Banigund farmer reaps success of organic farming

Srinagar, Oct 03: Bashir Ahmad is an organic farmer of Bangund village in Pulwama who cultivates different types of vegetables and has been reaping success over the years.
He started growing different vegetables on fertile land spread over 40 kanals of land some seven years ago and has been earning livelihood through it.
In 2017, the government declared Bangund as the model village for producing vegetables without chemicals and pesticides with an effort towards organic farming in Kashmir. It was an opportunity for farmers to improve their livelihood.
Over the years, the village farmers are reaping success with huge organic produce. There are 72 farmers in the village having a cluster of 400 kanals of land and farmers cultivate different vegetables.
“I along with other farmers, started producing vegetables in 2017 when the government encouraged us. Since then there has been more success,” he said.
On average, he produces 20 quintals of vegetables daily, which are sent to the Jammu vegetable market. He grows organic vegetables like radish, cucumber, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, peas, beans, chillies, potatoes. Now, he is an established progressive farmer of repute.
The 50-year-old farmer said they use the vermicompost which has helped improve their produce. His vegetable farm has become a source of employment for four non-local labourers.
Bashir annually earns a total income of Rs 30 lakh.
Many farmers and youth visit his farm to take a glimpse of his success and many have followed his footsteps. His interest in agriculture and hard labour made him a progressive farmer.
Regarding organic farming, Bashir said low cost production, quality produce has the opportunity to get good premium price and organic production is economically viable.
“In fact my organic farming and its produce has provided a viable income to me which encourages me to do more hard work. Farming is an excellent example for my financial security,” he said.
Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, Iqbal Khan said the department has been giving the farmers technical guidance and seed which has helped them.
“We motivated the marginal farmers and made their one cluster at a place. Now they organically do the farming and get a good income from their produce,” he said.
The CAO said that more and more farmers are joining the cluster and the initiative under the cluster farming scheme of the agriculture department has been successful.
“Earlier, people used to cultivate paddy. Under the scheme, they were given machinery, seed, borewells etc. Now, they cultivate 3-4 crop varieties in a season. Today, their children are less interested in government jobs as they earn a good income,” he said. “Kashmir has marginal land holding and if we join famers in clusters it will benefit farmers,” he said.