Balubhai Patel is a progressive farmer and pioneer of fish farming for last 20 years 

Balubhai Patel, a resident of Nagal village in Bharuch district of Gujarat, has gained more than two decades of experience in the field of farming and fish farming. Balubhai not only adopted fish farming as an additional activity along with farming but also made it an important source of his income. His hard work and foresight have made him an inspiration in his community.

Balubhai’s contribution in fish farming

Balubhai Patel has been doing fish farming for the last 20 years. By combining it with farming, he not only strengthened his livelihood but also inspired other farmers in this business.

1. Model of fish farming:

Balubhai does fish farming in an area of ​​one acre. Fish like Rohu and Catla are mainly reared in his fish farming unit.

2. Care of fish:

Balubhai brings small fish seeds from rivers and streams. These seeds grow under their supervision and are then sold to other pond owners.

3. Expenses and profits:

Fish farming requires a lot of labour and resources. However, Balubhai says that this business gives him satisfactory profits.

Traditional and Sustainable Approach in Farming

Along with fish farming, Balubhai also cultivates sugarcane.

1. Sugarcane farming model:

– According to Balubhai, the sugarcane crop lasts for two years. Once sown, the field is looked after and prepared through irrigation.

– After harvesting, the sugarcane is sold to the local sugar mill.

2. Sales and marketing:

Balubhai has a direct contact with the sugar mills and fixes the price of sugarcane without any middlemen. This model ensures economic savings and more profits to the farmers.

Utilization of Government Schemes and Training

Balubhai has not yet taken direct benefit of any government scheme, but he has availed training for fish farming.

1. Training:

He got his workers trained through the Fisheries Department, which brought expertise in their work.

2. Community engagement:

Balubhai has given priority to transparency and collectivism in his business model. He shares his experiences with other farmers and fish farmers.

Problems and Solutions

Balubhai faced many challenges during fish farming and farming:

1. Marketing challenges:

Farmers do not get fair price due to middlemen in the local market. Balubhai solved these challenges by directly contacting mills and other buyers.

2. Expense management:

Proper utilization of resources and labor for fish farming and farming is a big challenge. Balubhai managed it through his team and modern techniques.

Future Plans

Balubhai Patel aims to expand his business further:

1. Expansion of fish farming:

He wants to raise more fish by increasing the area of ​​his unit.

2. Processing Unit:

In the future he wants to set up a processing unit for fish and sugarcane crop.

3. Inspiring other farmers:

He wants to include more and more farmers in his model so that they can also benefit.

Conclusion

The story of Balubhai Patel proves that with hard work, wisdom and foresight any challenge can be turned into an opportunity. His contribution in the field of farming and fish farming is a source of inspiration for other farmers.

His journey is not only a story of economic empowerment but also shows how with the right approach and management, a successful model can be created by combining other activities with traditional farming.