<p>Raising a crop on stony land is no mean task and this farmer from Chikkabyaladakere village in Chitradurga district has gone on to prove just that. <br /><br />Lingadevaru owns 20 acres of land near a hillock in the village. The land is full of rocks and boulders. The farmer decided to use two acres for banana cultivation. His first task was to ensure that the fertility of the soil improved by way of using organic manure on the farm. He also brought in tractor-loads of soil from elsewhere.<br /><br />He then procured 1850 Robusta saplings from Bangalore’s Krishi Vignana Kendra. He installed a drip irrigation system on the farm. Today, his hard work has borne fruit. There are clusters of bananas weighing 25 to 30 kg each on every plant. This farmer availed a loan of Rs 24,000 as part of the National Horticulture Mission’s scheme. Today, he sends bananas raised on his farm to Tiptur, Bellary and Bangalore’s markets.<br /><br />Lingadevaru has spent Rs 1.3 lakh on banana cultivation. He expects an income of at least Rs six lakh from the first crop. He doesn’t have to spend anything on the next two banana crops. After realising the profitability of this crop, Lingadevaru has planted banana saplings on another half acre. Lingadevaru’s success story has drawn farmers from nearby areas to his farm, too, and has inspired others to take up a similar exercise.<br /></p>
<p>Raising a crop on stony land is no mean task and this farmer from Chikkabyaladakere village in Chitradurga district has gone on to prove just that. <br /><br />Lingadevaru owns 20 acres of land near a hillock in the village. The land is full of rocks and boulders. The farmer decided to use two acres for banana cultivation. His first task was to ensure that the fertility of the soil improved by way of using organic manure on the farm. He also brought in tractor-loads of soil from elsewhere.<br /><br />He then procured 1850 Robusta saplings from Bangalore’s Krishi Vignana Kendra. He installed a drip irrigation system on the farm. Today, his hard work has borne fruit. There are clusters of bananas weighing 25 to 30 kg each on every plant. This farmer availed a loan of Rs 24,000 as part of the National Horticulture Mission’s scheme. Today, he sends bananas raised on his farm to Tiptur, Bellary and Bangalore’s markets.<br /><br />Lingadevaru has spent Rs 1.3 lakh on banana cultivation. He expects an income of at least Rs six lakh from the first crop. He doesn’t have to spend anything on the next two banana crops. After realising the profitability of this crop, Lingadevaru has planted banana saplings on another half acre. Lingadevaru’s success story has drawn farmers from nearby areas to his farm, too, and has inspired others to take up a similar exercise.<br /></p>
