School dropout impresses scientists

A woman farmer from the interior Kondapalkala village of Manakondur mandal scripted history and emerged a role model.

She cultivated paddy without engaging farm labourers — be it for tilling the soil, removing weeds or any other related activity. She adopted innovative farming techniques and reaped a bumper harvest compared to other farmers who employed farmhands.

Adversity to opportunity

Meet Rupireddy Laxmi, a native of Kondapalkala village, who had dropped out of school after class 5. But she received appreciation from scientists of the agricultural university, Krishi Vignana Kendra, and others. For the last four and a half years, she has been cultivating paddy single-handedly on her 12 acres of land. Ms. Laxmi only sprinkles paddy, which is kept wet for one day on the field. Her cultivation technique have reduced the use of fertilizers and pesticides and also water consumption. She sprays pesticides only to avoid growth of weeds on the field.

The idea of taking up paddy cultivation by sprinkling seed occurred to Ms. Laxmi when there was acute shortage of labourers in the village. So, she did it all by herself, and saved an average of ₹ 6,000 to ₹7,000 per acre in the process. Moreover, when other farmers harvested 40 to 45 bags of paddy per acre by adopting the normal form of cultivation, she could reap 55 bags, much to their dismay.

Labour of love

Inspired by her innovative farming techniques, more than 10 farmers of the village had adopted the Ms. Laxmi’s techniques since the last kharif season and reaped more. Incidentally, her husband Tirupathi Reddy had taught her driving of tractor, two-wheeler and car and tilling operations. Recently, this progressive woman farmer purchased a luxury car, following a bumper harvest. Talking to The Hindu on Sunday, Ms. Laxmi said farmers could reap riches if they enjoyed the profession. “If there is no zeal to do cultivation, then the farmer cannot become a king by securing a good harvest,” she says boldly. Ms. Laxmi feeling proud of her herself is well-deserved as agricultural scientists invited her to various agricultural research stations in the State for displaying and sharing her techniques.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by K. M. Dayashankar / Karimnagar – January 13th, 2019