Agricultural practices in Ambikapur, the headquarters of the Surguja division in Chhattisgarh, are undergoing a notable transformation as farmers adopt innovation and crop diversification to improve their livelihoods. The journey of Mukandar Singh, a farmer residing in Darima village within the Ambikapur development block, serves as a prime example of this positive shift. Having spent years exclusively cultivating paddy, Singh decided to alter his farming approach for the current Kharif season following the expert guidance of the local agriculture department. Instead of growing rice, he has dedicated approximately one and a half acres of land to ginger cultivation while utilizing the field borders to grow pigeon pea. At present, his crops are in excellent condition, leaving him highly optimistic about securing substantial financial returns from his efforts.
Transforming Agricultural Methods Through Departmental Guidance
Detailing his transition, Singh shared that prior to the sowing of the Kharif crops, he visited the Darima cooperative society. Officials from the agriculture department present there explained the various financial and practical benefits of shifting away from paddy toward alternative crops. The authorities provided detailed information regarding the cultivation of alternative options such as pigeon pea and oilseeds, along with details about the financial incentive amounts provided by the administration under the Krishak Unnati Yojana to promote crop diversification. Singh noted that armed with this information and proper guidance, he resolved to attempt something entirely different on his land this year. The exact plot where he previously grew paddy was repurposed for ginger cultivation, while the boundaries of the fields were put to productive use by planting pigeon pea, thereby maximizing the utility of his available farmland.
Cultivating Ginger on One and a Half Acres Alongside Ridge Crops
Singh has successfully planted ginger across a land area spanning roughly one and a half acres. Alongside this main crop, he utilized the seeds provided by the agriculture department to sow pigeon pea along the elevated borders of the fields. Through this approach, he has pioneered a dual-cropping technique where a secondary crop is raised alongside the primary harvest on the exact same plot of land. He mentioned that both the ginger and the pigeon pea crops are currently thriving in robust health. Witnessing the vigorous growth of the plants in his fields has brought him immense satisfaction. Previously, he relied entirely on paddy cultivation for this specific acreage, but by embracing an alternative cropping strategy this year, he has embarked on a novel agricultural experiment. He remains hopeful that the harvest of ginger will be complemented by additional yields from the pigeon pea lining the borders.
Anticipating a Financial Incentive of Fifteen Thousand Rupees Per Acre
Singh highlighted that during his visit to the Darima society, agriculture department officials informed him about a specific government provision. They explained that farmers who choose to switch from paddy cultivation to designated alternative crops under the Krishak Unnati Yojana are eligible to receive an incentive amount of 15,000 rupees per acre. Motivated entirely by this encouraging piece of information, he decided to implement crop diversification on his land. He stated that financial assistance and support from the administration play a crucial role in encouraging farming communities to move beyond traditional cropping patterns and explore more lucrative agricultural ventures.
Thriving Crops Bring Joy and Satisfaction to the Farmer
Reflecting on his firsthand farming experience, Singh reiterated that as a resident and farmer of Darima village, he had grown paddy on this very land during the previous year. Guided by the recommendations of the agriculture department experts, he successfully transitioned about one and a half acres to ginger while placing pigeon pea along the peripheries. He confirmed that the pigeon pea seeds were also supplied directly by the agriculture department. Observing his current fields, he expressed that his crops are doing exceptionally well and that he is thoroughly pleased with the outcome of his new farming venture.
Crop Diversification Opens New Horizons for Rural Livelihoods
The agriculture department has been actively encouraging farmers to look beyond staple paddy production and venture into pulses, oilseeds, and other alternative cropping methods. Crop diversification provides agriculturalists with the flexibility to produce a variety of crops that align closely with their soil composition and available resources. Furthermore, this strategy helps reduce over-reliance on a single crop while significantly expanding the potential to develop supplementary streams of income. By adopting ginger and pigeon pea cultivation on the advice of the agriculture department, Darima village farmer Mukandar Singh has taken a decisive step forward in this very direction, setting a commendable precedent for others in the region.
