Drip technology changed the picture of farming: Farmer Mukesh Chaudhary earns lakhs annually from paddy-chilli crop.

Raipur : Mukesh Chaudhary, a progressive farmer of village Navapali under Baramkela development block of Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district, has given a new direction to the traditional thinking of farming by adopting innovation and modern agricultural techniques. By cultivating paddy and chilli through drip method, he is earning income of lakhs of rupees every year and today he has earned recognition as a successful agricultural entrepreneur.

Chaudhary told that in the year 2011, he started chilli cultivation using traditional method on two acres of land. During this time, he received guidance from Surendra Patel, the then Senior Horticulture Superintendent of Garden Planting Center, Nadigaon, from which he got information about farming using drip method. After this, in the year 2013, farming with drip technique was started for the first time in Barmkela block.

Under the drip method, chilli was planted using deep plowing of the fields, construction of ridges, laying of lateral pipes and mulching. By providing balanced amount of irrigation, fertilizers and medicines through drip, the production increased significantly and the yield of chilli almost doubled. After getting better results, Choudhary increased the cultivation of chilli by reducing the area of ​​paddy cultivation and is currently cultivating chilli on about 12 acres of land. From this they are earning lakhs of rupees every year.

Become a source of inspiration for other farmers

Seeing the success of farmer Mukesh Chaudhary, many farmers of nearby villages of the area including Khinchari, Banjipali, Bendrapara, Risora, Noonpani, Linjir and Pradhanpur have also started cultivating chillies and vegetables along with paddy through drip method.

Dr. Khubchand Baghel honored with Krishak Ratna Award

Mukesh Chaudhary was awarded the Dr. Khubchand Baghel Krishak Ratna Award by the state government in the year 2021 for innovation in farming, adoption of organic and integrated farming. Along with organic fertilizers in paddy cultivation, he cultivated urad, moong and chilli in pulses and oilseed crops. As an award, he was given a citation, memento and a check of Rs 2 lakh. This honor boosted his enthusiasm and agricultural work expanded further.

Promotion of natural farming, responsibility given as BRC

This year, Mukesh Chaudhary has been appointed BRC for natural farming by the Agriculture Department. Along with him, Tikeshwari Mahapatra (Jalakona) and Khel Kumari (Dhaunradarha) have also been made BRC. After providing training by the department in Raipur and Bargarh (Odisha), now these three BRCs are providing information about fertilizer production and seed treatment from natural resources to the farmers of dozens of villages including Jalakona, Dhaunradarha, Karpi, Jamdalkha.

Agriculture Department officials said that farmer Mukesh Chaudhary is continuously doing natural farming along with chilli cultivation and he has been honored by the state government. His initiative is proving inspiring for the farmers of the area.