news details |
|
|
| Farmer’s endeavor made strawberry village | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar: Haji Abdul Ahad Mir, like most of the farmers in the state, was a paddy farmer until 2002 but his endeavor to excel in life ultimately changed the name of his native village at Batpora Hazratbal in outskirts of the city and now the area is known as ‘strawberry’ village.
Mir with a backing of state horticulture department switched to strawberry farming in 2001. The 46-year-old farmer cultivated strawberry as an intercrop which has not only helped him make huge money to sustain large family but has brought laurels to him as well.
Haji, who believes in principle of utilizing every inch of land, first transferred the paddy land into apple field and in due course utilized the spacing between apple trees for strawberry farming as a cash crop.
“Paddy could only bring Rs 5000 per kanal but having apples and strawberry this time round, my net revenue has gone up to around 70000 for the same unit of land,” Haji Mir told .
Initially, Haji started strawberry farming across 0.05 hectares of land and expanded it up to 0.4 hectares by the year 2005 as an intercrop.
His toiling in the field and adoption of scientific practice in terms of net profit has made him an inspiration among the fellow farmers. Encouraged by his experience, many farmers in the area have adopted cultivation of strawberry as a cash crop. In-fact a village earlier known as Gasso, Hazratbal has now changed into ‘strawberry village.’
Haji believes that strawberry cultivation would be an effective option to be taken by the employed youth for sustaining the livelihood.
“It is paining to see many of our youth sitting idle and waiting for the job. I want people to take up this farming as source of income and hope that government will also help jobless youth to take by such avenues,” says Haji Abdul Ahad Mir, who owns 10 kanal of land.
His work in the field has been also recognized by Indian Agriculture Research institute, New Delhi that awarded him “progressive Farmer Award” last month.
According to experts, Jammu and Kashmir State is apt for the cultivation having low temperatures and bright sunshine in the season of cultivation.
The fruit produce is satisfactory and it remains fresh for three to four days after being plucked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
