Reaping benefits of opting out of cotton-paddy cycle

Regional potpourri
Reaping benefits of opting out of cotton-paddy cycle

Contributed by Rajay Deep

Most of the Farmers in Malwa grow cotton and paddy. But Gurcharan Singh Mann (39) of Tungwali village in Bathinda district, is an exception.

Gurcharan Singh Mann shows year-old banana trees in his farm at Tungwali village in Bathinda district. A Tribune photograph

He has converted 42 acres of sand dunes, into fish ponds, honey bee farm, mushroom farm, flowering fields, orchards, biogas plant and nursery etc. His farm has been selected under the Punjab Rural Tourism plan, where visitors can have feel of rural Punjab. Mann will be paid for his hospitality.
He also motivates farmers and rural youths to get trained and go for diversification in farming and allied ventures.
“Farming is good occupation. But,we should be efficient from sowing to selling the produce,” said Mann.
Mann’s mantra of success is quality. The diversification is more lucrative than cotton and paddy. ‘Diversification has enabled me to negotiate with those, approaching me for buying fish, honey, timber or other crops,” said Mann.
Bee farming got him several awards and certificates. He has 2,000 boxes of honey bees.
Later, he started fish farming, orchards and then chose to plant trees, of various species, which bring him good returns. Mann has started growing banana trees in this village of Malwa.
He was was given Parvasi Bharti Award by the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in 2005 for diversification.
He has fish ponds on 10 acres, orchard on 10 acres, green fodder on five acres, 16 acres are for trees and other crops.
The orchard has banana, jamun, amla, ber, guava, pomegranate trees. He is also experimenting to grow apples. Noticing demand for aloe vera, Mann has been sowing its plants in one acre.
He has contract with Agmark for turmeric, and red chilly powder, which he sows, grinds and packs under the supervision of Agmark officials.
A votary of organic farming, he has installed traditional bell outside his house as he believes the sound of the bell keeps environment free from pollution.