Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Apr 5: From Kolkata to Dakshina Kannada, Javed Ali has achieved the extraordinary — transforming 50 acres of long-abandoned, fallow land into thriving, lush paddy fields, drawing eyes and applause across the region.

What started as a daily-wage struggle has blossomed into a full-scale agricultural revival, proving that grit, vision, and sweat can literally turn barren land into gold.

From labourer to lead cultivator

Ali arrived in the region years ago seeking work, taking on small, daily-wage jobs to make ends meet. Slowly, he leased around 25–30 acres of fallow land in the Bailupete area and began cultivating vegetables.

Crops such as brinjal, bottle gourd, chilli and cauliflower earned him recognition as a model farmer in the district. Over the past two to three years, he has returned full circle to his roots, dedicating himself entirely to paddy cultivation.

‘Kaje Jaya’ paddy across 50 acres
This season, Ali has planted the ‘Kaje Jaya’ variety of paddy on 50 acres of neglected land in Gurupura–Bailupete, including fields belonging to the Sri Jangama Samsthana Mutt. He manages two cropping cycles annually—relying on monsoon rains for the first crop and pumping water from the Phalguni river for the second.

To sustain such large-scale operations, Ali employs labourers from Kolkata, Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.

Market linkages and community service
The harvested paddy is sent to mills in Moodbidri, while the straw is supplied to local goshalas at highly subsidised rates, showcasing Ali’s social commitment. Working up to 18 hours a day alongside his wife and son Billas, he embodies the belief that farming rewards those who remain devoted and patient.

Specialised machinery boosts efficiency
While most farmers in Dakshina Kannada rely on standard machines that separate grains during harvest, Ali has imported a specialised CD engine diesel-powered machine from Kolkata at a cost of Rs 40,000.

Capable of processing five quintals of paddy per hour with minimal loss, this advanced equipment has dramatically improved the efficiency and precision of his post-harvest operations.

Ali’s journey is a striking example of how vision, hard work and modern tools can turn a labourer’s dream into a thriving agricultural reality, inspiring both local farmers and aspiring cultivators across the region.