The Sweet Fruits Of Graft

"Since developed nations don’t grow mangoes, they can’t compete with us," says Dr Bhagwanrao Kapse, the expert who introduced the king of fruits to Jiradgaon. Head of horticulture at the Badnapur Agriculture College and formerly with the state agricultural marketing board, Kapse is a proponent of low-cost, high-tech farming. He could have made a fortune as a consultant to agro biggies. Instead, he wants backward, marginal landowners to gain from his expertise. "Most Indian farmers have small land-holdings," says the 52-year-old. "Without innovation, they can’t meet the challenges of globalisation."

Keen to demonstrate that technology isn’t the prerogative of a few, Kapse began using the in-situ technique of growing mangoes in 2001. He dug pits, planted 4-5 saplings of an inexpensive local variety of mango in each pit, and tied them by side grafting. Subsequently, he grafted Kesar mango scions on the best plant in each clump. Thus energised by many plants, each Kesar mango sapling grew briskly even during parched summers.

Kapse was greeted with scepticism. Some even ridiculed him for "spoiling good farms". But as the difference became visible, the idea took the area by storm. In fact, the farming practices he was propagating helped them save water and retain the richness of the soil. Not just mangoes, Kapse also taught the farmers to grow pomegranate in the vacant spaces in the orchard to generate income till such time that the mango trees yield fruit. Some are also growing sweet lime, amla, chikoo, custard apple. This little village of 1,526 people now boasts of 250 acres of pomegranate and 700 acres of sweet lime plantations.

With the Marathwada Agriculture University, state agriculture department and local leaders supporting the initiative, Kapse’s lead has galvanised other academicians. While S.S. Raut has brought in dairy farming, Dr S.S. Bainade is helping farmers develop green chickpeas and soybean seed plots and produce vermicompost. The green chickpeas produce has surged to eight quintals per acre, with Jiradgaon alone reaping 500 quintals. Having formed the Indico Fruit Growers Federation in 2004, these farmers are realising the potential of group farming. In May, the village will host its first Krushi Jatra (agro fair).

Meanwhile, the village youth have built over 35 earthen and contour dams to arrest water and have pared drip irrigation expenses by procuring the equipment in bulk and installing it themselves. With an astounding tree survival rate of 97 per cent, the effort is paying off. By teaming up as 10 self-help groups, the women are preparing to set up cashew-processing and cardboard box units. The villagers have raised Rs 1 lakh to buy a 2-acre plot for a school. Rich dividends of collective action have made factional feuds a thing of the past. There is a new drive to better the lives of the villagers.

Contact Kapse at: College of Agriculture, Badnapur, Jalna (Maharashtra). Tel: (0240) 2488653 / 9422293419.