Innovation in Farming Changes Farmer’s Fortune: Cucumber Harvest Brings ₹2.50 Lakh Income

Horticulture Crop Adoption Empowers Farmer Suresh Sinha Economically

Government Schemes Provide Support, Making Farming a Profitable Business

Raipur, Aug 2025 : By moving away from traditional farming and embracing innovation, progressive farmer Suresh Sinha from Gatapar Khurd village in Rajnandgaon development block has become an inspiration for many farmers. His decision to grow vegetables instead of paddy has not only strengthened his financial position but also brought a positive change in his standard of living.

Mr. Sinha cultivated cucumbers on 5.5 acres of land, earning approximately ₹2.50 lakh so far, with harvesting still ongoing. He shared that his cucumbers are being sent to cities like Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Odisha, and Kolkata. At present, cucumbers are being sold at a rate of ₹15–₹20 per kilogram.

According to Mr. Sinha, vegetable farming is more profitable than traditional paddy cultivation and requires comparatively less water. Taking advantage of government schemes, he set up a polyhouse on his farm, under which he grew capsicum (bell peppers) and earned ₹3.50 lakh. The total cost of the polyhouse was ₹34 lakh, of which he received ₹17 lakh as a government subsidy.

Additionally, he constructed a pack house for vegetable storage, receiving ₹2 lakh in subsidy from the government. He also benefited from subsidies on agricultural equipment, such as a strip machine for pesticide spraying, for which he received up to 50% subsidy.

Last year, from July to March, he cultivated tomatoes on 7 acres and earned ₹3 lakh. This year too, he plans to grow tomatoes on 7 acres, using the Syngenta Campbell Myla variety, and has insured the crop under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

Owning a total of 15 acres of agricultural land, Mr. Sinha currently grows paddy on 8 acres and vegetables on 7 acres. By leveraging farmer-friendly schemes like the National Horticulture Mission and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, he has turned farming into a profitable venture.

Thanks to the economic prosperity gained from farming, he has ensured quality education for his children and solemnized his daughter’s wedding with dignity. Mr. Sinha believes that if farmers adopt modern technology and avail the benefits of government schemes, they can surely move towards self-reliance.