Sarat Chandra Sahu an experimental apple farmer of Koraput- AgriTech (All about Agriculture)

Sarat Chandra Sahu an experimental apple farmer of Koraput- AgriTech (All about Agriculture)

Hello everyone! Welcome back to my another article. I hope you and your family are doing well. This article is written by Ms Ankita Behera, MBA in Agri-Business Management, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. 

In this article, A two man whose name are Sarat Chandra Sahu and Gobind Sahu from Koraput district doing Apple cultivation even in 40 degree celsius. "Sarat Chandra Sahu an experimental apple farmer of Koraput" he proved this sentence.

Sarat Chandra Sahu a farmer of koraput district dared to make possible thinks in his farm as he grew apple in subtropical region. Sarat Chandra Sahu who has been growing mangoes on eight acres of land in the district for last 20 years. First he planted an apple tree saplings in 2002 on experimental basis. He says In 2007, the first fruit came. The numbers of trees has since grown to 20 through the process of air layering.  

Mr.Sahu claims that apples grow in his farm in remote village Marbaiguda under laxmipur block are more sweeter than any other apple grown elsewhere in the country.  

Mr.Sarat says when he has on exposure visit of farmers to Bengaluru in 2002, the idea struck to his mind grown apple sapplings in his farm. Then, that day he brought the sapplings of an apple in his farm. Little he know that apple not suitable for subtropical climate of koraput district but he take it as a risk to grow apple sappling in his own farm. 

In this time, State Horticultural Department claim that Koraput climate is not suitable for growing apples. Hence , the department has stay away from venturing into apple plantations. 

Buoyed by success of his experiment, sarat now encourages others to grow apples as it requires low investment and brings good profit as trees bear fruits twice a year. In one season he get over a quintal of apples from 10 trees. 

Mr.Sahu believes that Koraput has a huge potential for apple cultivation. It requires very low investment and the output is very good. 

"Through, the process of air layering , he has distributed many apple tree sapplings to people in the locality. It is a myth that apples cant be grown there. The govt should include it in its horticulture programmes and encourage farmers to take it up "he reiterates. 

Officials, however department maintain isolated reports of farmers who growing apples and also the department cannot provide any assistance to them as this fruit is not included in the list of crops under the National Horticulture Mission. A lot of official work has to be done for including this fruit in NHM as said by Sankarshan Rout, DDH department.  

Mr.Sankarshan Rout sir says, One can plant at least 194 sapplings of apple trees on one acre of land with a gap of 15 meters between each saplings . After 3 years of plantations, the trees start bearing fruits. Each tree bears 15 to 20 kg of apples in this climatic condition. Sahu sells a kg of apple for Rs 90 to 100 in local market. He also sells sapplings for Rs 100 each in his village and area closer to village.

 He fast target his village area then local market then target to other district of odisha for selling apples and apple tree saplings .

Initial phase, sahu phase lots of problem in marketing and promotion of his produce.  

For promotion of his produce he made campaign for advertising his product where he distributed raw apple to village member freely. Then they accept this as good test and quality than other apple. Then after so many months his apple became popularized in his village and other district of Odisha. 

In production part, he don't get financial support from govt. through NHM scheme as apple fruit not include in it and do not get proper training for growing of apple. Then, he take loan from private bank and take training of air layering from any private institution. Then he trained properly and utilized in his farm. 

After so many struggles, he succed in growing apple in subtropical climate of koraput village and In 2020, he became popularised in whole odisha for apple production and marketing.

 

Thank you for reading!

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