Techie reaps success in organic farming

Jadcherla: A mechanical engineer from Telangana State working in Australia, Ranganadha Sarma, quit his job and has returned to his place of origin to take up cultivation of organic crops. He has embarked on the venture after he found that healthy food has become a casualty there.

Having returned to Ayyagaripalli under Midgil mandal of Mahbubnagar district two years ago, he purchased 10 Gir breed of cows and some goats to start with.

With the organic manure so generated, he raised maize and red gram on a portion of his 26-acre farm. In a four-acre land holding, he is raising groundnut crop to produce seeds in two phases and planting them during the third phase as recommended by Agriculture officials.

He sprinkles cow urine, brahmastram and jeevastram (both organic festicides) decoctions. He sprinkles cow urine mixed with borewell water on crops to protect them from pests. He is able to harvest a bumper crop of groundnut with high quality of nuts.

He said he had invested Rs 25,000 to raise the crop in four acres. A beaming Sarma is confident of repeat performance as far as other crops are also concerned.

He has now embarked on a campaign to educate farmers to desist from using chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The successful organic farmer can be reached on his mobile number: 9502456304.

By R Narender Goud