Sitamarhi: Farmers of Sitamarhi district of Bihar have now left loss-making farming and started profitable farming. Even though he is growing the same crop, he is earning good profits by cultivating it of the highest quality. At the same time, governments of other states are purchasing this crop. Actually, farmer Suresh Prasad Yadav, resident of Bhup Bhairon village of Sitamarhi district, is cultivating paddy in 10 acres. This is an improved variety of disease free paddy, the highest quality Pusa Basmati 1718 (PB 1718), which is being cultivated. And instead of selling from Bihar government, they are selling from UP government.
The farmer told that Bihar government will give money for this paddy like common paddy. But, the UP government agent pays three times this amount. Bihar government will give Rs 2300 and UP government will give Rs 6500 for the same paddy, so we have been selling paddy like this for the last many years. The farmer told that he first cleans the paddy which all other farmers do. He also cultivated the same paddy. Now he is cultivating PB 1718 Basmati paddy. This variety requires less water.
This much is the yield
The right time for its sowing can be from 15th May to 20th June. This variety becomes ripe in 135 days and yields 20 to 25 quintals per acre. Farmer Suresh Prasad Yadav told that earlier he used to do normal farming, but now he cultivates this paddy and sells it to the UP government. Whereas, it is also cultivated like traditional paddy. One has to work equally hard. But the price is 3 times more than that and there is no problem in selling it.
FIRST PUBLISHED: October 16, 2024, 11:34 IST