Inspirational story of a successful Strawberry Farmer in
Ferozepur - Gurmail Singh
Financial help by the government on low-interest rates by
reducing the procedural wrangles can help the farmers to switch over to unconventional
fruit crops for setting up processing units…
We always learn from successful or unsuccessful stories in
life of others but achieving success in life is not something one gets by luck
but is something for which a combination of skills, timing and hard work is needed. At the same time, successful people share
many common habits with each other and this is enough to prove that success may
have a certain recipe and path.
While the majority of farmers are sticking with traditional
crops like wheat and paddy and here is the story of an inspirational farmer –
Gurmail Singh - in Ferozepur region, who has dared to opt for unconventional
crop like – a heart-shaped silhouette of the Strawberry.
Gurmel Singh (33), Plus Two passed, a tall, soft spoken, a resident of village Hastiwala, around 12 kilometers away from Ferozepur, but confident enough to try for unconventional crop as a part of crop diversification from the traditional crops.
Gurmel Singh (33), Plus Two passed, a tall, soft spoken, a resident of village Hastiwala, around 12 kilometers away from Ferozepur, but confident enough to try for unconventional crop as a part of crop diversification from the traditional crops.
Here are
the excerpts from discussions held with him during visit of Babushahi.com team
member to the Strawberry Farm of Gurmail Singh.
Who encouraged you to switch over to
conventional crop?
Deputy Commissioner, Er.DPS Kharbanda and Horticulture
Department Dr.Mukthiar Singh, during a Farmers’ Meet at Mega Food Park,
Arniwala, encouraged me to opt for this
crop and I am making good money now. I get almost 15-20 kg strawberries daily
and later I sell these fruits in the market directly and I get handsome money.
I am happy with the results. Last year, I had planted strawberries in his fields and after getting
successful output, this year also I had planted strawberries in major chunk of his fields.
How much is the investment and out-put of revenue?
How much is the investment and out-put of revenue?
I had invested around 1.5 lacs this season and I am expecting
a profit of at least Rs.60,000 to 70,000 while in conventional crops like wheat
and paddy could have given me a profit of Rs.15,000-Rs.20,000 only, said
confidently.
What do you expect from the government?
What do you expect from the government?
The state government should make arrangements for minimum
support price with marketing of unconventional crops to allure the farmers
towards crop diversification
Do you have any
plans for its further expansion?
Gurmail said in a very choked voice about the system
going. For further expansion – bring
more area under the allied professions to earn more profits – huge funds are
required for establishing a sprinkle spray of water and processing units for
making juice, syrup and jams etc. – huge funds are required. It is very sad on the part of the system that
since two years I am pursuing for bank loan of Rs.25 lacs, despite giving the
landed property for mortgage, I am yet moving pillar to post along with
official procedural wrangles, to get the loan.
What is the nutrients
value of Strawberry?
Gurmail shared that as told to me by the experts, this fruit
has many health benefits like it helps to burn stored fats, boost short term
memory, ease inflammation, lower cardiovascular disease, promote bone health,
good for weight loss, anti-aging properties, promote eye health and prevent
esophageal cancel.
Do you require
advance training for your future plans ?
Shortly, I am going to Punjab Agri. University for training
and for purchase of purchase of machinery, I am in contact with Dr.Amarjit of
Horti. Deptt, and shall be visiting Pune in Maharasthra where the farming of
Strawberry is on high scale being the temperate conducive for this fruit crop. Besides,
I am also planning for set-up of mushroom farming in the coming season. Slowly,
I will be increasing the farming of other than wheat and paddy crops.
Is there any
arrangement for the marketing of your product?
I am doing its marketing at my own directly with the
purchasers. The fruit is in demand when
there are marriages as Strawberry has become one of the fruit items of menu.
Are you getting any
queries and response from other farmers?
Yes definitely. I am getting queries from number of farmers
and they are waiting for my success on its expansion and ultimately shift to
alternative crop to earn more profits.
What Satinder Kaur, Agri. Officer says ?
When contacted Satinder Kaur, Agriculture Officer said that
the government is encouraging farmers to grow such unconventional crops. The
farmers are getting also good help under centrally sponsored Agriculture
Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme”, added Satinder Kaur.
What Dr.Mukthtiar Singh, Horticulture Deptt. Says ?
Dr.Mukhtiar Singh, Horticulture
Department also approached to know his views about the pluses for this fruit
crop, he said, there is a need to create awareness camps for the farmers in the
state to motivate them to switch over to other allied professions to earn more
profits than the traditional crops like Strawberry – called as the
queen of fruits.
The secret of Gurmail’s spectacular
success is his belief in crop diversification for more earnings and maintaining
the agriculture land as productive.
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