A progressive farmer has achieved a record production of more than 60 tonnes per acre through the judicious use of organic farming techniques and drip irrigation technology.
Chitrashekar Parashivappagol, who was awarded the State government’s ‘Krishi Pandit’ award a couple of years ago for achieving record production of the red gram, has now demonstrated that a windfall was possible in sugarcane farming by using organic fertilizers instead of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in his farm at Tadateganur and Farhatabad villages in Kalaburagi taluk.
Having taken to sugarcane farming in nearly 35 acres of land three years ago, Mr Parashivappagol has seen his yield increase dramatically: from 40 tonnes per acre in the first year to 60 tonnes now.
He ensures that every bit of the sugarcane is used. For instance, the dried sugarcane leaves are shredded by a thresher and ploughed into the soil. “This is a good natural manure to enhance the fertility of the soil, and helps in the retention of the moisture in the soil. It also prevents the growth of the weeds and thereby cutting the cost of cultivation,” said the farmer, who also cultivates Red Gram, Bengal Gram, Jowar, and Wheat.
Instead of chemical fertilisers, natural vermi-compost is prepared through nine pits in the fields. He claims his organic pesticides have ensured there was no major viral attack in the past three years.
Complete mechanisation of his farm has helped in reducing labour costs. In fact, the vast tracts of his farm are managed by just three aides.
