Two years back when 23 years old farmer; Shiv Shankar Mahto of Baraundi village under Burmu block of Ranchi district decided for strawberry cultivation, many farmers of the village laughed upon and warned that such kind of unconventional farming will financially ruin him.
But, four months later, Mahto proved them wrong when he earned huge cash by selling this cash crop.
Mahto who has recently completed his mechanical engineering study from Sido Kanhu Murmu University smiles while remembering that episode. He is preparing his four acres of paternal field for strawberry cultivation once again. “Cultivation will start from the next month. This time if you visit Baraundi and its neighbouring village, you will find strawberry saplings everywhere because at least 30 farmers of Baraundi and neighbouring areas have decided for the cultivation.
This is time to say goodbye to conventional farming. This is not enough to be a progressive farmer; this is the era of smart farmers. Two years back when I had started farming, I had planted around 20000 samplings of strawberry brought from Nasik which a company Biosis Plants Pvt Ltd had provided to me.
I was slightly nervous and excited over this new agro-experiment since I belong to a traditional agriculture set-up. But people of Biosis assured me that this is a risk worth taking and it will fetch me money. I remember that I had earned around Rs 3.50 lakh as net profit. This is a new mantra of agro-business that farmers of Jharkhand have been adopting,” said Mahto. Now the change is chattering in the agricultural fields of Jharkhand, farmers are now talking about the strange fruit they had not heard before. Mustard fields are not the only vista of Jharkhand, in fact mustard fields are passé. Jharkhand is turning cosmopolitan with newfound love for strawberry. “Weather is ideal for strawberry production. Temperature should be between 25 degree Celsius and 35 degree Celsius. There is a local market for strawberries in Jharkhand, “said Mahto. Chhotanagpur plateau and districts under Palamu divisions offer ideal climate for farming of strawberry. Ghanshu Mahto; another farmer from Sadma village under Ormanjhi block of the capital city said that they sell strawberry Rs 300 per kg.
“What particularly benefits farmers are that there is local demand for the product so you don’t actually have to hunt for buyers. Strawberries are gradually becoming part of food habits so there is tremendous opportunity to create a sustainable chain of production and supply,” he said.The trend of strawberry cultivation started about a decade back when some progressive farmers took a calculated risk of farming.
Soon after that the eastern region of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) began to identify farmers from Ranchi, Khunti, Hazaribagh, Gumla and other districts who were willing to grow this cash crop. ICAR started providing training to farmers. However, ICAR was carrying out research work on feasibility of strawberry production in Jharkhand much earlier.
Now the state government has started providing saplings to farmers at the block level also. But farmers feel that there is a need for dedicated effort on the part of the State Government to encourage farmers. “Climate of Jharkhand is suitable for strawberries and there is ample opportunity for Jharkhand to become one among the biggest producer states of the country. It will be good if the government provides some financial assistance and other logistic support to farmers,” said Shiv Shankar.
Managing director of Biosis Kauser Indorewala said that Jharkhand can emerge as the biggest producer of strawberry. “The climate of Jharkhand is suitable for strawberry cultivation as it performs well in climates that are characteristically temperate in the northern latitudes, subtropical plains and in the hills, thus have a high earning potential.
Strawberry cultivation has taken a massive turn in the last decade as the farmers of Jharkhand are taking interest in it and the fruit is being accepted in every household now,Rs Rs said Indorewala.He said that the Jharkhand government has been taking many initiatives and helping the farmers.“It will be better if the government provides more agronomy support to the farmers because there is a huge requirement,” he further added.