Published on: April 16, 2025
By: [BTI]
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
In a shining example of successful agricultural innovation, Narad Patel, a farmer from the tribal village of Ghotia in Chhuriya development block, has achieved remarkable profits through groundnut cultivation using advanced techniques during the Rabi season. By embracing crop diversification and modern methods, he earned over ₹72,000 from just one hectare—securing a net profit of ₹57,953, more than four times his input cost of ₹14,047.
With two hectares of land at his disposal, Patel dedicated one hectare to horticultural crops and the other to groundnut farming. Having over 12 years of experience in vegetable cultivation along with maize and moong, Patel was encouraged by the Agriculture Department to experiment with groundnut under the TRFA Oilseed Promotion Scheme. The department provided him with quality seeds and continuous guidance throughout the crop cycle, including weeding and hoeing practices.
Patel emphasized that groundnut farming requires less water, fertilizer, and pesticides, making it a cost-effective option with higher returns. The success of his crop has captured the attention of neighboring farmers, many of whom are now considering similar diversification strategies with the help of modern agricultural knowledge.
His story stands as a motivating case study for sustainable farming in semi-forest regions and highlights how government schemes and scientific approaches can transform rural livelihoods.
