Please tell us about your background.
I am currently helping farmers convert to organic cultivation and focusing on choosing from crops that is not produced in mass quantities by a lot of farmers. This is my present activity. As a part of my next venture, I am trying to come up with a model for organizing small farmers so that they can earn more per year so as to elevate their economical standards. My main model is based on vertical farming system. I have identified few root crops for vertical farming. These root crops can be cultivated in grow bags and we can increase the production in small spaces. Identification of the right crops is the most important thing in farming. I am focusing on energy crops. Sugarcane is the ideal energy crop for India because using sugarcane one can produce three products – sugar, fodder and molasses. Molasses can be converted to ethanol that is further used in other industries.
This is my main idea that I want to implement this year. I was a research coordinator and I have done my research on farming extensively. I belong to a farming community from a remote village in West Bengal. Currently, I have a farm house where I do all these experiments, and give cultivation ideas to my friends who have farms.
Are you assisting anybody with any of their projects right now?
No. I am associated with the farmers. I supply the farming materials. In northern India, for instance, drumstick was not very popular. People are not aware of drumsticks. I supply them with plant material free of cost, convincing them to plant those, as drumstick can be used for so many purposes. I make them aware, and motivate them to plant crops like drumsticks.
If someone has an agricultural project and if they approach you, can you guide them and be an expert advisor to set up their farm?
Yes, I can guide them.
For how many years have you been associated with agricultural research?
I have been doing research since 1970. Right from that time I am associated with the farming communities. I have also received training from Singapore in 1980. I am aware of all types of agricultural practices. I am sure I can guide people create beautiful farms and run it with profit.
From my experience, when it comes to organic fertilizers, we are presently using quick release fertilizers instead of slow release organic fertilizers. The organic fertilizers which are being sold in the market come with a high cost and the farmers generally use cow dung etc. on open grounds, which is harmful for the environment. I am also trying to make small digesters in every corner of the farms so that it may not harm the environment. There are certain combinations that work well when it comes to organic fertilizers. These are outcomes of my own experiment. South India is the most important part of the country where the raw materials are easily available for the fast release fertilizers. I belong from Bengal, and in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa we have bulk of small time farmers. In these regions, farmers’ income is too low. I want to get their activities into a combined cultivation. This is why I aim at setting up a model so that it is there for all to see in which way it can be done.
When you try to implement an idea, what challenges come into play?
The mentality of our people is – if someone starts working on a crop and it becomes a success then others will follow. But nobody is ready to be the one to experiment. As per my experience, for instance, if in most parts of India, they are beginning to plant Eucalyptus and a farmer starts earning from Eucalyptus, then everyone starts farming Eucalyptus. This then causes degradation of water level and the crop price also falls. Then, again everyone goes back to square one.
What can we do to change this?
I have a friend who owns 10 acres of land in Haryana. I proposed to get into an agreement with him. The idea was I will invest on his land and we will have rights of 50-50 over the production. After that, I started my own production in this manner. This is the only way in which we can bring about a change.
Okay. So, the land is your friend’s and the money and expertise is yours. The production profit will be shared by both. Right?
Absolutely! These days their income is much higher than when they were into traditional cultivation. They are happy and I am also happy because I could put my knowledge to good use, and I could make a substantial revenue for myself and for my friend. I can even give free advice to farming for the betterment of Indian agriculture.
Will you be interested in helping people who have pieces of land, and help them out even if they are ready to invest and they just need your expertise?
Yes, I will surely guide them. They just have to get in touch with me, send me their location and their land location as well. They can WhatsApp it to me. I will give them all the guidance they need. For me it is not about making a profit for myself. It is for a larger cause.
You mentioned that you had entered an agreement with your friend. How did that go?
That was in Faridabad. Good production needs plant care on a day to day basis. Agricultural labour should have 360 days’ work. I managed the whole project. I decided which crop to grow. I decided how many people we need to work on the farm, I took care of the labourers being trained on what each of them needs to do. The crop selection depends on the land location.
Did you play any role in the selling part?
Yes, definitely. I have contacts in the Delhi market and I selected a product that is different. Before I became a research coordinator, I was an exporter. So, I have expertise in making deals and creating networks as well. I worked in the export field for 5 years (‘80-‘85). I have a big network, and selling comes quite comfortably for me.
Will you be able to give the same level of guidance to farmers at a distant location?
I do not have a problem. I will travel and stay there for at least 3-4 days. I will train the local labour; we can decide on the labour depending on the volume of land. I will train them on plant care, plant health etc. I will be able to guide the land owner as well to make him/her understand what they need to look for and be careful about.
But in the long run, I think you should form a network, because can you singlehandedly go around the whole country?
What can be done is, the land owner can suggest the person whom I should train and this shouldn’t be a problem. I will need to study their land and as per the land location I will identify the produce as per the volume of land. I will choose a product which won’t be difficult to sell. And, because it will be an organic product, there will be an organic network. Nowadays we need to have traders in place, who will trade all these things from farm to market. That won’t be a problem to achieve, I will create that network.
Contact : Sukumar Bagh
591 Sanjay Enclave
Opposite GTK Depo
Near Jahangirpuri metro Station
Delhi 110033
Mobile & WhatsApp no 9821662849
I am currently helping farmers convert to organic cultivation and focusing on choosing from crops that is not produced in mass quantities by a lot of farmers. This is my present activity. As a part of my next venture, I am trying to come up with a model for organizing small farmers so that they can earn more per year so as to elevate their economical standards. My main model is based on vertical farming system. I have identified few root crops for vertical farming. These root crops can be cultivated in grow bags and we can increase the production in small spaces. Identification of the right crops is the most important thing in farming. I am focusing on energy crops. Sugarcane is the ideal energy crop for India because using sugarcane one can produce three products – sugar, fodder and molasses. Molasses can be converted to ethanol that is further used in other industries.
This is my main idea that I want to implement this year. I was a research coordinator and I have done my research on farming extensively. I belong to a farming community from a remote village in West Bengal. Currently, I have a farm house where I do all these experiments, and give cultivation ideas to my friends who have farms.
Are you assisting anybody with any of their projects right now?
No. I am associated with the farmers. I supply the farming materials. In northern India, for instance, drumstick was not very popular. People are not aware of drumsticks. I supply them with plant material free of cost, convincing them to plant those, as drumstick can be used for so many purposes. I make them aware, and motivate them to plant crops like drumsticks.
If someone has an agricultural project and if they approach you, can you guide them and be an expert advisor to set up their farm?
Yes, I can guide them.
For how many years have you been associated with agricultural research?
I have been doing research since 1970. Right from that time I am associated with the farming communities. I have also received training from Singapore in 1980. I am aware of all types of agricultural practices. I am sure I can guide people create beautiful farms and run it with profit.
From my experience, when it comes to organic fertilizers, we are presently using quick release fertilizers instead of slow release organic fertilizers. The organic fertilizers which are being sold in the market come with a high cost and the farmers generally use cow dung etc. on open grounds, which is harmful for the environment. I am also trying to make small digesters in every corner of the farms so that it may not harm the environment. There are certain combinations that work well when it comes to organic fertilizers. These are outcomes of my own experiment. South India is the most important part of the country where the raw materials are easily available for the fast release fertilizers. I belong from Bengal, and in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa we have bulk of small time farmers. In these regions, farmers’ income is too low. I want to get their activities into a combined cultivation. This is why I aim at setting up a model so that it is there for all to see in which way it can be done.
When you try to implement an idea, what challenges come into play?
The mentality of our people is – if someone starts working on a crop and it becomes a success then others will follow. But nobody is ready to be the one to experiment. As per my experience, for instance, if in most parts of India, they are beginning to plant Eucalyptus and a farmer starts earning from Eucalyptus, then everyone starts farming Eucalyptus. This then causes degradation of water level and the crop price also falls. Then, again everyone goes back to square one.
What can we do to change this?
I have a friend who owns 10 acres of land in Haryana. I proposed to get into an agreement with him. The idea was I will invest on his land and we will have rights of 50-50 over the production. After that, I started my own production in this manner. This is the only way in which we can bring about a change.
Okay. So, the land is your friend’s and the money and expertise is yours. The production profit will be shared by both. Right?
Absolutely! These days their income is much higher than when they were into traditional cultivation. They are happy and I am also happy because I could put my knowledge to good use, and I could make a substantial revenue for myself and for my friend. I can even give free advice to farming for the betterment of Indian agriculture.
Will you be interested in helping people who have pieces of land, and help them out even if they are ready to invest and they just need your expertise?
Yes, I will surely guide them. They just have to get in touch with me, send me their location and their land location as well. They can WhatsApp it to me. I will give them all the guidance they need. For me it is not about making a profit for myself. It is for a larger cause.
You mentioned that you had entered an agreement with your friend. How did that go?
That was in Faridabad. Good production needs plant care on a day to day basis. Agricultural labour should have 360 days’ work. I managed the whole project. I decided which crop to grow. I decided how many people we need to work on the farm, I took care of the labourers being trained on what each of them needs to do. The crop selection depends on the land location.
Did you play any role in the selling part?
Yes, definitely. I have contacts in the Delhi market and I selected a product that is different. Before I became a research coordinator, I was an exporter. So, I have expertise in making deals and creating networks as well. I worked in the export field for 5 years (‘80-‘85). I have a big network, and selling comes quite comfortably for me.
Will you be able to give the same level of guidance to farmers at a distant location?
I do not have a problem. I will travel and stay there for at least 3-4 days. I will train the local labour; we can decide on the labour depending on the volume of land. I will train them on plant care, plant health etc. I will be able to guide the land owner as well to make him/her understand what they need to look for and be careful about.
But in the long run, I think you should form a network, because can you singlehandedly go around the whole country?
What can be done is, the land owner can suggest the person whom I should train and this shouldn’t be a problem. I will need to study their land and as per the land location I will identify the produce as per the volume of land. I will choose a product which won’t be difficult to sell. And, because it will be an organic product, there will be an organic network. Nowadays we need to have traders in place, who will trade all these things from farm to market. That won’t be a problem to achieve, I will create that network.
Contact : Sukumar Bagh
591 Sanjay Enclave
Opposite GTK Depo
Near Jahangirpuri metro Station
Delhi 110033
Mobile & WhatsApp no 9821662849
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