Samman 2024 : Rawal Chand, a symbol of innovation in organic farming and the father of a new variety of sweet potato, is an example for farmers

Rawal Chand, who lives in Jodhpur, is an organic farmer who has innovated in the field of organic farming for the last ten years. From producing organic food on his farm to developing a new variety of sweet potato, Rawal Chand has brought revolutionary changes in the field of farming. In this article, we will learn in detail about his life, farming experience and innovations.

Ten years of experience in organic farming 

Rawal Chand has been doing organic farming for the last 10 years. He has converted his farm into a completely organic farm, where various types of organic fertilizers are made. Rawal uses organic fertilizers to increase fertility. He also resorts to technologies like solar energy and drip irrigation for water conservation and sustainable farming.

Rawal Chand says, “Organic farming is environment friendly and it also improves the quality of the soil. I have done many innovations in this direction, including making organic manure, use of greenhouse and solar system.”

Innovation in sweet potato: Development of new variety 

Rawal Chand has prepared a new and special variety of sweet potato. He has made a variety which does not have any spots instead of the old and normal type of sweet potato. He says, “Earlier, there were many spots in the sweet potato crop, which affected its taste and quality. I have prepared a new variety by selecting sweet potato, which is without spots and its taste is also better.”

Rawal Chand’s new variety of sweet potato is cream and white in colour, which is very attractive in the market. Apart from this, he has developed another variety, in which pink colour is visible when the sweet potato is cut. This variety is especially useful for people who want to eat a diet with low sugar content. According to Rawal Chand, “This variety is for people who have diabetes. They can eat it without any worry.”

Sweet Potato Chips and Powder: A New Business 

Rawal Chand did not limit himself to only crop production from sweet potatoes, but he also started preparing sweet potato chips and powder from it. He has installed a solar dryer on his farm, in which sweet potatoes are dried and powdered. This powder is sold in the market as a healthy snack.

Rawal Chand says, “We dry sweet potatoes and make powder, which people can use in their food. It is not only good in taste, but is also beneficial for health.”

Vermicomposting and production of organic manure 

Rawal Chand’s farm also produces organic manure and vermicompost. He has set up a vermicomposting unit in his farm, where high-quality manure is made using cow dung, leaves and other organic materials. There is a large cement tank on his farm, in which manure is made from goat dung.

He says, “We have built a 10×10 tank, in which we extract a special extract from mingni (goat manure). This manure is sufficient for a farm of up to 10 bighas and weeds do not grow due to its use.”

Use of solar energy and greenhouse 

Rawal Chand’s farm also uses solar energy and greenhouse. He has equipped his farm with solar panels and drip irrigation system, which saves water and uses energy efficiently. His farm is completely self-reliant and does not require any external energy source.

Direct access to customers: Benefits of processing unit 

Rawal Chand has also set up a processing unit on his farm, where all the products are processed and sold directly to the customers. This not only helps him get better value for his products, but customers can also enjoy organic and fresh products directly.

Help from government schemes: Encouraging innovation in farming 

Rawal Chand has taken advantage of several government schemes to upgrade his farming and make it more sustainable. He took government assistance especially for solar energy and drip irrigation system. Rawal Chand says, “I have taken advantage of the schemes of the Agriculture Horticulture Department to install solar panels and drip irrigation system. These schemes encourage farmers to adopt advanced technologies and through this we also get subsidy. This not only saves water in our farm, but we are also able to save energy.” These schemes provided by the government have not only made farmers like Rawal Chand financially capable, but have also helped them adopt advanced methods of farming.

Honours and Awards 

Rawal Chand’s hard work and innovation have been appreciated by government and non-government organizations. He was honored with the “Dharti Mitra Award” by Jodhpur District Administration and Organic India in 2022. This honor was given to him for his outstanding contribution to organic farming and his dedication to the environment.

Innovation in organic farming will develop farmers 

Rawal Chand’s story is not only that of a successful farmer, but it is also an inspiration for those farmers who want to move away from traditional farming and work towards organic and sustainable farming. Developing a new variety of sweet potato, using vermicomposting, and making his farm self-reliant using solar energy are all examples of his innovations. 

His journey teaches that if we adopt new techniques and innovations, farming can not only be beneficial for the environment but it can also become a profitable business for farmers.

So let us learn from this inspiring story of Rawal Chand and move towards organic farming, so that we can also do something better for our society and environment by innovating in farming.