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A farmer heralds a silent revolution

Badoi: A silent revolution is on in this water-scarce belt of Jammu and Kashmir, heralded by a farmer who has shown what self-help and innovation can do.

Most of the farmland was lying fallow in this belt of Samba district. Overcoming the constraint, the farming community diversified its produce base by growing high-value fruits such as kiwi, strawberry and raspberry.

Shyam Singh of Badoi village took the lead in 2004. Mr. Singh, who is the president of the strawberry growers’ association, says: “There is hardly any incentive to grow rice or wheat in this belt... Therefore I decided to concentrate on high-value fruits...”

Mr. Singh’s enterprise has borne fruit and he has made a profit of more than Rs. 6 lakh this time growing high-quality strawberry. This is despite the fact that his crop was hit by rain.

He employed innovative techniques for the judicious use of water. Drip irrigation was one of these, which led to water-saving to the extent of 25 per cent, enabling people to divert the saved water for other uses including drinking.

Mr. Singh is now trying his hand at raspberry cultivation.

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