Jalna, August 17: The central government’s initiative has significantly changed the fortunes of farmers in Jalna district. Santaji Bhoite, a farmer from Antarwala village, has successfully started cultivating mosambi (sweet lime) by leveraging the benefits of this scheme. His orchard, established with government assistance, is now yielding a good income. Despite facing challenges this year due to excessive rainfall and an unknown pest infestation, Bhoite managed to harvest mosambi before the rains, securing a favorable price for his produce.
Bhoite expressed that without the government’s support, establishing such a large-scale orchard would have been challenging. Upon learning about the scheme, he applied for mosambi cultivation through the block development officer in Jalna, submitting necessary documents including a letter requesting work under the scheme, a copy of the village council’s proposal, his Aadhaar card, bank passbook, and other essential papers. After completing the required process, he received the benefits of the scheme and began planting mosambi in his fields.
Through this initiative, Bhoite planted 600 mosambi saplings. The scheme facilitated various activities, from digging pits for planting to applying fertilizers and weeding. He received a subsidy of 40 rupees per sapling, which reduced the costs of establishing the orchard and helped him develop a long-term source of income from his land.
In the past two years, Bhoite’s orchard has produced approximately 3 tons of mosambi annually, providing him with a substantial income. This year, he anticipated a yield of about 5 to 6 tons. However, the pest outbreak and heavy rains caused significant damage to the orchard. Nevertheless, the mosambi harvested before the rains brought him a considerable income.
Bhoite noted that despite the setbacks from weather and pests, the income from the orchard has proven beneficial. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government for the schemes benefiting farmers. He emphasized that the government’s support has enabled him to establish the orchard, which now provides him with a steady income.
He urged other farmers to seek information about such schemes and take advantage of them based on their eligibility. According to him, government assistance, hard work, and making the right choices in farming can play a crucial role in increasing farmers’ incomes. Mosambi cultivation has proven profitable, and other farmers can strengthen their agricultural activities by utilizing available government schemes.
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