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Varala Chandra Reddy, who is 60 years old, lives with his wife and two sons in Kotyala village in Mulugu Mandal of Medak district. He is an upper caste farmer and owns two acres of land. The farm had a borewell that had only 2-3 inches of water. Lack of water and antiquated methods of agriculture produced poor yields and kept the family impoverished. He had to send his children to a hostel run by the social welfare department because he could not afford to send them to a good school.
Days passed without much change. Just as Chandra Reddy was about to give up hope, the watershed development programme was introduced in the village. He was selected to join a user group and his spouse joined a self-help group. Little did they realise that their lives were about to change forever. The members of the user group were taken to the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (knowledge centre for farming) in Jaheerabad and Annasagar village for training in agricultural development. Here they learnt about water management, soil and water conservation and were shown different ways to improve their yields by using drip irrigation. Chandra Reddy understood that he could cultivate his land with the help of drip irrigation. But the yield from his borewell was too low to provide enough water to make the growing of any crop commercially viable. He discussed the matter with his user group and found ways to access the drip system for his land. When he returned from the training programme he met the officials of the Project Implementation Agency and asked for their help in constructing a check dam across the stream that ran alongside his land, which would allow him to install a drip irrigation system.
The watershed committee discussed the matter and agreed to construct the check dam. Chandra Reddy met the Assistant Director, Agriculture for procuring the drip system. Since he agreed to bear 40% of the cost the Government subsidised the rest. He sought advice from the officials of the Department of Agriculture on the crops most suitable for drip irrigation. He was advised to take up vegetable cultivation, as he could also take advantage of the ready markets in Hyderabad city which was close by. The total cost of the drip system was Rs.60, 000. To raise the Rs.24, 000, which was his contribution, he took a loan of Rs.10, 000 from the productivity enhancement component of the project and another Rs.15, 000 from the self-help group savings. He kept aside Rs.1, 000 to meet other contingencies. Thus he was able to install the drip system on his land. The demand for vegetables in the city increased everyday.
Therefore he started growing brinjal, tomato, cucumber, bitter gourd, bottle gourd and bendi (okra) on his land. Reddy had learnt that while the production cycle of one crop ended, he could
prepare another plot to cultivate vegetables. Thus he was able to cultivate different vegetables continuously. He currently grows tomato and brinjal on his land. During the first 30 days he harvests 1,200 to 1,500 Kgs of tomato and brinjal every day which fetches him Rs.5, 000 to Rs.6, and 000 per day. Thereafter the yield decreases. The price of tomato is Rs.5-6 per kg and brinjal Rs.4-5 per kg in the retail market. Chandra Reddy’s land can produce an average of 40 tons of vegetables with a net market value of Rs.2 lakhs in one cropping season. Thus if he invests about Rs.1.3 lakhs he makes a net profit of Rs.70, 000. The water holding capacity of his borewell has gone up due to percolation from the check dam. It now yields 4 to 5 inches of water. The extra water has enabled him to cultivate carpet grass. The market price of carpet grass is Rs.5-6 per square foot. He is able to sell carpet grass worth Rs.3 lakhs per year.
“My vegetables are of good quality because they are drip irrigated”, says Chandra Reddy proudly. The vegetables are bigger and there are no spots on them. Because of their good quality, traders wait eagerly for his vegetables to arrive at the Bowenpally market. He has already repaid all his loans and educated his children. Inspired by this success, his younger son Venkat Reddy who is working as a police constable wants to quit his job and assist his father in agriculture. “What can make ageing parents like us any happier,” says a cheerful Chandra Reddy, “By adopting the latest techniques and modern methods of agriculture, wonders can be achieved and poverty driven away”.
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