Saharsa (Bihar), Dec 9 (NationPress) Amarendra Kumar, a farmer from Tilathi village in Saharsa district, Bihar, stands as a remarkable example of how government initiatives and modern agricultural techniques can revolutionize rural economies. Supported by the Chief Minister’s Samagra Chaur Vikas Yojana, he constructed a four-acre pond primarily for fish farming. Building on this, he ventured into the cultivation of pigeon pea (tur) and has successfully generated Rs 3 lakh from his harvest.

Awarded the Best Farmer Award in Saharsa district, Amarendra recounted his journey and challenges in an interview with IANS. His inspiration stemmed from a video showcasing a farmer in Madhya Pradesh who had excelled in pigeon-pea cultivation. Inspired, Amarendra reached out to the farmer and bought one kilogram of seeds for Rs 950.

He sowed the seeds with precision, maintaining a spacing of one meter by one meter on two acres of embanked land adjacent to his pond. The outcome was astonishing. His two-acre field yielded approximately 30 quintals of pigeon pea, bringing him Rs 3 lakh in the market. This extra income has significantly strengthened his financial position and highlighted the potential for crop diversification in the flood-affected Kosi region.

Initially, Amarendra had doubts about the viability of pigeon-pea cultivation in the local soil and climate. Nonetheless, through experimentation and the support of government programs, he demonstrated that success is achievable.

He also credited his insights to farming techniques learned from Narayanpur village in Malda district, West Bengal, where he studied innovative agricultural practices.

His prior experiment with a small pond on 10 kattha of land gave him the confidence to expand to a larger four-acre pond, which ultimately facilitated his pigeon pea farming. His accomplishments have now become a beacon of hope for fellow farmers in Saharsa and beyond.

Amarendra’s narrative emphasizes how appropriate guidance, government assistance, and the adoption of modern farming methods can elevate the rural economy. It also highlights the significance of innovation and determination in agriculture, particularly in areas traditionally deemed unsuitable for certain crops.

The success of Amarendra Kumar serves as a powerful illustration of the transformative potential of merging traditional farming knowledge with modern methodologies, providing hope and inspiration to numerous farmers across Bihar.