Who says farming needs land? A young farmer from Odisha just proved that a pond can be your most profitable field! Meet Hirod Patel, a 32-year-old electrician-turned-farmer from Ratanpur village, who is making wavesโliterallyโwith his floating farm model.
Instead of relying solely on traditional paddy cultivation like his father, Hirod turned to smart, integrated farming. With help from the watershed development and soil conservation department, he dug four ponds across his 10-acre land. But he didnโt stop there.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ-๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ? ๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ!
Hirod installed a trellis system above the water to grow climbing vegetables like gourds and beans. The innovation not only saved space but also eliminated the need for separate irrigation. And the pond below? Stocked with fishโdoubling his income through aquaculture.
He even built a small boat to navigate his pond farm for harvesting vegetablesโtalk about tech meets tradition!
In just one season, Hirod harvested 1,800 pieces of vegetables, earning an extra โน35,000, on top of his income from fish sales. Now, his unique model is being studied by agri-scientists and visited by farmers across Odisha looking to replicate the success.
Farming Smarter, Not Harder!
Hirodโs story is a powerful example of how innovation in rural India can lead to real income growthโall while using natural resources efficiently.
Source-https://thebetterindia.com