Shri Ramesh Verma, a farmer at Kasimpur Biruha, Lucknow is a very innovative and enthusiastic farmer having marginal land holding (0.506 ha). He has successfully introduced the cultivation of exotic vegetables in Lucknow district. Earlier, he was farming with his father and cultivated only rice and wheat with some vegetables like, cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, potato and banana. This farming practice provided good returns only to meet out the family expenses. Shri Verma a keen observer and innovative by nature, tried to grow new crops. He visited KVK, ICAR-IISR, Lucknow. He received broccoli seeds from the KVK and started cultivating it. He continued to grow broccoli till 2009-10 since he was getting excellent returns from its cultivation.
A training programme at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR-IISR, Lucknow during 2010-11, provided him with detailed information about exotic vegetables cultivation. He approached the KVK for more technical guidance and availability of seed material. KVK Scientists arranged the seed material of broccoli, parsley, red cabbage, China cabbage, cherry tomato etc. for cultivation. KVK Scientists guided and helped him in every aspect right from sowing to harvesting. During the cultivation period, Scientists of KVK, ICAR-IISR regularly visited his field. He got more net returns during 2010-11 than the preceding years. During 2011-12, he started growing these exotic vegetables in his entire land (0.506 ha). He not only became the famous farmer in the area but also an expert in exotic vegetables cultivation. Scientists of KVK, ICAR-IISR guided him on the availability of market for sale of these exotic vegetables. Accordingly, he sold these vegetables to various multinational retailers and hotels.
Economics
Economic of exotic vegetables cultivation revealed that cost of cultivation of these vegetables grown in an area of 0.506 ha was Rs 26,400.00 which gave gross and net returns of Rs 336,500.00 and Rs 310,100.00, respectively for the year 2011-12. The benefit: cost ratio worked out on the basis of net returns and cost of cultivation was 1: 11.75, which is a remarkable achievement by a marginal land holding farmer, Shri Ramesh Verma.
He has motivated several farmers for growing such type of vegetables for higher economic returns. Now, he is an inspiration for the farmers of the area.
Approximately 300 farmers from distant places, 250 trainees of Union Bank of India, government as well as private agencies have visited his field. Recently, QRT of ICAR-IISR, Lucknow has also visited his field and highly appreciated the practices of growing exotic vegetables in such a remote village.
(Source: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR-IISR, Lucknow)
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