feet, this rooftop oasis comprises 400 plants and vegetables, showcasing the fruits of 35 different fruit species. Among these species, he mainly nurtures:

∙         Mango
∙         Oranges
∙         Lemon
∙         Sapodilla (Chickoo)
∙         Mulberry (Shahtoot)
∙         Peach (Aadu)

Padam’s childhood inclination toward fruit farming found a perfect outlet in this endeavor. He personally tends to each plant, nurturing them with care and dedication. His passion has sparked the interest of many, with people frequently visiting his home on Saturdays and Sundays to witness his thriving rooftop garden. Inspired by his example, several individuals have embarked on their own home-based farming journeys. Padam Singh extends his influence by visiting other households, sharing his knowledge, and even gifting plants to encourage others to embrace the joys of organic gardening.

One remarkable aspect of Padam Singh’s approach to farming is his commitment to organic practices. He refrains from using chemical fertilizers available in the market and instead creates his own organic manure at home. He learned this skill through extensive online research and by attending relevant classes, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and environmental consciousness in his gardening endeavors.

Padam Singh’s journey is a shining example of self-driven success. Despite lacking formal agricultural training, he relied on keen observations at PUSA and discussions with scientists to chart his path to success. His remarkable achievements include three awards from the Head of the All India Kitchen Garden Association, with two first prizes and one-second prize in recognition of his exceptional plants. Furthermore, his journey has been showcased on television, with appearances on DOORDARSHAN in 2018 and 2021.

Beyond his role as an urban farmer, Padam Singh wears many hats. He is a licensed advocate, a distinction granted by the BAR Council of India, an international table tennis umpire, and a sought-after guest lecturer at various universities and colleges. In his community, Padam takes pride in teaching young children about farming, imparting valuable knowledge to the next generation.

Padam Singh is a devoted father, with two sons who share his curiosity about his unique approach to farming. One of his sons is an IT Engineer, while the other holds a degree in B.Com Honors. They are deeply interested in their father’s agricultural pursuits, potentially ensuring the continuity of his legacy.

Looking to the future, Padam Singh has no intentions of commercializing his agricultural passion. He remains committed to sharing the abundance of his terrace garden with the elderly, children, family, and relatives. His dream is to acquire a substantial piece of land where he can expand his gardening endeavors further, cultivating an even greater variety of fruits and vegetables to share with his community.

Padam Singh’s journey as an urban farming pioneer exemplifies the power of unwavering passion, relentless dedication, and the pursuit of knowledge. In a concrete jungle, he has created a green oasis that not only sustains him but also inspires countless others to embrace the beauty and potential of organic gardening. In his humble rooftop garden, Padam Singh sows the seeds of change, one plant at a time.

Sarabjit Singh Grewal

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Sowing Seeds of Resilience: Sarabjit Singh’s Journey as a Progressive Farmer

In the vibrant city of Patiala, where the fields stretched as far as the eye could see, resided a progressive farmer named Sarabjit Singh Grewal. Blessed with 6.5 acres of fertile land, Sarabjit embarked on his journey in fruit farming in the year 1983. His early years were filled with enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge as he tirelessly cultivated various fruit crops.

Sarabjit’s passion for agriculture was deeply rooted in his family’s background. His father, Sardar Jagdayl Singh, had retired from Panjab Agriculture University’s Horticulture department in 1980 and was also involved in establishing the Fruit Research Centre in Bathinda. Growing up, Sarabjit was inspired by his father’s expertise and guidance, and it was in 1983 that he decided to pursue agriculture.

Refusing to be disheartened by setbacks, Sarabjit delved into extensive research to enhance his farming practices. With a Master’s and PhD in Zoology from Punjabi University, Sarabjit had a strong academic background that further fueled his thirst for knowledge. He voraciously read books on horticulture and sought information from the vast realm of the internet. Through his dedicated research, Sarabjit gained a wealth of knowledge that allowed him to make informed decisions about his farming endeavors.

In 2018, after nearly fifteen years of experimentation with different crops such as guava, Indian gooseberry, and pomegranate, Sarabjit made a strategic decision to focus on cultivating plum, guava, and peaches. Drawing from the lessons learned from his previous experiences, he carefully studied the unique requirements of peach trees, ensuring that the soil, water, and climate conditions were ideal for their growth. He also adopted the package of practices recommended by Panjab Agriculture University (PAU) and sought guidance from horticulture officers.

Sarabjit’s peach orchard flourished as he embraced the challenges that came with fruit farming. He understood the importance of close plantation and dedicated individual care and attention to each tree, including proper pruning, pest control, and disease prevention. His unwavering dedication and countless hours spent monitoring his trees resulted in a bountiful harvest.

To establish a market for his produce, Sarabjit relied on the services of an intermediary. He recognized the significance of building a strong network to connect with potential buyers and ensure fair prices for his hard-earned fruits. This allowed him to focus on the cultivation process, confident that his fruits would reach eager consumers.

As the sun sets over Sarabjit’s peach orchard, the fruits of his labor stand tall as a testament to his unwavering dedication. His choice of the Shan-e-Punjab species of peach, along with the cultivation of apples, plums, and even exotic fruits like dragon fruit, showcases his adaptability and willingness to explore new horizons in fruit farming. Sarabjit’s success story highlights the importance of knowledge, resilience, and a deep love for the land in achieving agricultural excellence.

Message to farmers

Sarabjit encourages fellow farmers to persevere through the inevitable difficulties, for the joy and satisfaction derived from a life devoted to nurturing the land are immeasurable. He also acknowledges that there may be limitations to earning potential in the fruit farming industry, but the rewards go beyond monetary gains.

Santvir Singh Bajwa

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Advocate Turned Farmer Making Agriculture a Success Venture with Poly-house Farming of Flowers

Today just inheriting land is not the only solution to get rid of the loaded debt and the vicious circle of chemical farming which are making farmers handicapped day by day. Farmer is supposed to be a person who has to do the hard work by keeping in mind all the future outcomes and should also be prepared with the alternatives if anyone of the future outcomes fails. And only those farmer who understand this right way of farming by not letting get them shattered from the increasing pressure, with the help of modern technologies, ideal marketing strategies and of course hard work, let their next generation adopt the same profession happily.
This is the story of a Hoshiarpur based advocate Santvir Singh Bajwa who turned into a successful young farmer after seeing the success of his father Jatinder Singh Lally Bajwa in the field of horticulture. Alike his father he chose to do floriculture in poly-house and also made that venture a success.

Santvir Singh Bajwa while sharing his views – “Well, if we observe the trend in present youth, then you can track a clear record of youngsters either going abroad or opting an alternative career option other than farming. And the main reasons behind this is, there is no fixed income in farming and there is a fear of loss. Moreover, weather and government scheme also not accompanies the farmer in a better way which can give assurance of better backup plan.”

Gifted with the same skills as his father who successfully implemented diversification three decades back and established beautiful fruit orchard in the village of Mehlanwali, Santvir too established his own flower poly-house, where he started Gerbera cultivation. Being aware of the market demand for ornamental flowers, Santvir also started farming roses and carnations, which generated good profit to him.

“From my experience of poly-house farming, I want to share an important information with other farmers that farming in poly-house needs the extreme care of the crops and proper farming practices then only you can achieve a good yield. I personally consult the floriculture experts and progressive farmers and also take help from internet to give my best. – Santvir Singh Bajwa”

Even now Santvir Singh is also helping his father with new marketing strategies and is making good profit from fruit farming too.
Message
Farming in poly-house is a very profitable venture if the farmers are properly aware of the agriculture practices. Young farmers must try farming in poly-house as their future career it has great scopes and they can make big out of it.