Mysuru: When farmers of the Cauvery basin are in distress for want of water, a 28- year- old farmer, Rajesh from Maduvinahalli in Nanjangud taluk, is cultivating his fields with little trouble despite the little water at his disposal and is making a profit too.
His secret? Rajesh, who has a Masters in Economics, uses drip and sprinkler irrigation, and does both organic and integrated farming with help from officers of the agriculture department and other experts in the field.
Although his father, farmer Shambulingappa, 57, wanted him to pursue a career in economics, Rajesh preferred to cultivate his 11 acres of land and has had no reason to regret his decision for the last seven years as his earnings are no less than that of employees in IT and BT companies.
While the coconut trees, tomatoes, green chillies, onion and other vegetables he grows give him yield once in three months, the turmeric and bananas he cultivates give him yield once a year. And he uses the dung of his cattle as manure
“I use the same water required for irrigating one acre in traditional farming, to cultivate three acres using drip and sprinkler irrigation. And due to the best farm practices I have adopted my yield is double that of traditional farmers,” he says, advising farmers in distress to opt for similar technology to defeat years of poor rain. “Although I have 11 acres , I am cultivating only seven acres because of the poor rainfall. But I haven’t suffered a loss,” he notes, also suggesting that the government fix a minimum price for crops.
Rajesh was one of 27 progressive farmers felicitated by Mysuru Zilla Panchayat president, Nayeema Sulthan during Raitha Dasara on Tuesday.
