Farming
Ujjain farmers bet big on horticulture to up income
Times of India · 02 Apr 2016
Ujjain farmers are cashing in on Simhastha where demand for fruits and vegetables is expected to shoot up with high influx of people coming from different parts of the world to attend the month-long congregation.
Farmers equipped with irrigation facility in the district have invested heavily in horticulture crops such as capsicum, garlic, chilli, lady finger, onion and cabbage on expectation of better remuneration than agricultural crops.
According to the horticulture department, farmers in the district have grown vegetables on about 1,500 hectare this season and the government is providing hybrid seeds and fertilizers free of cost to farmers to increase the cultivation. "Demand for vegetables and fruits are likely to increase significantly due to Simhastha. Farmers in Madhya Pradesh are shifting from agricultural crops to horticultural crops due to better yields and higher profitability. With the help of modern technology, cultivation of horticultural crops has become easy," said Kishan Singh Yadav, assistant director, horticulture department Bhopal.
Simhastha will start from April 22 and will continue till May 21. Around five crore devotees are expected to come in the event.
"Horticulture saves water because of the use of drip irrigation that ensures economical use of water and gives high yield," Yadav said.
M L Hirwane, former additional director, horticulture department, Bhopal said that horticulture cultivation is growing at a rate of about 2% every year on increased profit and lesser risk as compared to agriculture crops.
During the month-long event, different akharas will have round-the-clock bhandaras for devotees and followers. Food and supplies department of Ujjain is expected to provide foodgrains at subsidized rates to about 5 lakh saints and seers per day for about two months during Simhastha through 40 fair price shops in the mela area.
As per the initial assessment by the food and supplies department, the per capita per day requirement of a single person would be about 350 grams of wheat, 150 grams rice and 150 gram sugar.
Mohanlal Kushwah a farmer from Ujjain district said, "I have increased the acreage under lady's finger to 3 hectare from 2 hectare last year because consumption is expected to remain high this season due to Simhastha and prices will also remain profitable."
Farmers equipped with irrigation facility in the district have invested heavily in horticulture crops such as capsicum, garlic, chilli, lady finger, onion and cabbage on expectation of better remuneration than agricultural crops.
According to the horticulture department, farmers in the district have grown vegetables on about 1,500 hectare this season and the government is providing hybrid seeds and fertilizers free of cost to farmers to increase the cultivation. "Demand for vegetables and fruits are likely to increase significantly due to Simhastha. Farmers in Madhya Pradesh are shifting from agricultural crops to horticultural crops due to better yields and higher profitability. With the help of modern technology, cultivation of horticultural crops has become easy," said Kishan Singh Yadav, assistant director, horticulture department Bhopal.
Simhastha will start from April 22 and will continue till May 21. Around five crore devotees are expected to come in the event.
"Horticulture saves water because of the use of drip irrigation that ensures economical use of water and gives high yield," Yadav said.
M L Hirwane, former additional director, horticulture department, Bhopal said that horticulture cultivation is growing at a rate of about 2% every year on increased profit and lesser risk as compared to agriculture crops.
During the month-long event, different akharas will have round-the-clock bhandaras for devotees and followers. Food and supplies department of Ujjain is expected to provide foodgrains at subsidized rates to about 5 lakh saints and seers per day for about two months during Simhastha through 40 fair price shops in the mela area.
As per the initial assessment by the food and supplies department, the per capita per day requirement of a single person would be about 350 grams of wheat, 150 grams rice and 150 gram sugar.
Mohanlal Kushwah a farmer from Ujjain district said, "I have increased the acreage under lady's finger to 3 hectare from 2 hectare last year because consumption is expected to remain high this season due to Simhastha and prices will also remain profitable."