Bihar: 22 Year Old Geography Graduate Farmer, Earns Bumper Profit of Rs 12 Lakh Annually

Situated in the West Champaran district of Bihar, specifically in the city of Bettiah, a 22-year-old individual by the name of Aryan Kumar has changed and created innovative methods from the long-standing conventional farming practices upheld by his family. These practices traditionally centered around the cultivation of food crops and heavily depended on unpredictable weather conditions. Aryan, drawing motivation from his educational background in geography, has started upon a unique and transformative journey in agriculture.

Crop Diversification for Profitability

After completing a week-long course offered by the Bihar government's Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Aryan began cash crop farming. This shift promised higher yields, reduced water usage, and lower risks compared to traditional staples like wheat, sugarcane, and paddy. He cultivated coriander, mushrooms, and capsicum, and his efforts now yield an impressive annual income of ₹10 to ₹12 lakh.

Innovative Farming Techniques

In 2021, Aryan embarked on his farming journey by starting shade net cultivation of capsicum on a plot of land measuring less than an acre. Employing fiber nets, he effectively regulated the amount of sunlight reaching his crops, thereby creating ideal growth conditions. Remarkably, the same supplier also furnished him with drip irrigation apparatus for the capsicum crop and sprinkler systems tailored for his coriander cultivation.

Government Support and Subsidies

Aryan began his agriculture business with an initial investment with an amount of ₹42,000. This sum was substantially boosted by a generous ₹22 lakh subsidy provided by the government. Aryan procured his seeds from the Excellence For Vegetable – Horticulture Farm located in Chandi town within the Nalanda district. The state's agriculture department extends significant subsidies, reaching as high as 90%, to facilitate the acquisition of equipment for cash crop farming.

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High Yields and Profitable Returns

Aryan's farming calendar includes two rounds of coriander farming annually, alongside a single batch of capsicum, typically starting in October. Each time, he achieves remarkable results, producing 70 quintals of capsicum over five months and 28 quintals of coriander leaves per katha.

His investments extend to purchasing capsicum seeds at ₹3 per piece and 4,000 such pieces for farming, ultimately resulting in the production of 70 quintals of capsicum. He sells his produce in the local Bettiah market, with coriander leaves commanding ₹250 per kg and capsicum fetching ₹50 per kg.

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Achievements

Aryan has taken the initiative to establish a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) that functions via WhatsApp groups, creating a platform for seamless cooperation among fellow farmers. These virtual communities serve as central hubs for mutual encouragement, the exchange of valuable agricultural insights, and assistance in addressing supply chain hurdles. Aryan's remarkable journey has not only inspired but also led to the involvement of a minimum of 10 villagers who have started their explorations into coriander and capsicum farming.

In addition to his existing profitable farm business, Aryan has also initiated oyster mushroom farming, attracting approximately 100 farmers in Bettiah to adopt this profitable practice. At a selling price of ₹150 per kilogram, Aryan achieves a remarkable annual harvest of 6 quintals from his 140-square-meter mushroom farm.

Aryan's mushroom farming has become a massive success, as many households in the village now cultivate mushrooms. The low investment cost of ₹23,000 per quintal and the promising returns have made it a popular choice.

Infact his neighbor, Dilip Kumar, is inspired to expand his farming ventures by cultivating capsicum and coriander on a larger scale, with dreams of selling his produce in Patna for higher profits.

Aryan Kumar's innovative approach to farming, diversifying into cash crops and mushroom cultivation, not only brings him substantial earnings but also inspires fellow villagers to explore new agricultural horizons, marking a bright future for rural agriculture in Bihar.

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