Sukhdev Singh, a farmer from Bhullar Bet village, Panjab, has turned what was once barren land into a highly profitable farm, earning approximately $8,400 annually from diverse crop cultivation and dairy farming. His journey began in 1996 when he faced challenges with saline soil and water shortages that made farming extremely difficult. However, with the help of the govt.’s Land Reclamation Programme, which provided a 75% subsidy for the use of gypsum, he managed to restore fertility to his land over three years. Not only is Singh a successful farmer, but he also serves as a mentor to others in his community, encouraging fellow farmers to adopt sustainable practices, use high-quality seeds from reliable sources like Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kapurthala. In other news, the shift from traditional paddy cultivation to soybean farming in Hoshiarpur, Panjab, is gaining momentum, with 500 acres now dedicated to the crop. Farmers like Manpreet Singh and Jujhar Singh have replaced water-intensive paddy with soybean due to its lower input costs, minimal water needs, and economic viability. Experts and govt. officials, including Panjab’s Director of Agriculture, Jaswant Singh, view soybean as a promising solution for crop diversification and groundwater conservation. Meanwhile, Phuman Singh Kaurra, a farmer from Allupur, Panjab, expanded his 4-acre farm to 36 acres through carrot cultivation and seed multiplication, earning $120K annually. These examples show how farmers' efforts in crop diversification benefit both them and the environment.
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