JOIN USRains have reduced from year to year and in turn, ground water levels in the taluk have hit an all time low.
At a time when people face an acute shortage of drinking water, farmer R Nagaraj, by implementing drip irrigation has reaped a profitable tomato harvest.
R Nagaraj is also the Hosakote Gram Panchayat President. Born into an agriculturist family, he now works the land inherited from his parents.As a progressive farmer, he has been growing coriander and tomato with borewell water, from a young age. He and his wife grow tomatoes in 3.2 acre land.
Farmers in the taluk mostly grow rain dependent crops. With the depleting rains, hundred of borewells have become dysfunctional. In such a time R Nagaraj with the use of drip irrigation depends on his two borewells.He grows the Super Abhinava 1057 tomato variety.
Right now the tomatoes are being harvested. In the last one month, the demand for tomato has gone up. The prices too have risen and therefore Nagaraj expects good profits.
By using organic manure instead of chemicals, Nagaraj has managed to get more harvest than usual.
The size of the fruit too is bigger. They have already harvested the crop thrice and they are expecting more harvest in the following days.
He also sends coriander to Bengaluru and other cities everyday. He works alongside the labourers in the field. By using progressive methods and being enthusiastic even at a critical time, A Nagaraj has set an example for all in the taluk.