Grafted Brinjal Farming: Farmer Naveen Sao of Chhattisgarh left traditional paddy farming and adopted modern farming of grafted brinjal. With the help of drip irrigation and mulching techniques, he earned a profit of lakhs of rupees by producing 155 quintals per acre.
Farming in the villages of Chhattisgarh is no longer just a tradition but is becoming a changing picture with technology and innovation. Where once farmers were limited to paddy cultivation only, now modern agricultural methods are changing both their income and thinking. Naveen Sao, a farmer from small village Boharpar in Mahasamund district, has emerged as a great example of this. Moving ahead from traditional farming, he adopted grafted brinjal farming and today is earning lakhs of rupees. Naveen Sav’s success shows that if farmers adopt right technology, government schemes and scientific farming, then big income can be achieved even from less land.
Paddy farming was not earning as expected
Naveen Sao, a resident of village Boharpar in Basna development block of Mahasamund district, earlier used to cultivate only paddy in his fields. Although there was a lot of hard work, the income was limited. By producing about 21 quintals of paddy per acre, he could get a profit of about Rs 45,600. Amidst the ever increasing costs and limited profits, he decided to change farming. During this time, officials of the Horticulture Department informed him about the improved cultivation of grafted brinjal. After this he decided to adopt this new technology under the National Agricultural Development Plan in the year 2025-26.
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Grafted brinjal changed the economic picture
Naveen Sao started grafted brinjal cultivation on his 1.31 hectare land. He used drip irrigation and mulching techniques in farming. Due to modern technologies, plant growth improved and the crop remained safe from diseases. The result was that while paddy yielded 21 quintals per acre, grafted brinjal yielded about 155 quintals per acre. This increase was not limited to production only, but also brought about a big change in income.
The crop started getting ready in 45 days
The biggest feature of grafted brinjal is its fast and high yield. The crop is ready for harvesting only about 45 to 50 days after planting. It is possible to produce about 50 kg of brinjal from one plant. Naveen Sao told that there is a lot of hard work in this farming, but the profits are many times better than traditional farming. This is the reason why now nearby farmers are also showing interest in this model.
Demand for brinjal reached Odisha
Naveen Sav did not limit his crops to just the local market. He sold his brinjals in the mandis of Saraipali and the neighboring state of Odisha. There he got a wholesale price of around Rs 30 per kg. After taking out all the expenses, he earned a net profit of about Rs 2 lakh 45 thousand. This earning was more than five times that of paddy.
Government schemes and technology showed a new path
Naveen Sao gives credit for his success to the guidance of the Horticulture Department and government schemes. He says that getting the benefit of timely technical advice and schemes made farming easy and profitable. They constantly keep getting information about new agricultural techniques and research. This is the reason why his fields have now become a center of learning for the nearby farmers. Many farmers of Kachchapal and Boharpar areas are reaching his farm and understanding the nuances of drip irrigation, mulching and grafted farming.
The thinking about village farming is changing
Naveen Sav’s success has proved that change in farming is not limited only to big farmers. With proper planning and technology, even small and medium farmers can increase their income manifold. Experts believe that in the coming time, horticulture crops can become a better option for farmers, because market demand, production and profit are high in them. This is the reason why many farmers are now moving away from traditional crops towards modern and cash crops.
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