SSUCCESS STORY ON Strawberry Cultivation

UCCESS STORY ON STRAWBERRY CULTIVATION INTRODUCING MULCHING S TECHNIQUE UNDER A.T.M.A RANIBANDH 2021-22 - A New Direction towards Doubling the Farmers’ Income. Ranibandh is primarily known for the cultivation of field crops specially mustard, gram, coriander, garlic, etc. The block is a part of Chotonagpur plateau. The soil is under laid with parched layer of rocks. Of course the block receives average annual rainfall of 1200 mm, whatever rainfall is received, all drains out and forms uncontrolled flow which ultimately falls into rivers and to big water bodies. No surface percolation of rainfall is happened and the curse is that during May-June no lives wells are seen in the countryside in the district. Furthismore, with the failing of the forest and rising pressure of the population effective crop growing days remains very less. Under such circumstances, the productivity of field crop is very less. The income of the farmers is very poor. Any alternative to increase the income of the farmer is in the way of improvement of livelihood support to the agrarian community Background:- With the overall objective of improving the farmers’ income, the project entitled “Exploring possibility of strawberry cultivation in Ranibandh Block under Bankura district has been planned in BFAC Ranibandh in the financial year 2021-22.. In this Innovative activity, variety “Winter Dawn” in open field condition with silver black polythene mulch has been introduced. Initiatives:- Mr. Shyamapada Mandi and his wife Mrs. Sharmila Mandal, of Ramgarh village in Rautora Gram Panchayet is one of the progressive farmers of the Block as well as BFAC member who has taken up the risk for first

time commercial cultivation of strawberry. Tracking through his past records, Mr. Shyamapada Mandi and his wife Mrs. Sharmila Mandi have been always been a hardworking and are both sincere farmers. In their capacity as farmers, they have cultivated spices like Turmeric , Ginger, Vegetables like Cabbage, Tomato, Radish, Colocasia, French beans, etc to support his family, and also have a great expertise in organic cultivation practices. He also has a small polyhouse where he develops vegetable nursery. Encouraged by the Assistant Director of Agriculture and A.T.M.A Functionaries of Ranibandh Block, they take up Strawberry Cultivation, as the area (Ramgarh Village) was highly favourable for growing such a fruit crop. At the beginning, 3000 nos. of strawberry runners and polymulching rolls was given the from A.T.MA Scheme as assistance, which he planted in the open field. Achievement:- Introduction of Name of The Mr. Shyamapada Mandi Farmer modern technique like polymulching Category proved beneficial as his plant becomes ST Aadhaar No 912169916943 healthy, and started to give good yield. As expected Mr. Shyamapada Mandi says “ the fruits can be hisvested twice in a month Address Village Ramgarh, GP Rautora, Bank A/C No. Block: Ranibandh from Feb-July/Aug with the average yield being 200gms/plant/harvest season.” So 1127000100119885 PNB Jhilimili 3000 plants gives 300kg/harvest amounting IFSC PUNB0112700 Rs. 1, 20,000/- per season. Mr. Phone No. 6296986736 Shyamapada Mandi has planned to market the produce to local markets in Khatra, Field Area Plot No. 570/8220 Bankura, Tatanagar, and Jhargram. Due JL. No. 128 to high demand of the fruit in the Tatanagar, he is dreaming to expand the area on strawberry cultivation in the village by buying his own runners for multiplication along with the help and technical guidance from the ATMA Functionaries of Ranibandh.