Like any other field, agriculture also demands innovations, capital investment, modern-technologies and best brains. Mahendra Patel, who is an electronics engineer, has converted semi-arid lands in to green- lands. The dedicated and energetic engineer of Kosindra village of Ahmedabad district has reaped whooping harvest of Dutch-Roses, which worth Rs. 30 Lakhs, Unbelievable? But it’s a reality.

Shri Mahendra Patel is doing business of electronics goods, used to take conventional crops like wheat and Paddy from his 18 acre farm, and opted to go for crop-change, he concentrated on flowers. Surfing different Web-Sites, he gained basic know-how and potentiality. He conducted feasibility survey, visited Bangalore, Satara and Kolhapur to gain first hand information about flower-crops. He came across a farmer at Kolhapur, who cultivates Dutch-Rose in 108 acres, exporting them to Germany and Japan. He made up his mind to replicate the same at Kosindra.

The path was strewn with many challenges, adverse climatic conditions was the main challenge. He sought technical insights and erected a green-house, which offer suitable climate to Dutch-Rose. He made an investment of Rs. 65 lakhs.

Deputy Director Horticulture said that Government provides subsidy to the tune of Rs. 13 Lakhs for the Green-House. Efforts are on to promote farmers to take up horticulture.

Micro- irrigation techniques save water, at his farm computer decides about the inputs, how much water, fertilizers and medicines is to be given. Temperatures are maintained. Dutch-Rose crop needs R.O Plant water, necessary arrangements are also made.

We celebrate Mother’s-Day, Valentine-Day, Sari-Day, Rose-day and many other events, which has thrown open a huge market for flowers. Mahendra Patel said, “We get good-prices, sometimes Rs.25 to 30 per rose, normally even, we get not less than Rs.3 /per rose. I have earned Rs. 30 Lakhs from Dutch-Rose cultivation; my net profit comes to the tune of Rs.22 Lakhs per annum.”

Mahendra Patel compares his innovation with traditional crops, if he grows wheat in 1 acre, he gets profit of Rs.20, 000, where as Dutch-Rose fetches him profit of Rs. 1.25 lakhs. He has received subsidy of Rs. 13 Lakhs. During Krushi Mahotsav, thousands of farmers are inspired for a positive change, adopted modern technologies, and reduced input costs.