Success Story: This farmer from Gujarat is earning lakhs of rupees annually from banana cultivation
Success Story: A 51-year-old farmer from Panetha village in Jhagadiya Taluka, Bharuch District, Gujarat, Dhirendrakumar Bhanubhai Desai is renowned for his contributions to agriculture and creative methods. He started his agricultural career after finishing his education in 1991 and has 34 years of practical farming experience. He is a generational farmer. Although conventional agricultural practices had long provided his family with meager financial returns, Dhirendrakumar was determined to alter that.
In addition to revolutionizing his own agricultural operations, he encouraged and helped other farmers in the area by embracing contemporary farming methods and using cutting-edge technologies.
Early History and the Transition to Innovation
Using conventional agricultural methods, Dhirendrakumar started off growing sugarcane and bananas. Financial strain and inadequate agricultural infrastructure were among the difficulties. He was on an agricultural trip when he had a pivotal moment.
He gained knowledge of Integrated Bio-Nutrient Management (IBNM) for bananas, tissue culture bananas, and drip irrigation. Motivated by the maxim “More Crop per Drop,” Dhirendrakumar developed a continuous cropping strategy that dramatically raised output while cutting expenses.
Developments in the Production of Bananas
Dhirendrakumar successfully harvested three harvests of bananas from a single planting in 27 months by using cutting-edge methods, including drip irrigation, plant tissue culture, green manuring, and bio-composting. He is cultivating bananas of the G9 kind. Thus, it became the standard throughout the country.
His twofold productivity resulted in improved output; his innovative approach raised a yield by 15 MT per acre to as much as 35 MT per acre. When it came to managing agricultural diseases using drone technology, his farm was the first. This allows for even more efficiency within the constraints.
Contributions and Accomplishments
Amazing results have resulted from Dhirendrakumar’s inventions in banana growing. The production increased significantly to up to 35 tons per acre as a consequence of his use of tissue culture techniques and drip watering. On forty acres of land, he farms. His dedication to modernizing agriculture is shown by his innovative use of drone technology for pesticide spraying on banana crops.
Beyond his own achievements, Dhirendrakumar has been instrumental in improving the agricultural community. In order to facilitate group marketing and raise farmers’ profits, he founded a cooperative society for banana producers. More than 1,000 farmers in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh have been inspired to embrace advanced banana farming techniques by his efforts.
Agribusiness Growth and Diversification
Desai has planted 1200 plants of the Brazilian sweet orange cultivar known as Natal in addition to bananas. Tissue culture technology is what he’s employing. A banana chip manufacturing facility was established in his area as a result of his innovative technique. In addition to diversifying his agricultural career, he has produced jobs in the area.
Financial Achievement and Acknowledgment
Desai’s creative methods have paid off handsomely, as seen by his yearly profit of over 50–60 lakhs.
Dhirendrakumar has received more than 30 distinguished honors for his efforts and inventions, including:
- The 2021 IARI Innovative Farmer Fellow Award
- Purashkar, Jagjivan Ram Abhinav (2020)
- For Zone 8, Jagjivan Ram Abhinav Kisan Purashkar (2017)
- The 2019 IARI Innovative Farmer Award
- The Gujarati government’s 2019 Best ATMA Farmer Award
- The Gujarati government’s Sardar Patel Krishi Sanshodhan Purashkar (2017)
- Sardar Patel Award for Water Resources
MFOI National Award 2024
His accomplishments, which highlight his finest agricultural methods, have been highlighted in national and international media, including a BBC News Gujarati feature and a documentary on DD Kisan.
Prospects for the Future
Dhirendrakumar is dedicated to promoting agricultural innovation and sustainability. His objectives include promoting environmental stewardship and expanding the use of contemporary agricultural techniques. In order to maintain agriculture as lucrative and sustainable, he wants to keep pushing farmers to adopt new technology.
By increasing his revenue and inspiring other farmers to embrace new technologies and methods, especially in banana production, Dhirendrakumar Bhanubhai Desai has shown the promise of agricultural innovation.
