Farmers shift to commercial farming for higher earnings

Gonda: People are changing with the time, and so is the case with the farmers. Currently, Indian farmers have changed their mindset and are moving away from traditional farming to commercial farming to earn more money. Many of them are earning hefty amounts from growing fruits and flowers. Take the example of Rajesh, a young farmer from Mankapur who has started earning a good income from guava cultivation.

He started the cultivation of new varieties like Taiwanese pink guava last year, which changed his life. He planted Taiwanese pink guava saplings on half an acre of land, purchased plants from Faizabad, each guava plant costing him around Rs 80. He used only organic manure and vermicompost for the cultivation of guava.

The space between plants was 5 to 6 feet so that they could get enough sunlight, air, and water. Within six months, Rajesh cultivated fruit. Local traders started purchasing guavas directly from the farm for Rs 40-50 per kg, so he didn’t have to take the guavas to the market.

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The demand for the Taiwan pink variety of guava is high because it has soft seeds, a pink inner layer, and is crispy and sweet. Therefore, people like to consume it more and more. It is replete with Vitamin A, C, and other minerals.

Meanwhile, other guava plants take two to three years to produce fruits; the Taiwan pink guava starts producing fruit in just six months. New fruits grow every three months, and most importantly, the plant is less affected by pests. It is grown at a height of 5 to 6 feet and needs regular trimming.