Innovative Farmer Award for Fatehgarh Sahib Agriculturist
Nanowal village in Fatehgarh sahib district came to limelight after one of its farmer Gurwinder Singh Sohi (39 years) has won the National level Innovative Farmer Award, at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi which was presented by Union Minister Purshotam Rupala.
Sohi said he was cultivating wheat and paddy on his land, like any other farmer, but lately diversified from traditional crop to floriculture. Of the 22 acres that I am holding, I grow gladiolus on over 12 acres, both for bulbs and flowers and cultivating marigold on 5 acres.The same land is also used for growing pulses and paddy. He said he earns around 1.50 lacs per acre per season.
He along with his friends has also set up a farmers welfare club. They purchase farm machinery collectively and cultivate different crops. He further disclosed that we have ridger, seed drill, rotavator, sprayer for the club member’s use.
He has also received the Sradarni Parkash Kaur Saran Award from the Punjab Governor, VP Badnore at annual Kisan Mela organised by Punjab Agriculture University.
Sohi said “he had started the diversification with growing the crop on two kanal land as to check whether it’s a profitable or not. But I found it profitable”. So I kept on increasing the area under cultivation. Unlike the two crop cycle of wheat-paddy, now the same land gives us regular income round the year.
He also suggested his co farmer brothers to start diversifying and change the normal wheat paddy cycle with other crops, as this will increase their income.
