Prayagraj: Barren and rocky land of trans-Yamuna have been transformed into a treasure trove, with a group of progressive farmers in Prayagraj changing the landscape with strawberry cultivation.In the Meja area, farmers took up strawberry cultivation in polyhouses, replacing traditional crops, and taking the help of mulching technology (involves covering soil with organic straw, leaves, wood chips or inorganic plastic materials to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, regulate temperature and prevent erosion). Since there was a growing demand for strawberries in metropolitan cities, more farmers opted for their cultivation to increase their income. Jigyasu Mishra, a farmer from the Meja, has taken a lead. Mishra built 4 polyhouses and 1 net house in 1 acre land with the help of the horticulture department. In these polyhouses, he started cultivating crops under controlled temperature and environment, which were in high demand in the hotel and food industry. Mishra said the production, demand, and profit were excellent. “I planted the Winter Dawn variety of strawberries, which had a higher yield per hectare than other varieties. The fruit was brighter and had a longer shelf life, making it suitable for transportation. I cultivated it in the polyhouse using mulching technology, which cost Rs 4 to 5 lakh per acre, but earned Rs 25 to 30 lakh from a single crop,” he said. The wholesale price of strawberries was Rs 400 per Kg. Most of the supplies went to Varanasi and Lucknow, he said. Protected cultivation required a higher initial investment. The state govt was providing all support and financial assistance for this. District horticulture officer Saurabh Srivastava said the Uttar Pradesh govt was promoting innovation in the agricultural sector and encouraging protected cultivation by promoting horticulture and farming in polyhouses and net houses. “This led progressive farmers like Mishra to come forward. Mishra constructed 4 polyhouses with a 50% subsidy under the horticulture department’s Integrated Horticulture Development Mission scheme, where he cultivated strawberries,” Srivastava said. Farmers claimed that, in addition to the subsidy for the polyhouses, they also received financial assistance from the department for purchasing strawberry saplings. Seeing the profitability of this venture, many other also turned to this method of cultivation.
