Integrated Farming System Archives

Brijesh Kumar: Cultivating Innovation in the Heartland of Agriculture

In the fertile lands of Dangarh, Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh, where agriculture is a way of life, the story of Mr. Brijesh Kumar unfolds—a tale of unwavering dedication, passion, and innovation that has transformed him into a beacon of success in the world of farming. It is said that when you follow your passion with true dedication, the power of the mind leads you down a path of innovation and accomplishment, and Brijesh Kumar’s journey is a testament to this belief.

With about 8 acres of his own land and additional leased land at his disposal, Mr. Brijesh Kumar has been cultivating crops round the year since 2010. His journey into farming started early in life, as he completed his Senior Secondary school and dived headfirst into the field of agriculture. Over the years, he has honed his skills and expertise in farming through an integrated farming system approach.

Brijesh Kumar’s specialty lies in a diverse array of crops, including horticulture crops like potatoes, cauliflower, and brinjal. He also ventures into animal husbandry, raising 4 Sahiwal cows and 4 buffaloes. His focus on potato seed production, particularly varieties like Jignasa 1, Jignasa 3 Neelkanth, Raisoni, spans approximately 20 acres, while rice varieties 1692 and 1502 find a home on about 5 acres of his land. Brijesh Kumar actively engages in direct sales of these seeds, contributing to his substantial income. Additionally, he cultivates seasonal mushrooms, further diversifying his agricultural portfolio.

What sets Brijesh Kumar apart is his ability to maximize profits through multiple avenues within agriculture. His success story encompasses a wide spectrum, ranging from field crops like paddy, maize, and wheat to horticultural delights like potatoes, cauliflower, and brinjal. His livestock, including cows and buffaloes, also contribute to his thriving enterprise. Moreover, poultry farming adds to his diverse income streams.

In his pursuit of knowledge and innovation, Brijesh Kumar has harnessed the power of social media. He actively uses platforms such as YouTube and Facebook to connect with fellow farmers and stay updated on the latest advancements in farming techniques. His thirst for learning led him to seek guidance from farmers in his locality, participate in Kissan melas, and undergo training at the nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra for poultry farming and mushroom production. YouTube, in particular, plays a pivotal role in helping him stay at the forefront of modern farming practices.

Like any farmer, Brijesh Kumar faces his share of challenges, from unpredictable weather conditions to seed availability and the issue of spoilt seeds due to pesticides. However, his commitment to sustainability is evident through his dedication to organic farming on approximately 2 acres dedicated to potatoes and rice production.

To stay at the cutting edge of farming technology, Brijesh Kumar has secured government funding for upscaling technologies and implementing high-tech production methods. A significant portion of his produce, around 25%, is sold through direct channels, further boosting his income and fostering strong community connections.

In his pursuit of excellence, Brijesh Kumar encourages farm visits from various agricultural scientists, fostering knowledge exchange and community growth. His dedication and innovative farming methods even caught the attention of DD National, where he was featured for his groundbreaking approaches to agriculture.

Brijesh Kumar’s journey has been punctuated by accolades and recognition, underscoring his contributions to the agricultural landscape. In 2022, he was honored with the prestigious IARI Fellow and Innovative Farmer Award. Various institutions and organizations have also appreciated and awarded him for his dedication and innovative approaches. Government funding further validates his efforts and commitment to sustainable farming practices.

As Brijesh Kumar continues to innovate and expand his farming horizons, his story serves as an inspiration to all those who believe that passion, dedication, and innovation can lead to remarkable success, even in the heartland of agriculture. His journey reinforces the idea that farming is not just a livelihood but a canvas for innovation and a path to economic prosperity. In the ever-evolving world of agriculture, Brijesh Kumar is a true pioneer, paving the way for a brighter and more sustainable future for farming in India.

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.