Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Dec 12: Systematic and methodical agriculture paves the way to financial strength. Success is guaranteed when the crop that suits the soil, weather and the speciality of the locality is grown.
Ananda Ganiga and Usha, a couple near Kattu in Hemmady of the taluk, are following traditional cultivation since 19 years. They have achieved milestone by cultivating jasmine and spinach on a large scale.
Hemmady is renowned for its Chrysanthemum (Sevanthige in Kannada) flower cultivation. However, Ananda is growing Udupi jasmine in this locality since two decades. His jasmine is famous in the market as Hemmady jasmine. He has 150 plants of jasmine, which give excellent yield. During season, he gets anywhere from 30,000 to 40,000 flowers from these plants.
Ananda sowed jasmine in his paddy field 19 years ago. As he has given stress on regular maintenance, protecting the plants, giving required nutrients to the plants at the right time and following organic method of cultivation, he has got the expected yield. In the past four to six years, some plants have yielded very few jasmines. So he has planted new seedlings.
Ananda sends the flowers daily to Mangaluru. Now the market for Jasmine is very good. But due to the inclement weather, the yield is comparatively less. But one should not give up hope in agriculture. This is the policy followed by Ananda.
Earlier, Ananda used to cultivate various vegetables like gherkins and long beans. However, due to diseases and menace of insects, he has given priority to Indian Spinach (Basale Soppu). Even this is not free from the menace of insects. But the amount is less. Once planted, it will take eight months for the crop to be harvested. Ananda has planted Indian spinach over an area of 10 cents in two parts. If the root of Indian Spinach is sown during monsoon, the crop can be harvested from the month of October. It can be harvested once in every 15 days.
Indian Spinach grows bountiful in the mud of paddy field. It also looks attractive and the buyers like it more. The cost of producing this is very less for the farmer. If there is no issue of insect that eats the leaves, the yield will be very high. During winter, the leaves bend a little bit.
If one makes a supporting structure for Indian Spinach to grow, the cost of cultivation will be high. It is economical to let it grow on an area that is slightly higher in elevation. It can be covered with net or old saris to prevent it from pests.
Ananda says that he harvests the Indian Spinach once in 15 days and sells the same to vegetable shops in Kundapur after winding them into bunches for a good price. If manure and water are given systematically, the next yield gets ready in 15 days.
Usha Ganiga, wife of Ananda Ganiga is active in Sri Durga self-help association of the Shree Kshethra Dharmasthala Gramabhivriddhi scheme. Many students of agriculture have visited their land to see the beauty of the agriculture, she and her husband Ananda does.
The couple sweats hard in the cultivation of jasmine as well as Indian Spinach. Agriculture is the backbone of their family. Their children are the example for cultural development through agriculture. One of their sons, who is 13-year-old, has learnt Bhagavathike (singing in Yakshagana art), while the other practices Chende instrument. This agricultural couple is the best example that Mother Nature will never forsake if one works with utmost faith and hope.
Ananda Ganiga says, "It is possible to taste success in agriculture if one works hard. We are leading a happy life through cultivation. It also gives us happiness. Along with jasmine and Indian Spinach, we also grow paddy and coconuts. These days, many diseases and insects attack the crops. That is why agriculturists are not showing much interest in cultivation."