If anybody asks a farmer what he considers successful farming is all about, the answer in all probability would be low investment and a good, steady income.

“It could be a small farmer or a farmer with 10 acres; the bottom line is generating revenue from his crop. And modern technologies should aid him in improving income and his standard of living. Take the case of Mr. Umesh, a small farmer with 2.5 acres — he earns a net annual income of Rs. 4.8 lakh,” says Dr. Sreenath Dikshit, Zonal Project Director, ICAR, Bangalore.

Role model

The synergistic integration and optimal utilisation of resources by Mr. Umesh, hailing from Kalya village of Magadi taluk of Ramangara District, Karnataka, is one such role model for the impoverished farmers of the State.

“In fact, persons like Umesh could be the right model for farmers of Karnataka facing the scenario of low yield and income coupled with unpredictable rainfall,” says Dr. Dikshit.

Initially Mr. Umesh’s traditional farming included only arecanut in one acre along with a small dairy unit. The technical support from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramangara helped him to shore up and integrate his farming through introduction of improved crop varieties, stall feeding of sheep, upgrading a dairy unit, growing azolla as cattle feed, vermicompost manufacturing, poultry, developing a fodder bank and drudgery reduction through farm mechanisation at his level. “The most crucial intervention is the introduction of rose and marigold along with vegetables like pole beans, cucumber, tomato and brinjal as intercrops. He has a stall feeding unit of sheep (15+2) that has drawn the attention of neighbouring villagers,” says Dr. K.H. Nagaraj, Program Coordinator of the Ramanagara dist. KVK.

Last seasons

During the last three seasons Mr Umesh earned Rs.2,40,000 from vegetables alone. Everyday he sells flowers in the nearby market earning Rs.800-1,000 per day.

Keeping the requirement of the market demand the farmer had planned these two varieties in such a way it starts flowering in September-October when the demand for fresh flowers would be high in the state.

Earlier, the only source of income for him was from arecanut which fetched him a net income of Rs.1,45,000 annually.

He was advised to establish a fodder bank comprising Co-3, Co-4 grass varieties and azolla to feed his small dairy unit (one HF & one Jersey cow) and sheep unit. He has also planted silver oak trees all along the borders of his farm.

The trees act as a wind barrier to the arecanut garden. KVK guided him in preparing his own feed mixture for the sheep as well as dairy animals. The combination of azolla and the feed mixture has reduced his feed cost by Rs.150 per day.

Irrigation

The entire garden is irrigated through a micro sprinkler. To reduce drudgery, the farmer has opted for mechanisation by deploying a chaff cutter, rotowater and a cycle weeder that has helped him to reduce the cost of labour.

He recycles farm waste through a vermicompost unit. The average production from his farming per year is 0.8 tonnes of green areca nuts, about one tonne of vermicompost, 15 tonnes of cow dung, 40 tonnes of fodder grass and vegetables worth Rs.2,40,000 .

Owns a car

“Till about three years back I did not even own a two wheeler but today thanks to the income generation from my farm I own a car,” says Mr. Umesh, with a sense of pride.

His successful farming has already drawn the attention of hundreds of farmers within and outside the district.

For more information interested farmers can contact Mr.Umesh, Kalya colony, Kalya post, Magadi Tq,Ramanagara Dist-562120, mobile: 9886882610 and Program Coordinator,Dr. K.H. Nagaraj

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, chandurayanahally, Magadi Tq, Ramanagara Dist-562120, mobile: 9449866918.