Advanced experiments in Millet cultivation is helpful
Earlier there was no special production, but after the advice of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, this woman earned good profit, received 'Krishi Pandit Award’
Bajra, which is called Millet in English, is full of nutrition and it is often recommended to eat it in cold weather, because its effect is warm. Earlier people used to eat coarse grains like Jowar, Bajra only in villages, but now people in cities also like to eat it. Farmers cultivating millet can not only sell it as a crop, but can also earn well by setting up a value addition unit and making other things out of it. Saroj N of Karnataka is doing the same. Patil.
Who is Saroj N. Patil?
Saroj N. Patil hails from Nittur village in Davanagere district of Karnataka. He has 11 hectares of cultivable land. Saroj and his family cultivate paddy, finger millet i.e. GPU-28 variety of ragi, minor millet, coconut and betel nut. Apart from this, he has 7 cows, 6 buffaloes and 12 thousand birds in the poultry unit. She is making many by-products from millet. They are earning good income by doing their value addition.
Technique linked to farming in millet farming
He has a tractor, chaff cutter, three conoweeder machines for weed control, atta chakki (to make malt from small millet) all these are engaged in his farm. Saroj and her family have been producing organic finger millet for years. Usually, after harvesting the ragi crop, it goes directly to the markets for sale. Thus the profit margin ratio decreases. This is because the cost of raising the crop, especially the cost of harvesting and threshing, is high. Seeing this, Saroj thought of value addition.
Saroj Patil is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Krishi Vigyan Kendra. He started it only after taking training related to Value Addition. ICAR-Taralabalu Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bengaluru has given him the opportunity to sell his products at the ‘Saturday Organic Bazaar’ and other exhibitions in their campus.
Value addition of these products
He set up a small flour mill to make malt and started value addition in 2014-15. The products prepared by them are Malt, Energy Mix, Pickle, Small Millet Roti, Dry Fruits Laddoos, Millet Pakora, Ragi Vermicelli etc. All these products are sold under the brand ‘Thadavanam’, which is registered under FASSI. Saroj earned a profit of one lakh 49 thousand in 2019-20 from her Value Addition Unit. Along with cultivating millet, processing it, they get a good price for their produce in the market.
Appeal to women to move forward
Saroj Patil appeals to women and suggests them to join different fields of agriculture according to their choice and ability. Saroj goes as a guest in many training programs organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Agriculture Department and shares her experiences with the farmers. Teaches them the tricks of farming.
Have received many honours
He has been honored with many awards for his achievements in agriculture. Awarded ‘Environment Award’ by Government of Karnataka in 2011, ‘Krishi Pandit’ Award by Government of Karnataka in 2008-09 and ‘Mahindra Samridhi Krishi Puraskar’ by Mahindra & Mahindra Group in 2013.
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