Hazaribag: Neetu Kumari (26) and Dinesh Ganjhu (30) of Hazaribag district are true examples of how govt support along with modern farming techniques are helping rural farmers achieve self-reliance and sustainable income.Talking to TOI, Neetu said that she was encouraged to adopt pest-free farming after learning about availing benefits under the natural farming initiative through the horticulture department of the state agriculture department. “I began cultivating organic cucumbers over an area of about five cottah of land. Today, I am able to produce around 150 to 200 kg of cucumbers daily. Due to high demand during the summer, I am earning nearly Rs 4,000 per day,” she said.District horticulture officer Jaswant Kumar added that she is also being provided a monthly incentive of Rs 300 under the National Mission on Natural Farming to promote chemical-free cultivation.Neetu added, “The training and support from the department is helping me achieve higher production in smaller area, which has not only increased my income but also improved family’s standard of living.”Similarly, farmer Dinesh Ganjhu hailing from the same area, has carved out his own success story through strawberry cultivation on one acre of land.“I had availed govt scheme for a greenhouse and 20,000 strawberry saplings. Through consistent efforts inside the greenhouse, I have achieved bumper production this season. At present, I am preparing nearly 1,000 packets of strawberries daily and supplying them to the market, earning approximately Rs 20,000 a day amid rising demand,” he claimed. He is now planning to expand his farming activities by cultivating different varieties of fruits across seasons, aiming to further grow his agricultural enterprise.On the training module, horticulture officer Kumar said that enrolled farmers are provided a three-day training programme, where they are taught improved and scientific methods of vegetable cultivation.
