Chaupdiyal (Uttaranchal), 13 Dec 2004
Farmers in the upper reaches of Uttaranchal are a happier lot these days as their income from farming activity has almost doubled, thanks to new farming techniques.
Now, farmers don’t have to sit idle for half of the year when there is no sowing. They have switched to sowing of unseasonal vegetables.
The farmers plough their fields round the year irrespective of any season to get the best out of their lands. Kamleshwar, a farmer, who earlier used to earn only for six months by selling his regular yield, says his income has doubled with the sowing period doubled. “Since the time we have started sowing unseasonal vegetables our profit has doubled. We sow the regular season crops also but now have started sowing them and they are in great demand,” he added.
Farmers say that by rearing peas, cauliflower, cabbage, carrot among other vegetables, which was difficult to be sown in this climate, are now being sown with great ease due to the availability of good manure and latest farming techniques.
Kishan Dabral, a farmer, said that with new methods of crop growing, they were able to grow those vegetables that could be grown in winter season. “We have done this by using poly house.
Now, we are getting crops that could not be grown in the winter season. We have sown tomatoes, peas, cabbage and some for getting seeds. We are growing quite a few vegetables,” said Dabral.
A poly-house structure, essentially an open vent type half dome shaped with ultra-violet stabilised film as cover,is used for providing technological support to cultivation.
Another aspect of the new farming technique is that a greater number of farmers will now be employed throughout the year. (ANI)
News Source: http://news.newkerala.com