Kabirdham district in Chhattisgarh is famous for cultivating high-quality paddy and sugarcane; but now it is slowly gaining a reputation for growing Horticulture crops also. The farmers of Kawardha, Sahaspur Development block while taking up traditional crops like paddy, are also showing keen interest in Horticulture crops.
A farmer Parasram of village Bundeli in Sahaspur lohara Development Block has grown 'Papaya' on one-and-half-hectare acre of plot and reaped rich dividends by breaking all records. He used modern methods of farming and earned about Rs3.5 lakh within one year.
In the year 2011 Parasram started showing keen interest in taking up Horticulture and cash crops. The farmers in the surrounding villages of Bundeli were already into cash crops when he decided to take a plunge.
The farmer observed the farms growing cash crops and took part in a training programme organised by the 'National Horticulture Mission'. He took abiding interest in all the crops at the training programme at National Horticulture Mission.
Parasram went in for soil testing procedures before venturing into growing Horticulture and cash crops. The officers of the Horticulture Department advised him to go in for 'Papaya' cultivation along with traditional paddy crops. Under the guidance of the officers and their technical advice he grew 'Papaya' on 1.6 hectares of land in the year 2014-15.
Horticulture Department Officer M.P. Chauhan said that the acreage under cultivation for Horticulture farming is increasing by the day in Kabirdham district. The farmers are cultivating traditional crops as well as cash crops. 'Papaya' is cultivated on 200 hectares of land in the entire Kabirdham district.
The concerned officers urged the farmers to cultivate 'Red lady Taiwan' breed 'Papaya'. The advantage for this species is that it stays fresh and unspoilt for a longer duration of time. The Papaya is also not damaged during transportation.