Bhopal. To promote horticultural crops in Dhar district, efforts are being made to motivate farmers towards horticultural crops under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission. Through this mission, there has been a progressive change in the financial condition of farmer Shri Babulal Patidar of village Tilgara of Badnawar in Dhar district.
Farmer Shri Babulal Patidar used to grow soybean and wheat crops in his fields by doing traditional farming for years. He was not able to make profit in farming as compared to his hard work. He contacted the officials of the Horticulture Department regarding this matter. After testing his field, the officials advised him to grow strawberry crop. Farmer Shri Babulal was also informed about the benefits available in Integrated Horticulture Development Mission. He planted strawberry crop in one hectare area under the guidance of departmental officials. Farmer Shri Babulal used mulching and drip method during strawberry cultivation and also used fertilizer under the guidance of officials. Farmer Shri Babulal harvested 180 quintals of strawberry. He earned a profit of more than 2 lakh rupees by selling strawberry crop. Shri Babulal Patidar says that he sold strawberries in Jaipur, Bhopal and Indore Mandi. Many buyers took strawberries from our farm itself. He told that for the first time he had bought strawberry plants, but this year plants have been prepared from the mother plant.
Farmer Shri Babulal says that if farming is done scientifically, more profit can be earned from agricultural produce. He also got a grant of one lakh 12 thousand rupees from the state government for planting strawberry crop, which proved useful for agricultural work.
Under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission, farmers can register online for the Fruit Area Expansion Program through the MPFSTS portal at http://mpfsts.mp.gov.in. Also, detailed information can be obtained from the field staff of the Horticulture Department.
