How Scientific Farming Turned Mungeli Farmer into 1.18 Lakh Rupee Success Story

From Tradition to Triumph: In the sun baked fields of Chhattisgarh’s Mungeli district, a quiet agricultural revolution unfolds, proving that science can supercharge tradition. Graam Bareidhara resident Shri Nageshwar Singh Parihar, a 59 year old BA graduate, harvested not just groundnuts but prosperity this Kharif: 1.18 lakh Rupees from 1.5 hectares, thanks to the Centre’s National Mission on Edible Oil Oilseeds (NMEO Oilseeds). His journey from routine yields to record profits showcases Madhya Pradesh’s blueprint for farmer empowerment.

Roots of Resilience
Parihar’s 2 hectare farm reflects decades of hands on wisdom honed amid Chhattisgarh’s red soils and erratic monsoons. Yet, confronting rising input costs and stagnant output, he embraced innovation via NMEO Oilseeds. Agriculture officials delivered 150 kg of premium, high yielding groundnut seeds free for his 1.5 hectares, eliminating seed purchase expenses that often erode 20 30% of smallholder budgets.

Science in Action: The Training Edge
The game changer? A comprehensive three day training camp orchestrated by departmental staff and rural extension officers. Participants mastered row sowing for optimal spacing, seed treatment against soil pathogens, bio inputs like vermicompost and biopesticides, and discerning quality seed selection. Sessions dissected the crop’s lifecycle: from germination through critical growth stages like pegging and pod filling, to harvest readiness.

Integrated nutrient management took center stage, balancing NPK with micronutrients to avert deficiencies common in basaltic soils. Parihar learned precise fertilizer timing, slashing overuse by 25% while boosting uptake. Pest protocols emphasized IPM: neem based sprays and pheromone traps over blanket chemicals, preserving beneficial insects and soil microbiome.

Harvest of Proof
Results spoke volumes. Parihar’s plot outyielded prior years by 30 40%, with uniform pods fetching premium mandi prices. Cost savings from free seeds compounded gains: input expenses dropped, net income soared. “This isn’t luck, it’s science,” Parihar beams. “Free seeds saved money upfront; training ensured every plant thrived. I urge fellow farmers: join schemes, adopt methods, reap rewards.”

Broader Ripples: Oilseeds Self Reliance
Parihar’s success mirrors NMEO Oilseeds’ national thrust, targeting India’s 60% edible oil import dependency. Chhattisgarh, with its vast black cotton soils ideal for groundnut, emerges as a frontrunner. The scheme’s tech cascade extension officers, demo plots, subsidies fosters clusters of progressive growers. Mungeli’s model could inspire 10,000+ hectares expansion, cutting imports while stabilizing farmer incomes amid volatile globals.

Economically, each quintal gain translates to rural multipliers: mandi spends fuel local economies, youth stay rooted via agribusiness, women gain from processing units. Environmentally, reduced chemicals heal soils, bolstering sustainability.

Vision for Viksit Chhattisgarh
Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai’s farmer first governance amplifies this. As NMEO scales, imagine statewide oilseed hubs: Parihars multiplying, villages prospering. Government schemes aren’t handouts; they’re launchpads. For every Nageshwar embracing row sowing over guesswork, India edges toward self reliant agriculture.

Mungeli’s fields whisper a promise: blend tradition with tech, and aannadataa won’t just survive they’ll lead. Time for every farmer to board the NMEO RATH.