Gujarat farmer Parshottambhai cultivates coconuts in feasible way

Gujarat farmer Parshottambhai cultivates coconuts in feasible way
Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat, 18 May, 2010




Dreams and goals have overcome the challenges; Shri Parshottam Shanabhai Patel of Shekhadi village of Petlad Taluka-Anand district-has proved it 18 years ago. Normally, Coconut plant thrives on sandy soils, highly tolerant of salinity, it requires humidity. Important member of Palm-Family, it does not need frequent irrigation, it is grown through out the tropics. Parshottam Patel dared to meet the challenges. The right-brain farmer wrote to Coconut Research Stations Mangrol and Mahuva. Local advice was to drop the idea of growing coconuts. But, Mahuva Research Station responded positively, asking him to take away TX D variety plants, which can thrive under normal conditions.

In the year 1992 he brought coconut plants from Mahuva, along with other inter-crops he had grown coconuts in one acre of land, on experimental basis. According to him Horticulture cropping is more economical in the long run. You only have to invest once, take optimum care and reap benefits for years. Coconut plant has life-span of 40 to 50 years, he added. After 3 years, it started posting dividends; in the fourth year he took production of Rs.36000, in fifth year it rose to Rs.45000, now he gets Rs. 1 lakhs from coconuts. Cultivating Fodder crop though an inter crop- adds profit around Rs. 15000. Animal husbandry has proved to be a touchstone for small and marginal farmers, giving them good income, providing employment to women. Shri Parshottam Patel earns Rs. 2 lakh annually from milk -production.

Sustenance of agriculture and nurturing natural resources is the need of the hour. Bio-Fertilisers are very crucial for maintaining the health of soil. Parshottam prepares compost fertilisers at his farm, adding farm-wastes he prepares compost- and vermin-compost manures at his farm, which again adds to his incomes. He is motivated by Krushi Mahotsav, learned a good deal from scientists, also a beneficiary of Horticulture Department.

Coconut’s pinnate leaves are 4 to 6 mts long, mostly used to cover Daru of Paddy and Tobacco; he sells one leave around Rs.3/ to the nurseries. He has adopted drip-irrigation, which remedies the problems of salinity and weed, also adding to the quality of the crop. He has also developed a Bio-Gas plant at his farm, runs Engine from the electricity produced from Bio-Gas. He takes pride in conserving environment. Progressive Farmers visit his farm to learn from his success.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, State has accorded top-most priority to agriculture sector. Krushi Mahotsav brings farmers and agriculture-scientists on one forum. Farmers seek guidance and solutions from them. Gujarat has won laurels at national and international level. Krushi Mahotsav has proved to be a boon for farmers in true sense.