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Agriculture | He took a radical approach to farming-Firoz Rozindar

He took a radical approach to farming-Firoz Rozindar

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published Published on Jun 18, 2012   modified Modified on Jun 18, 2012

Basagonda adopted INM system to cultivate papaya

Around three years ago when Basagonda Muttappanavar decided to join his father in farming, he had a dream: to bring about a radical change in farming methods.

Confident

Being the son of a farmer, the 27-year-old agriculture graduate was confident of turning the not-so-profitable land into a dividend-rich farm.

Basagonda decided to cultivate Taiwan-786 variety of papaya on 4 acres of their 45-acre farm at Managuli village, around 12 km from Bijapur city.

“In just 15 months, I have made a profit that is more than double the average profit made by any papaya grower,” he says.

The secret of his success, says Basagonda, is his adoption of the Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) system and having knowledge of the market. He says that most farmers incur heavy losses despite spending a lot of money because they fail to adopt new methods and gain proper knowledge of the market.

Elaborating on the INM system, he says it is a technique of integrating organic and chemical fertilizer in an optimum blend to get a higher yield.

“I have studied that chemical fertilizer is not bad for plants if used in the right quantity and at the appropriate time,” he says.

Faced resistance

Basagonda says he faced resistance from his father, Dundappa Muttappanavar, when he decided to introduce new techniques.

“It is the thinking of many farmers like my father who do not wish to change the way they take up farming,” he said.

But now, Basagonda has dispelled his father's doubts by cultivating over 80 tonnes of papaya and earning a profit of Rs. 2.45 lakh in 15 months.

According to him, papaya is one crop which can make a farmer rich in a short period of time.

“All one needs to do is spend around Rs. 50,000 on cultivating papaya on 1 acre of land and wait for six months. After which, farmers start reaping profits every week for over 15 months,” he says.

Basagonda says marketing is critical. He ensures that the fruit is ready to be sold during Ramzan when Muslims eat fruits such as papaya. To ensure the fruit is ripe and ready to be sold during Ramzan, he has adopted artificial ripening technique innovated by the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bangalore.

“The method is not just cost-effective, but also has no adverse impact,” he said.

Father thankful

Mr. Dundappa Muttappanavar thanks his son for changing the way he takes up farming.

“We used to work hard and earn less, but now we work less and earn more profits,” he says.

Basagonda, who wishes that more youths take up farming, believes that even with limited land, production can be enhanced if youths with the right knowledge and sprit take up farming.

Basagonda can be contacted on 9663372026.

INM system is a technique of integrating organic and chemical fertilizer in an optimum blend

‘Farmers incur losses because they do not adopt new methods and gain knowledge of the market'
 
 

The Hindu, 18 June, 2012, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3541266.ece


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