This farmer from Maharashtra has won more than 30 environmental protection awards by cultivating bamboo and is earning lakhs of rupees annually

Bamboo Cultivation: Shivaji Rajput, a 59-year-old progressive farmer from Dhule district of Maharashtra, finds connection in the process of green conservation and bamboo monoculture, for himself and for the many others he has successfully changed their lives. In numerous respects, Rajput is also a beacon of hope in the fight against the crisis of food insecurity, resource depletion, and rural disintegration. For more than 25 years he has been active in environmental work, and for the past five years in growing bamboo. Since his aim is not just to cultivate bamboo but to lead a campaign that will help in making the world a better and greener place.

Beginning of bamboo agriculture

Even like most Indian farmers, the Rajputs primarily practiced traditional ways of agriculture. With the introduction of changes in climate in the way of extreme winds along with heavy rains, farming began becoming more and more precarious. “There are no approved limits even in agricultural production because of someone’s climate: floods and hurricanes can wash away all the yielded crops in a blink. But bamboo requires no further intensive care after the first planting; the returns can be realized by the second year after the initial cultivation.” Rajput offers a reasoning.

It was this element of uncertainty that made him look into the cultivation of bamboo. Owning fifty acres of land, he devoted twenty-five acres to bamboo cultivation, renting the rest to other farmers. The choice turned out to be revolutionary. “There is no such concern in bamboo growing. One week after the rain got over, we established the clumps of bamboo, and from there it was just a matter of sowing seeds. The primary focus is on the economy; if not here, then somewhere else. Utilization of bamboo plantation resources is 25 lakhs a year,” he declares with pride. I unfortunately did not factor another financial outlay in this.

Bamboo: The Green Delusion

Rajputs have woken upto the fact that bamboo, also known as “green gold,” is more than just a cash crop for the rajputs. Its merits in terms of the environment cannot be ignored. No other plant reaches the speed of growth that bamboo does. It may be conditions, however, that stimulate the rest of the cultures. That is why it is very beneficial for the environment because it gets rid of over 30% oxygen and more than 35% carbon dioxide than other types of plants. Rajput clarifies, “This makes it an important player in the fight against global warming.

Another reason behind the popularity of bamboo could perhaps be due to its versatility. There are nineteen types of bamboo that he cultivates on his farm, among them plants for making charcoal, incense sticks, and biomass energy. “Bamboo pellets are biomass energy and are made from ground bamboo, leavesand stalks. These can be a substitute for fossil fuels as they are friendly to the environment,” he explains. Rajput has more than just agricultural ambitions and aims that one day he will make bamboo-based furniture and incense sticks.

Mindful of profits that can be generated by bamboo as a cash crop, Rajput has also trained fellow farmers and people living in society how to grow this crop safely within the region. “Of the 136 types of bamboo available in the world, I cultivate 19 types,” says Rajput. Most of these types are used in the industrial sectors, including charcoal, biomass energy and agarbatti or incense stick production.

He stresses the importance of growing the right type of bamboo for specific applications. For example, if one is interested in producing incense sticks, then focus carefully on a specific bamboo type. The same holds true even in the making of biomass or furniture. Making the right choice is necessary, as there are differences in attributes such as strength or weight.

Because of Rajput’s consistent participation, he has earned the respect of numerous colleagues and has inspired many more to embark on similar paths. As well, he has been awarded more than 30 different awards for his contribution in the field of agriculture and environmental conservation, namely the Vanashree Award from the Government of Maharashtra and Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award, among others.

Drip irrigation is a farming innovation that has

It’s predominantly through oral crop and a controlled implementation of irrigation that Shivaji’s development is drastically noticeable. One such invention is his incorporation of drip irrigation, an effective water-saving technique that has greatly altered his farming practices. “Water is a precious commodity, such as in our country, where drought is common, and too much of it is a waste. With drip irrigation, I can use it wisely and ensure that the plants are not overwatered but have just enough moisture for healthy growth,” he explains.

Drip irrigation has a few more advantages, such as saving water. The cultivation of bamboo in the garden of Rajput has become relatively more productive owing to the enhanced growth of the crops produced. “Such is the changing world today that, with courtesy of drip irrigation, farms get to cope with the changing environment.”. According to him, “TThe key is to appreciate and apply what works best in the region.”