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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Farmer shows the way to beat the heat-Sangamesh Menasinakai

Farmer shows the way to beat the heat-Sangamesh Menasinakai

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published Published on Jun 17, 2014   modified Modified on Jun 17, 2014
-DNA
 

Gadag: Rajendra Shirol, a farmer from the drought prone Gadag district, has found a way to find some respite from the increasing temperature. He has cultivated an Ayurvedic herbal crop `Ashwagandha', botanically known as ‘Withania somnifera.'

He has been encouraging about 100 farmers in the Gadag and Koppal districts to sow the seeds of Ashwagandha, that can grow in plenty, despite the scarcity of water, infertility of land, hot temperature and uneven rainfall. Another benefit of planting this tree, is that Ashwagandha fetches a good price to the farmers, four-five months after it is planted, as there is a vast demand from Ayurvedic medicine companies for this herb. More over, this crop promotes organic farming in black soil he explained. The crop is not attacked by animals either.

Recalling the consequences that made him to opt for Ashwagandha, Rajendra, an MSc graduate in agriculture, said that he was looking out for alternatives to beat unreliable rainfall in 2006. "When I heard about such experiment that was taking place in Neemuch taluk in Madhya Pradesh, we 4 farmers visited there and walked about 20 kms in jungle of 4-5 villages. We found that soil was identical to soil of Gadag. Our experiment was failed in first year but we got fruitful results in the second year, which was in 2007-08. To avoid possible harassment by companies, we formed Ashwagandha Farmers Forum (AFF) under the Karnataka Society Registration Act 1960 in 2007," shared.

 

Rajendra has been honoured by Indian Institute of Horticulture Research for his innovation in 2008. In his 70 acres of land in Belavanaki village, he is getting net profit of Rs. 10 to 15 lakh. "A minimum income of Rs. 15-20,000, excluding all expenses, can be expected from this cultivation. Some farmers are cultivating it with other traditional crops and some of them are going for it considering the forecast of monsoon. If we receive good rains, we will get lesser yield of Ashwagandha,' he analysed.
 
Apart from Ashwagandha, AFF members also getting good yield of other medicinal species like Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) and Nelanelli (Phallanthus amarus) in about 500 acres in Gadag and Koppal districts.

 


DNA, 15 June, 2014, http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=21050&boxid=25207&ed_date=2014-06-15&ed_code=860009&ed_page=5


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