Andhra Pradesh: This farmer turned barren land into a thriving mango orchard

Andhra Pradesh: A farmer from Jangalapalli village in Andhra Pradesh named Chenna Reddy saw his little plot of land as both his source of income and his source of pride. However, the drought rendered it unusable and dry. The once-fertile fields, where he had devoted many hours to crop-tending, turned into an empty wasteland. It was now a barren wasteland, the land that had fed him and his family for centuries.

Forced to leave his cherished country, Chenna looked for employment outside of his homeland. Missing his home and land, he took up odd plumbing jobs in Bangalore for the following thirty years. The quiet countryside he had grown up in was a long cry from the busy metropolis with its tall skyscrapers and nonstop commotion. Nevertheless, he persisted, motivated by the dream that he would return to his town and bring his land back to its former splendor.

 Project Unnati Mango

Chenna always longed to go back to farming, even amid the busy city life. It was hard for him to return to his village because of the harsh reality of the drought and the absence of a consistent supply of water. When Chenna discovered about Project Unnati Mango, a modern-day approach to improve sustainable mango growing by Anandana – The Coca-Cola India Foundation, a ray of hope seemed to emerge.

He learned about Ultra High-Density Planting (UHDP), a technique that promised to turn barren areas into lush fields via effective water management and creative agricultural methods, after getting in touch with the Field Crop Officer (FCO) in his town. Inspired and intrigued, Chenna went to some nearby UHDP fields. His eyes met with verdant, flourishing mango orchards where only dust and hopelessness had before been, and this gave him fresh hope.

Developed high yielding mango orchard on dry land

With the intention of recovering his bequest, Chenna spent two lakh rupees to dig a borewell. He planted two acres of mangos using planting materials and help for drip irrigation. In order to keep a close eye on and tend to his crops, he even constructed a little cottage on his fields. It was really an amazing metamorphosis. The goals of Coca-Cola India’s Viksit Kisan campaign, which focuses on increasing farmers’ productivity and profitability in India, are embodied by Chenna and other mango growers much like him.

The drip irrigation method ensured that every drop of water was used efficiently while conserving valuable resources. Additionally, the new technology reduced the need for pesticides and fertilizers, improving the sustainability and economy of farming. With an outstanding production of 6 tons per acre from his mango plantation, Chenna’s labors were clearly paying off. Mango growers like Chenna have also seen increases in fruit quality, size, and shelf life thanks to the UHDP technique.

In the end, Chenna benefited even more from Project Unnati Mango’s training in crop warning systems and climate predictions. His understanding of climate-smart practices, as well as the sustainability and traceability of his crop, has improved yields and allowed him to more efficiently manage his crop cycle. The best part was that he could now be near his family and share the pleasures and difficulties of farming.