Diversified farming can lead to sustainable income

P. Elango (37) from Karaiyapalayam in Tirupur district, is showing the way to the farming community that how opting for diversified farming activities, instead of concentrating on crops alone, can ensure sustainable income.

A graduate in corporate secretaryship from P.S.G. College in Coimbatore, Mr. Elango chose not to enter his family pesticide business. Instead, he bought a nine acre plot and cultivated paddy on it since a decade ago.

“Planning is crucial in generating consistent income from farming, After starting with paddy, I realised that integrated farming is crucial to offset the possible losses incurred on any individual crop,” he told

The Hindu .

With that objective in mind, Mr. Elango also cultivates onion, brinjal, coconut, banana and tomato. He maintains cattle for milk production, goat and country fowls for meat and a vermin-compost production unit to meet his needs for organic manure.

Mr. Elango’s farm is like a school for those who wish to start farming and for students pursuing agriculture studies.

R. Sivakumar, the Assistant Director of Agriculture, said that planning like Mr. Elango was essential in today's scenario. This way farmers would not have to worry about price fluctuations or market glut.

Mr. Elango is now readying tanks to venture into fish farming.