FALI Phase 6 (2019-20): Some of the success stories of FALI students.

Avishkar Pawar, Sadguru Manaji Baba Vidyalaya, Palashi 

        

Avishkar Pawar is a ninth grade FALI student from Sadguru Manaji Baba Vidyalaya, Palashi, Satara. Through the two-year FALI course, and by visiting to a modern vegetable nursery in agronomy and horticulture module, Avishkar realized that they should start similar agri-business without solely relying on traditional farming as his is a drought prone region.

Since there was no sugarcane nursery in his region, he convinced his father to start sugarcane nursery, his father initially started a small sugarcane nursery which eventually led to establishment of a commercial sugarcane nursery called ' Pawar Ropvatika, Palashi'.

In one and half year period the number of seedlings produced has increased upto 2 lakhs. Recently they sold around 1.5 lakh seedlings at the rate of Rs.2.25 per seedling. Avishkar's family is earning around 1 to 1.5 lakh annually and have estimated an increase of 40% in net income. In the future Avishkar has plans to fully run the nursery himself and also has plans to grow different vegetable seedlings.

   

      Manish Manmode, New English School, Mohapa, Nagpur

 

Manish Manmode is an eight grade FALI student from New English High school, Mohpa, Nagpur. He along with his father started growing drumstick on family farm along with the existing vermicompost unit.

Manish after learning soil testing, optimum fertilizer doses, field management convinced his father to plant drumstick on 3-acre land. Manish father was also ready to start something new as he has earlier attended a progressive students-farmer meet conducted in school by FALI Agricultural Educator and was inspired to try something new.

Manish and his family achieved drumstick with pod lengths of 3-3.5 ft. They are now getting production of 200kg/ day and an income of Rs. 5,000 / day. 

 

Pranay Gaidhane, Navchaitanya High School, Bhandara 

 

Pranay Gaidhane is a ninth grade FALI student from Navchaitanya High school, Shivni, Bhandara. Through the two-year FALI course, field visits and practicum of animal science module, he thought of starting an animal rearing unit.

After getting  permission and support from his parents he started a small goat farm by purchasing 2 goats of Osmanabadi breed  and 1 buck of black Bengal breed, and now he owns 8 goats and 12 full aged bucks of total value of Rs 1,44,000, In previous month he sold 2 Goat and 4 buck and earned Rs 68,000.

In future Pranay is planning to expand his business by taking loan from bank for construction of a modern goat farm. 

 

Shreya Wankhede, Shivaji Multipurpose School, Amravati 

 

Shreya Wankhede is a ninth grade FALI student from Shri. Shivaji Multipurpose High school, Amravati. Through the two-year FALI course, Shreya has realized that diversified farming is much more effective than conventional farming.

Shreya and her father decided to cultivate Gaillardia, a flower plant at their village farm in Mauli, Amravati. Shreya did soil testing of their field during the FALI soil testing week and worked out the needed fertilizers dosage. They prepared plantlets in September and did transplanting in October on one-acre land. They have achieved production of 70 to 80 kg of flowers daily from January onwards and are hoping that this level of production will continue till July. Shreya and his family are getting an average of 40 Rs per kg in the local market. Shreya is projecting a profit of up to 2.5 lakhs and an increase of 30% in net income.

        

                             Shreyash Gandole, Late. Manikrao Pande School, Falegaon, Yawatmal 

 

Shreyash Gandole is a ninth grade FALI student from Late Manikrao Pande School, Falegao. During the interactive FALI dairy session, he learnt about different high milk yielding cow breeds, also from FALI field visit and guest session of veterinarian he learnt about different feeding material that are nutritious and easy to prepare at home like azolla feed and also learnt about livestock management.

Shreyash also studied about a progressive dairy entrepreneur and realized the benefits of high milk yielding cow. Earlier his father had domesticated local buffalo breed which gives 9-10 litres milk per day. Shreyash convinced his father to purchase Sahiwal breed of cow by explaining him the benefits of Sahiwal breed over local breed. Now they are getting 15-16 litres of milk per day which is more than previous buffalo breed and have helped them to increase their family income. They also prepared the feeding material like silage, azolla for improving milk yield while reducing on the feed cost.

     Niranjan Mativade, M.G. Shaha Vidyamandir, Bahubali

 

Niranjan Mativade is a ninth grade FALI student from M.G.Shaha Vidyamandir, Bahubali, Kolhapur. During two years of FALI course, he realized that modern farming can be more beneficial than the traditional farming. He studied about different crops that could give a good yield to the farmers through agronomy and horticulture classroom sessions, practicums and field visits.

After seeing the successful production of crops in school shade-net and after realizing the demand of Betelvine in nearby areas through consumer perception survey conducted by him, he convinced his father to do Betelvine farming in shade-net. His father started cultivation of Betelvine in shade-net over an area of 20 gunthas. They now produce about 30-35 thousand Betelvine leaves every 15 days and sell them to the markets in Jaisingpur, Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur, Chiplun, Mahad, Solapur, Pandharpur and earn Rs. 12-14 thousand for every lot. Niranjan's family now earns about Rs. 35-40 thousand per month and have projected a net profit of Rs. 1 to 1.5 lakh per annum.

 

 Kishor Sangale, Smt Anusayabai Bhalerao Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Nashik

                

 Kishor Sangale is a ninth grade FALI student from Smt Anusayabai Bhalerao Madhyamik Vidyalay Varhedarna, Nasik. During FALI field visit to progressive farmers field, Kishor saw the benefits of modern agriculture techniques like green house or polyhouse in producing high value crops.

Kishor convinced his father to visit & see the benefits of polyhouse for successful farming. His father realized the importance of polyhouse in controlling the microclimate. Now his father is successfully growing capsicum & other vegetables in polyhouse. Due to controlled condition of microclimate in polyhouse their capsicum production is increasing day by day.

Kishor's success with his family has influenced other FALI students to help their parents to introduce modern techniques in farming.

   Lokesh Desale, Khandesh Gandhi Balubhai Mehata Vidyalaya, Kasare, Dhule 

               

Lokesh Desale is a ninth grade FALI student from Khandesh Gandhi Balubhai Mehata Vidyalaya, Kasare, Dhule. Through the two-year FALI course, during the interactive FALI session on dairy science and through field visits, Lokesh learnt about different cattle breed, their characteristics, feed requirement, disease prevention methods and about products that can be prepared from cow waste.

After visiting a progressive dairy entrepreneur and seeing benefit of milk from different cattle breeds, Lokesh convinced his father, to domesticate Gir cow for milk production and also established small business of incense sticks, phenyl and face pack made from cow waste. They domesticated six cows and are getting up to 7 liters of milk per day from each cow. In local market milk from Gir cow breed fetches higher rate than other cow milk. The father son duo has now decided to increase the number of cows and vis a vis increase the cow waste product business.

Aditya Gawade, Hirkani Vidyalaya, Gawadewadi, Pune 

 

Aditya Gawade is a ninth grade FALI student from Hirkani School, Gawadewadi, Pune. During an interactive FALI guest session and related field visits to progressive farmers and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Aditya learned about modern methods of papaya cultivation including fertigation, pest management techniques, and convinced his father to implement the modern techniques for papaya cultivation.

Convinced by his son visit Aditya father also visited modern papaya farmers, KVK and then implemented improved methods including fertigation and by using traps to control fruit fly. As a result of introducing fertigation they achieved an increase fertilizer utilization efficiency and fruit losses were also reduced by using traps.

Papaya produced by Aditya and his father are selling like hot potatoes in reliance mall manchar. The family now earns Rs 12,000 to 15,000 every week from papaya and has increased their net income by 15 percent.

 

Sufiyan Jamadar, Sitabai Patwardhan Highschool, Kolhapur 

 

Sufiyan jamadar is a ninth grade FALI student from Sitabai Patwardhan Highshool Kurundwad, Kolhapur. Sufiyan learned about poultry management and care through FALI sessions and field visits on animal science. Inspired from the success of poultry farmers that he visited he decided to start small scale poultry unit supported with hydroponics fodder with the help of this father

He observed the effective use of hydroponics feed on desi poultry birds. He achieved an increase in chicken meat quality and also in eggs production. This move has increased the family household income by 30 %. Currently Sufiyan has 500 desi poultry birds. Sufiyan has become an inspiration for other young people in his area 

            Vivek Chaudhari, M. D. Somani High School, Chandisar, Palanpur 

 

Vivek is a ninth grade FALI student from M. D. Somani High school, Chandisar, Palanpur. Through FALI sessions on agronomy and horticulture, Vivek learned about crop management, crop production from sowing to harvesting and soil management. FALI students from M. D. Somani High school Chandisar, Palanpur have grown watermelon, cucumber, chilli and marigold in the FALI shade net.

After seeing the successful production in the shade net, Kunal advised his father to grow vegetables. His father grew vegetable cowpea as the vegetable demands good price in the region with demand peaking during the summers. Vivek is helping his father by observing for any disease and deficiencies of any nutrient and by finding suitable cure for such diseases. His father is very happy as his son is getting this type of knowledge of modern farming from FALI. From the 2 acre of land, the family is expecting to earn Rs 1.5 to 3 lacs.