How a flood-hit patch of Jagatpur turned into a makhana goldmine for farmers More than 50 acres of land in the Jagatpur area is now under makhana cultivation, and farmers expect their income to double as a result. Farming has changed dramatically in the Jagatpur area, where more than 50 acres of land is now growing makhana, on land that was once considered useless because it stayed waterlogged for most of the year. Farmers are now earning handsomely from that very same land. What farmers used to grow Local farmers say that earlier they grew a small amount of vegetables in this area, while most farmers depended on banana cultivation. Profits were limited because the land in this belt remained waterlogged for much of the year, and traditional crops could not really survive here. Sabour Agricultural University showed the way This part of Jagatpur stays under water for more than 7 months of the year, which is exactly why conventional farming never turned into a profitable option here. That is when experts from Sabour Agricultural University visited the area and explained makhana cultivation to the farmers. They pointed out that this very waterlogged land was in fact best suited for growing makhana. Good profit on the first attempt, but early troubles too When farmers cultivated makhana for the first time, it turned a solid profit. However, several problems cropped up in the beginning, since the method was completely new to them and they had no prior experience with it. Those early problems have now been sorted out, and farmers are confident that they will be able to grow makhana on a much larger scale in the coming days. Farmers now turning to horticulture too, income doubling Encouraged by the success of makhana, farmers in the area are giving up their old crops and shifting to new ones. As a result, their income is doubling. Horticulture of fruits such as apples, oranges, pineapples, apple ber and guava has also begun here, giving farmers even higher profits than before. A changing picture for the region Overall, both the farming pattern and the financial condition of farmers in Jagatpur have changed significantly. Land that was once known only for staying waterlogged has now become a source of income for farmers through makhana and horticultural crops. Things are expected to improve even further in the time ahead. What this means for you • For farmers: Farmers in waterlogged regions like Jagatpur are now able to double their income by switching to makhana and horticulture crops. • Lesson for other regions: Areas where traditional farming doesn't pay off due to waterlogging can also adopt crops like makhana with guidance from agricultural universities. Questions & Answers 1. How much land in the Jagatpur area is now under makhana cultivation? More than 50 acres of land is now under makhana cultivation. 2. What did farmers in this area grow earlier? Farmers grew a small amount of vegetables and most of them depended on banana cultivation. 3. Who advised farmers here to take up makhana farming? Experts from Sabour Agricultural University visited the area and told farmers about makhana cultivation. 4. How long does this part of Jagatpur stay flooded each year? This part of Jagatpur stays under water for more than 7 months of the year. 5. What problems did farmers face when they first tried makhana farming? Since it was their first experience, several problems came up initially, but those have now been resolved. 6. What other crops are now being grown here besides makhana? Farmers have also started growing apples, oranges, pineapples, apple ber and guava through horticulture. 7. What effect is this having on farmers' income? Farmers' income is doubling because of these new crops. 8. What are farmers planning for the future? Farmers hope to expand makhana cultivation on a much larger scale in the coming days. Inspiration & Lessons The story of Jagatpur's farmers shows how the right guidance and the right choice of crop can turn even seemingly useless land into a source of steady income. • Turn a limitation into an opportunity: The same waterlogging that farmers once saw as a curse was turned into an advantage through makhana cultivation. • Don't hesitate to seek expert advice: Guidance from experts at Sabour Agricultural University gave farmers the right information about a completely new crop. • Don't be discouraged by early setbacks: Despite facing problems in their very first attempt, farmers stuck with it and resolved those issues through experience. • Don't stop at one successful crop: Encouraged by the profit from makhana, farmers also moved into horticulture like apples, oranges, pineapples, apple ber and guava, creating multiple sources of income. https://trendkia.com/en/business/jagatpur-ki-bnjara-jamina-bani-makhane-ka-khajana-kisanon-ki-takadira-badalane-lagi-5264 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.