“If a farmer can’t earn Rs 3-4 lakh revenue per acre, he ought to both rethink his farming practices or go away this occupation.” That is the philosophy {that a} sexagenarian farmer is following within the coronary heart of rural Punjab, the place conventional farming has been a lifestyle for generations. This farmer’s journey has, nevertheless, shattered norms and set an inspiring instance of innovation and profitability in simply three years.
Nachhatar Singh Brar, 62, a marginal farmer with simply 2.5 acres in Sehna Khera village in Malout tehsil of Muktsar Sahib district three years in the past made a daring resolution to cast off the traditional wheat and cotton cultivation to discover the world of high-value money crops. However that wasn’t all — he went a step additional by establishing his personal model/firm to promote processed items from his farm and different individuals’s farms. From a paltry incomes, he created a thriving enterprise with international recognition.
My complete household, particularly my son, Gursewak Singh Brar, who works within the Punjab Police, supported me. After cautious analysis and coaching, Nachhatar shifted his focus to rising crops, together with turmeric, onion nursery, onions, and greens.
In simply three years, this resolution reworked his revenue. For instance, he grows turmeric on one acre from Could to January, an onion nursery on 1.5 acres from October-mid to December, after which makes use of the identical 1.5 acres for rising onions by including half an acre, making it a complete of two acres for the onion cultivation from January to Could. He additionally makes use of intercropping methods with onion to develop extra crops like tomatoes, cauliflower, and chilli, whereas the remaining half-acre is devoted to greens like ladyfingers. The end result: An enormous surge in earnings in comparison with conventional wheat farming — however “arduous work and correct know-how stay the important thing”.
He additionally offers the credit score for his complete coaching to the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Muktsar Sahib, and Dr Karamjit Sharma, Professor-cum-incharge of Goneana KVK, Muktsar Sahib, for all coaching programmes he obtained.
“What makes my method completely different is the growth of processing and packaging of the crops I develop. I take advantage of lemons, which I develop on the perimeters of my discipline, in addition to chillies and turmeric, to make pickles, turmeric powder as a substitute promoting these merchandise within the uncooked kind. I additionally promote onion nurseries, a 70-day crop (October-mid to December) for round Rs 9 lakh, yielding a revenue of round Rs 3 lakh after protecting bills. Moreover, I promote high-quality produce like onions, value Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 5.5 lakh per acre, relying in the marketplace charge, incomes round Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh per acre. I additionally course of chickpeas (kabuli channa) in several flavours, small and huge pakoras (fritters), that are utilized in curd, greens, and Kadhi, a well-liked Punjabi kadhi-chawal dish. Furthermore, I put together wholesome snacks by mixing millet, soybeans, maize, and different grains to encourage individuals to undertake more healthy snacking habits. These packaged items are offered underneath the model identify of ‘The Farmer Made’, which I launched final 12 months, displaying the identify of the model on the map of Punjab on each packet.”
The model’s motto is “Shudhata Sadhi Pehchan (Purity is our Identification)” by offering pure produce immediately from farmers, bypassing intermediaries,” mentioned Nachhatar, including that his spouse Harmeet Kaur, son Gursewak and daughter-in-law Kiranjit Kaur help him in each bit.
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Gursewak mentioned, “We started promoting a spread of natural merchandise, together with mustard oil, which we course of by conventional strategies like chilly press, and turmeric, millet snacks, and varied ready-to-eat mixes.”
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From simply 2.5 acres, he not solely generates between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4 lakh per acre per crop, his processed meals merchandise present a revenue margin of round 15 per cent.
However his success can’t solely be measured by profitability, it additionally created employment alternatives for his neighborhood. As a marginal farmer, he employs 16 staff for 6-7 months a 12 months, offering much-needed revenue and help to households in his village and making a ripple impact of prosperity.
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Singh is an ardent advocate of fixing the mindset from the normal farming practices.
“Until the time a farmer is not going to come out of wheat-paddy and never suppose like an entrepreneur, with a transparent imaginative and prescient, he can’t earn good earnings. Immediately massive corporations with no fields of their very own are sourcing uncooked supplies from some other place and promoting the product after processing. However farmers are transporting uncooked crops to mandis as a substitute of promoting them on their very own,” mentioned Gursewak. “Our complete household, together with my school-going youngsters, are concerned in our firm’s work and even we’re using others from this small land.”
“My final purpose is to increase my firm to a outstanding platform, showcasing the ability and potential of the native farming companies,” mentioned Nachhatar, urging his fellow farmers to undertake the same mindset: “If you happen to can’t earn Rs 3 to 4 lakh per acre, then it’s time to rethink farming and do one thing else.”
The value of wheat and onions (within the wholesale market) is identical, however wheat yields solely 20 quintals per acre, whereas onions yield 200 to 250 quintals — 10 instances extra per acre. In consequence, the revenue can be 10 instances larger. Not simply onions, many different crops provide related excessive earnings in comparison with wheat, cotton and paddy. So, who’s stopping farmers from rising these? It’s merely their mindset,” Nachhatar added.
