Adoption of Sunflower Crop Will Increase the Income of Naresh Mirchande

Progressive farmer Naresh Mirchande from Hardi village in Bemetra district has taken a significant step towards a new direction by adopting sunflower cultivation in place of traditional paddy farming. The positive impact of the welfare schemes launched by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai for the benefit of farmers is now visible on the ground.

Farmer Naresh Mirchande owns a total of 4.50 hectares of land, where he previously grew paddy during both the Kharif and Rabi seasons. However, continuous losses from summer paddy cultivation during the Rabi season and decreasing water levels forced him to seek alternatives. Under the guidance of J.K. Chandrakar, the village agricultural development officer, he decided to cultivate sunflower under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Seeds (NMEO-OS) scheme.

The support provided by the government, such as seeds, micronutrients, pesticides, and technical guidance, boosted Naresh’s confidence. He planted sunflower on 2 hectares of land, utilizing compost fertilizer made at his own home. With proper field preparation, timely weeding, and pest control measures, his sunflower crop is now in full bloom, and the yield prospects are highly promising.

Naresh Mirchande believes that sunflower cultivation offers higher profits at a lower cost and also enhances soil fertility. He urges all farmers to adopt crops like sunflower instead of summer paddy, considering the water crisis, as it will help conserve water and provide economic benefits. He also shared that he had previously suffered heavy losses from summer paddy, but now with sunflower cultivation, his income will definitely rise.

Naresh Mirchande’s success story is an exemplary model of agricultural diversification and innovation, which will inspire other farmers in the future.