Ghaziabad: A progressive farmer from Nagla Akkhu village, Ghaziabad district, named Avnish Tyagi, did a lot of thinking, adopted all the modern techniques, and then he was able to transform his family’s mango orchard into a flourishing business. His father planted several traditional mango varieties, such as Bombay Green, Dasheri, Langra, Chaunsa, and Alphonso, on his one acre of land in the 1990s. Avinash was not satisfied with the production and later decided to improve Orchid’s profitability.
Avinash got the mango varieties like Amrapali and Mallika developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, Delhi, giving higher production, better taste, and huge income. His innovation continued and later, he planted coloured mango varieties like Pusa Lagima, Pusa Surya, Pusa Pratibha, and Kesar, changing his destiny.
The coloured mangoes are known for being rich in vitamins and antioxidants. The shelf life of these mangoes is long, and they are resistant to pests and diseases. Avnish also adopted sustainable farming practices, such as green manuring, mulching, and organic pest control.
Currently, Avnish is the owner of 40 bighas of orchards, producing 22 mango varieties. He employs 4-5 workers and sells traditional mangoes at Rs 20-25 per kg, while the colored varieties fetch Rs 70-100 per kg. He has been earning a net profit of Rs 1.5 lakh from traditional varieties and Rs 5 lakh from colored mangoes annually.
Avnish’s success story is an inspiration for farmers of his region; they are also trying to follow him and become successful.
