Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Sep 3: Puttaiah Naika, resident of Kulanje Mavinakoodlu under Shankaranarayana Gram panchayat limits of the taluk has made a niche for himself in the field of agriculture by implementing reformed agricultural methods and growing vegetables all-round the year. In addition to agriculture he is doing horticulture also.

Mavinakoodlu is a remote area. The land owned by Naika is also not that fertile. It is a downhill area with stones and quarry. But by doing vegetable farming on such a land, Naika has shown that in front of human effort, everything else is negligible.

A farmer fails when he lacks knowledge of seasons and environmental behaviour. It becomes profitable only when a farmer can grow the suitable crop at the right time, which gets good market rate also. In addition, when the grower himself sells it to final customers directly, maximum profit can be obtained for his efforts.

Naika grows Okra, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, snake gourd, beans during monsoon season. These are in high demand in the local market. He also grows chilly, sambrani and leafy Kesu vegetable. He does not waste even an inch of land and grows various vegetables.

Naika is a member of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala rural development scheme. He formed a self-help association called Annapoorneshwari as soon as he joined the scheme, which has completed 17 years. He has got trained in all forms of agriculture. Many research agriculturists have visited his land and seen his farming methods.

He follows mix farming method with arecanut and coconut also. He has made an arecanut farm at Mohit Nagara. Where he grows betel leaf and pepper along with arecanut. In addition, he grows plantain, Sambrani and beans. Naika is a role model to other agriculturists.