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Turns farmland located in drought prone region into lush green zone with series of experiments since 1966. Recommends modernization and mechanization in farming
“Technologies in farming must be implemented to make it profitable and essentially be in alliance with the nature. It must not be following the masses or blindly going after the superficial knowledge of scientists who lack the practical agriculture expertise. On the contrary modernization and mechanization should be used in the farm at the right place at the right time to attain maximum benefit! Hence farmers should have the scientific approach,” opines Mr. Veerabhadrappa,
Mr. Veerabhadrappa S C owns and manages Vasundara Farms along with his wife Ms. Sumangalamma. The couple has been consistently doing numerous experiments since 1966 to make farming sustainable and profitable. Their farm is located in Bijekere village, Chitradurga, district, Karnataka. “We own 50 acre land while rest 30 acre is on lease,” he adds.
Water had to be conserved for farming therefore Mr. Veerabhadrappa conducted on-field trials on natural manures, earthen bunds, mulching, tank silt application and building water bodies. “The focus was to hold the rain water within the farm. With many attempts I was able to conserve the water and implemented modern techniques like drip irrigation, sprinklers and micro irrigation to proficiently use every drop of water judiciously. Subsequently the soil also turned fertile,” he explains. Presently when rest of the state is facing severe drought, at Vasundra Farms all 12 irrigation bore wells are functioning nicely and 5 open wells have good water.
Natural manure also helps in the water retention in the soil. Water from bore well and well is pumped into centralized over head tank along with cow urine. It is then supplied to the plants and trees through micro irrigation. “We also have the bio gas unit to generate bio gas. Slurry of same is used for vermin culture. Vermi produced manure is excellent for the crops,” he states.
Mr. Veerbhadrappa further adds, “I always invested my time, energy and resources on water management but at the same time I gave lot of importance to integrated farming practices in order to have consistent income all through the year. Earlier when I had one crop it was a terrible financial crunch! Then I thought of using the sunlight for all 365days thus planted coconut. Someone told about constant earning from sericulture therefore started with it as well. Slowly I started adding different elements of agriculture.” Today there is good blend of horticulture, forestry and livestock farming in the farm. “I get income daily from dairy, monthly from sericulture, every 3 months from grains, every 6 months income from coconut (we sell tender coconut, coconut and dry copra), yearly once from tamarind, once in 2 years from subabul trees and once in 20years from sandalwood. Lastly from goat I can earn anytime. Besides I am also able to earn from selling worms for vermicompost namely eudrilus eugeniae, eisenia foetidaand peronyx excavates.” There are 25 cattle, HF and Jersey and 300 goats. Milk is sold to dairy cooperative at Rs. 24-25/liter. All farm produce is sold in nearby local markets.
Mr. Veerbhadrappa is always inclined towards technology in farming. He is the first farmer to grow mulberry plants in poly house that he developed in 1.5 acre. “Earlier I was growing capsicum but the profits were very low. Therefore I switched to marigold but again high prices were attained only during festive occasion like Dussera and Diwali. So I experimented with mulberry plants. After capsicum and marigold cultivation in poly house I was convinced that the quality of yield is good. And I wanted best yield of mulberry plants therefore did the trial. It was successful and I got satisfactory and good returns. Hence I always say use technology to your advantage. Customize it in a way to gain maximum benefit from it,” he elaborates.
In time to come Mr. Veerbhadrappa wants to experiment in value addition. “I want to prepare ‘Kalparasa’, a value added product of tender water (like Neera),” he reveals. Rest he wants to continue with present operations.
Mr. Veerabhadrappa completed B.Sc in Agriculture in 1966 and since then took up farming as his career option. “Family and friends did warn be about the odds of this occupation as our farm is located in drought prone area but agriculture was true calling for me. And to my luck my wife always stood next to me as strong support and pillar of strength hence the entire journey has been memorable, worth the experience and continuing peacefully and happily,” he asserts.
He concludes, “To work less and get more yields mechanization and modernization is the only way out. Lastly I strongly feel even if farming is considered as gambling farmer must preserve soil and its fertility then the gamble is won!”
Contact Details:
Vasundara Farms
Bijekere Village, Bommagondana Kere, Molakalmur Taluk, Chitradurga District – 577 529, Karnataka
Phone: 9902088318
“Technologies in farming must be implemented to make it profitable and essentially be in alliance with the nature. It must not be following the masses or blindly going after the superficial knowledge of scientists who lack the practical agriculture expertise. On the contrary modernization and mechanization should be used in the farm at the right place at the right time to attain maximum benefit! Hence farmers should have the scientific approach,” opines Mr. Veerabhadrappa,
Mr. Veerabhadrappa S C owns and manages Vasundara Farms along with his wife Ms. Sumangalamma. The couple has been consistently doing numerous experiments since 1966 to make farming sustainable and profitable. Their farm is located in Bijekere village, Chitradurga, district, Karnataka. “We own 50 acre land while rest 30 acre is on lease,” he adds.
Water had to be conserved for farming therefore Mr. Veerabhadrappa conducted on-field trials on natural manures, earthen bunds, mulching, tank silt application and building water bodies. “The focus was to hold the rain water within the farm. With many attempts I was able to conserve the water and implemented modern techniques like drip irrigation, sprinklers and micro irrigation to proficiently use every drop of water judiciously. Subsequently the soil also turned fertile,” he explains. Presently when rest of the state is facing severe drought, at Vasundra Farms all 12 irrigation bore wells are functioning nicely and 5 open wells have good water.
Natural manure also helps in the water retention in the soil. Water from bore well and well is pumped into centralized over head tank along with cow urine. It is then supplied to the plants and trees through micro irrigation. “We also have the bio gas unit to generate bio gas. Slurry of same is used for vermin culture. Vermi produced manure is excellent for the crops,” he states.
Mr. Veerbhadrappa further adds, “I always invested my time, energy and resources on water management but at the same time I gave lot of importance to integrated farming practices in order to have consistent income all through the year. Earlier when I had one crop it was a terrible financial crunch! Then I thought of using the sunlight for all 365days thus planted coconut. Someone told about constant earning from sericulture therefore started with it as well. Slowly I started adding different elements of agriculture.” Today there is good blend of horticulture, forestry and livestock farming in the farm. “I get income daily from dairy, monthly from sericulture, every 3 months from grains, every 6 months income from coconut (we sell tender coconut, coconut and dry copra), yearly once from tamarind, once in 2 years from subabul trees and once in 20years from sandalwood. Lastly from goat I can earn anytime. Besides I am also able to earn from selling worms for vermicompost namely eudrilus eugeniae, eisenia foetidaand peronyx excavates.” There are 25 cattle, HF and Jersey and 300 goats. Milk is sold to dairy cooperative at Rs. 24-25/liter. All farm produce is sold in nearby local markets.
Mr. Veerbhadrappa is always inclined towards technology in farming. He is the first farmer to grow mulberry plants in poly house that he developed in 1.5 acre. “Earlier I was growing capsicum but the profits were very low. Therefore I switched to marigold but again high prices were attained only during festive occasion like Dussera and Diwali. So I experimented with mulberry plants. After capsicum and marigold cultivation in poly house I was convinced that the quality of yield is good. And I wanted best yield of mulberry plants therefore did the trial. It was successful and I got satisfactory and good returns. Hence I always say use technology to your advantage. Customize it in a way to gain maximum benefit from it,” he elaborates.
In time to come Mr. Veerbhadrappa wants to experiment in value addition. “I want to prepare ‘Kalparasa’, a value added product of tender water (like Neera),” he reveals. Rest he wants to continue with present operations.
Mr. Veerabhadrappa completed B.Sc in Agriculture in 1966 and since then took up farming as his career option. “Family and friends did warn be about the odds of this occupation as our farm is located in drought prone area but agriculture was true calling for me. And to my luck my wife always stood next to me as strong support and pillar of strength hence the entire journey has been memorable, worth the experience and continuing peacefully and happily,” he asserts.
He concludes, “To work less and get more yields mechanization and modernization is the only way out. Lastly I strongly feel even if farming is considered as gambling farmer must preserve soil and its fertility then the gamble is won!”
Contact Details:
Vasundara Farms
Bijekere Village, Bommagondana Kere, Molakalmur Taluk, Chitradurga District – 577 529, Karnataka
Phone: 9902088318
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