Phuman Singh Kaurra grew up because the youngest amongst six siblings in Paramjitpura, a village in Kapurthala, Punjab. Hailing from a farmer’s circle of relatives, he noticed his father and grandfather toil within the fields, suffering to make ends meet.
The location was once so dire that Phuman Singh needed to discontinue his training after BA 2nd 12 months. He began serving to his circle of relatives as they may not find the money for his school charges. He would paintings of their paddy and wheat box, along side operating their dairy farm. Noting that this wasn’t successful and could be unsustainable ultimately, the younger boy began having a look at different choices to support their monetary situation.
Whilst having a look round, Phuman Singh discovered carrot farming to be a viable choice. Paramjitpura, sometimes called Allupur, falls within the Sultanpur Lodhi block in Kapurthala district which is a well-known hub for carrot cultivation. Subsequently, he sought assist from a carrot farmer who was once cultivating the vegetable on a small piece of land.
On the other hand, as a substitute of serving to him, the farmer chided him pronouncing that this might now not be his cup of tea. Spurned, it best made Phuman’s get to the bottom of to make a reputation for himself as a carrot farmer more potent. And over the last 30 years, this 65-year-old has confirmed that farmer incorrect and the way.
Beginning on a 4.5 acre land, Phuman became round his circle of relatives’s fortunes via carrot farming.
Lately, his circle of relatives, together with his two brothers, owns over 80 acres of land, basically all in favour of carrot farming. Past rising carrots, he additionally provides seeds — sufficient to plant over 650 acres.
Farming along with his son, he earns over Rs 1 crore a 12 months these days via carrot and seed cultivation.
Carrot: The street to prosperity
As a tender boy, Phuman Singh had giant ambitions. He wanted to move in a foreign country for upper training and paintings. On the other hand, his goals had been minimize brief because of poverty.
“Since I couldn’t pass in a foreign country, I got to work on our wheat and paddy farm. We’d promote the milk from our dairy and because that wasn’t sufficient, I additionally labored on a poultry farm for 2 years,” Phuman Singh stocks with The Higher India.
Keenly conscious about his environment and the profitability of carrots, Phuman Singh launched into a adventure to prosperity beginning in 1993. In step with the Punjab Agricultural College, carrot is grown in over 1,200 hectares of land within the district, principally being confined to Sultanpur Lodhi.
“The farmer who refused to assist me ignited a spark in me. That day I instructed him that I will be able to make a reputation for myself via carrots and display you chacha (uncle),” he remembers.
Studying books and visiting the rural college within reach, he learnt the nitty gritties of carrot farming. He then proceeded to boldly plant carrot seeds in all 4.5 acres in their circle of relatives land. The experiment proved a success and there was no having a look again ever since.
“Carrots have by no means disenchanted me,” smiles the 65-year-old.
Who says that one wishes some extent to prevail? Formidable, resilient and good, Phuman Singh jumped head first into carrot farming. He made up for that via his resourcefulness. He attended the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) programmes and learnt about more moderen sorts and methods which he utilized in his farm.
To begin with, they must sow the seeds manually and trip to markets so far as Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar to promote the produce. On the other hand, through the years, they secured machines to sow the seeds. As the standard in their carrots was once just right and so they earned a reputation for themselves, dealers began coming to their farm. Lately, Phuman Singh doesn’t must discuss with any marketplace to promote his produce, the marketplace involves him.
He has completed mastery in carrot cultivation, consistent with Dr Harinder Singh, Affiliate Director, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kapurthala. “Vegetable cultivation isn’t any comic story. It takes perfection, and comes to numerous chance as gross sales aren’t confident. Singh has been rising carrots for over 30 years, and has perfected the artwork,” says Dr Harinder.
Sowing seeds for a brighter long run
Because the land beneath use larger from 4.5 acres to over 30 acres, the Allupur resident made up our minds to start out rising his personal seeds too.
“We’d previous purchase seeds from Patiala. About 10 years again, we first began rising seeds for our personal use. As the standard and output was once just right, we slowly began generating extra seeds, which others began buying. Lately, we now have enough seeds to plant over 650 acres,” he stocks.
He sells the seeds for Rs 1,000-1,500 consistent with kg, relying at the call for. Other people from around the district purchase their seeds, he claims.
From proudly owning 4.5 acres of land when he took over, his circle of relatives these days owns a complete of 80 acres of land, out of which 37 belongs to Phuman Singh. He’s going to be leasing 13 extra acres to domesticate carrots on a complete of fifty acres of this land.
Carrots are sown between 15 September to fifteen October and observe a 90-100 day harvesting cycle. He harvests the carrots from 20 December to twenty-five March.
“We harvest no less than 110 quintals of carrots consistent with acre, which is able to additionally pass as much as 250 quintals. When the charges are just right, you’ll earn rather well via this humble vegetable,” he says.
But even so carrots, he additionally cultivates rice and maize, which is harvested in September. He claims to earn an source of revenue of Rs 1 crore consistent with 12 months.
From now not with the ability to pass in a foreign country for his research, he has now been in a position to ship each his sons in a foreign country for his or her training (considered one of whom has returned to assist him), purchased a space, over 30 acres of land, along side the newest apparatus.
“All this took place because of carrot farming. They by no means broke my center,” he says.
Phuman Singh’s house additionally doubles up as a carrot farming faculty, the place he is helping any individual . No younger farmer is shipped away with out their questions being responded.
“We’ve got no less than 4 farmers who come house day by day to be informed. I provide an explanation for no matter I do know intimately. I even discuss with their farms to show them nearly. I’m at all times to be had to assist,” he stocks.
To each aspiring farmer, he says, “Don’t lose hope. All you wish to have to prevail is decision. Not anything is inconceivable.”
Edited by means of Padmashree Pande, Pictures Courtesy Phuman Singh