Bhilwara News Desk: If a person wishes, he can convert the time of crisis into opportunity by melting the stone. These lines were proved true by the pair of brothers Parakram Singh-Subhash Chaudhary, who became Dashrath Manjhi of Mewar. The story of his struggle, which started during the Covid transition period, is becoming an example of people moving forward in the current times. Two brothers from Mewar created an artificial pond by cutting a hill about 35 feet high and on 30 hectares of land. The hill which was not considered suitable by scientists for any crop, is currently being successfully cultivated on 125 bighas of land.
The journey started during Covid
This journey started during Covid, when all the work was closed, then both the brothers resolved to plant fruit trees on 125 bigha hills in Gurla village on Bhilwara Udaipur Highway. In the initial phase, it was very difficult for him to reach the last boundary of his farm through the rocky path. Today, after 4 years of hard work, the garden of about 125 bighas is blooming with mango, sapota, custard apple, ava, lemon and fig. Not only this, the famous Kesar mango of Gujarat has also started growing there. For this reason, the Horticulture Department is presenting the garden of farmers Subhash Chaudhary and Parakram Singh as a pilot project.
3 crore liters of water will be collected
Water is being supplied to the gardens from the farm pond created by cutting the rocky ground and hill. Rain water is being collected from the remaining hills which is about 3 crore liters. The saved rain water is being used in irrigation of saffron mango, custard apple, fig, amla, sapota and lemon. This farm pod has been built in 4 bighas, about 10 thousand square meters and 25 feet deep.
Garden built amidst Aravali hills
By innovating in the inaccessible hills of Aravalli, the farm of progressive farmer Subhash Chaudhary of Bhilwara has become the choice of scientists. A farm pod has been built on the rocky land at Sundarpura near Mujras toll point on Udaipur Road and many plants including saffron, mango, sapota, amla, fig, custard apple have been planted in it, which have now become trees. At one time agricultural scientists had declared this land unusable for farming.
Farming is being done by installing drip system
Horticulture Department Deputy Director Rakesh Mala said that the department’s Chief Government Secretary Dinesh Kumar had called it a model in the state. Drip system has been installed on the entire 30 hectare land through Farm Pod, due to which various fruit plants are being irrigated with less water. These plants planted four years ago have now become trees and have started bearing fruits. Income has started coming from these. Progressive farmer Choudhary has sold kesar mangoes worth about Rs 2.50 lakh in the market.
12 thousand custard apple plants have been planted in 2 hectares.
1500 of Kesar Mango in 4 hectares.
800 saplings in 3.5 hectares have now become trees.
500 fig saplings were planted.
There are 2 thousand lemon plants.
800 Amla plants are alive in 5 hectares.
What can farmers do with traditional farming?
Rakesh Kumar Mala, Deputy Director of Horticulture Department, said that Bhagchand Chaudhary, the model farmer of Bhilwara, has worked to join almost all the government schemes. Farmers of Mewar can do gardening along with their traditional farming. Many different subsidy schemes are running for farming using modern technology. The government gives a subsidy of up to Rs 20 lakh on filling the form. In which the government is giving subsidy up to 75% on drip irrigation in 5 hectares. Up to 60% subsidy is available on installation of solar pumps. By joining these schemes, farmers can do farming in a modern way.
The journey to success was decided according to the plans
Farmers Parakram Singh and Yogesh Chaudhary started working by joining various schemes of the Horticulture Department of the State Government. Under this, two solar systems have been installed for irrigation of fruit trees. With this, irrigation is being done through drip system by installing two 7.5 HP pumps from the rain water collected in the farm pond. Irrigation is done during the day with solar pumps. Due to this, dependence on electricity has ended.
