THEME OF INNOVATION
Relay Cultivation and Organic Farming

Focus AREA
Cultivation Practices

DETAILS OF INNOVATOR

Name	Mahendra Bhai Goti
Experience	12 years
Region of operation	Bhavnagar
Turnover	Rs. 1.5 lakh per anum
Volume	3 tons per year
No. of employees	3
Contact details	Taluka Talaja, At Post Anida, District Bhavnagar
Phone	09879639737
Email	NA

BUSINESS MODEL
Provides free consultation. Sells the cotton at about Rs. 1200–1300 per Quintal at the local APMC market. Receives subsidy on Drip Irrigation through Govt. of Gujarat.

INNOVATION DETAILS
The farmer has developed a technique of relay farming. In this technique two or more crops of different durations are cultivated in the same field. When crop of shorter duration is harvested second vegetable gets better space to grow. When second vegetable enters fruiting phase, a third crop is planted. He has been cultivating cotton and some vegetable crops on his farm land. He also practices crop rotation which involves planting of different crops sequentially across seasons. The entire farming involves organic techniques (no chemical fertilizers) and inter-cropping (planting of a different crop in the space between planting lines of major crop) in order to have increased overall production at all times

IMPACT OF INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
About Rs. 2500–3500 increase in profit per acre with 50% reduction in labor requirement. There has been an increase in productivity by about 2 Quintal per Acre with 2–3 hours being also saved on a day’s effort. Drip irrigation results in water saving by 80% and the soil quality have also increased due to organic farming.

RECOGNITION/AWARDS
. Krushi Rushi Award (Junagarh University)

ISSUES
Public awareness about organic farming is a problem in this technique becoming popular. Also in need of loan for tractor purchase.

THEME OF INNOVATION
Improving Pomegranate Production (Fertigation and Crop Protection Techniques)

Focus AREA
Cultivation Practices

DETAILS OF INNOVATOR

Name	Mr. Dilip Ahirekar
Experience	18 years
Region of operation	Maharashtra
Turnover	2.5 crore per annum
Volume	200 tons per annum
No. of employees	15–20
Contact details	Monika Gardens, B-3, Laxmi Nagar, Phaltan
Phone	09822756192
Email	NA

BUSINESS MODEL
Mr Dilip Ahirekar has 35 acres of land in which he grows pomegranate and sugarcane. He earns maximum profits through production of pomegranate. He also gives free consultation to farmers on how to increase the productivity of the farm.

INNOVATION DETAILS
The farmer has developed a set of practices for pomegranate production including fertigation and crop protection. He has developed a mixture of fertilizer and certain techniques of application for it. Usually the pomegranate farmers gives 3–4 doses of fertilizers per year and in that only one dose is comprised of all essential nutrients. Instead of this, the farmer gives 5 doses every year. Each dose of this mixture comprises of NPK, Secondary nutrients, Micro nutrients mixed with neem powder.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
Mr. Ahirekar has become the benchmark for highest productivity (10 tons per acre vs Indian average of 4.5 tons per acre) and quality (90% exportable A category) for pomegranate production. He has managed to get fruits which weigh over 1 kg per fruit and fetches 20% premium compared to any other farmer. His earnings are Rs. 7 lakh per Acre per Annum. All his fruits are picked up exporters from his farm where proper bidding takes place.

RECOGNITION/AWARDS
None

ISSUES
There is an issue with the availability of raw materials as well as labourers.

THEME OF INNOVATION
Organic Farming in Drought Prone Areas

Focus AREA
Cultivation Practices

DETAILS OF INNOVATOR

Name	Patil Vishwasrao Anandrao
Experience	33 years
Region of operation	Maharashtra
Turnover	Rs. 8 lakh
Volume	Not disclosed
No. of employees	4
Contact details	Post Lohara, Taluka Pachora, District Jalgaon, Maharashtra
Phone	02596 272240, 0257 2233325, 09763475764
Email	NA

BUSINESS MODEL
The farmer grows and sells his produce directly into an organic products shop in Jalgaon. He also sells the sugarcane in various districts of Maharashtra. He provides free consultation too to the farmers about this method.

INNOVATION DETAILS
The innovator is in organic farming and is practicing crop rotation, Inter/Mixed cropping patterns, Trap cropping for Insect and Disease management, Mulching, Integrated nutrient management, Green Manuring, and use of PSB, Rhizobium, Azotobactor etc. He has developed his own seed banks, evolved ITKs, and used Vermi Compost and earth worms. The innovator is also involved sheep and goat penning and recycling of agro bio mass through composting.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
He has not only managed to maintain the crop yields, but also eventually increase it. This, after reducing the cost of production by about 40% (the cost of chemical fertilizers and pesticides was almost nil). Results of organic practices for Sugarcane and Mosambi were especially outstanding in terms of both - yield as well as quality. His harvest also attracted a higher market price. His farm has been recognised as an “organic farm” and has been certified by Eco-cert through Nisarg Sheti Mandal, Jamner. This mandal exports organic jaggery to Europe. He has also exported cotton to Japan. A large number of farmers from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and government officials visit this farm annually. This farm has proved that organic farming works for all crops and works better than conventional farming in drought prone areas. This method gives high profit where the investments are low. It reduces the irrigation time by 50% and helps to save water

RECOGNITION/AWARDS
. Council Member of Bharat Krushak Samaj, New Delhi

. Member of Extension Council of Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri (M.S.) from 2001 to 2005

. Krishi Bhushan Award & Gold Medal – 1997

. M.G. Ranga Award from ICAR 2006

. PadmaShri Dr. Appasaheb Pawar Agri Technology Award

ISSUES
The awareness of organic farming among farmers is not much. The innovator is also facing issues to get subsidy for drip water tank

THEME OF INNOVATION
‘Green Garden’ - Total Project Development & Management for Cost Effective Organic Farming

Focus AREA
Cultivation Practices

DETAILS OF INNOVATOR

Name	Mr. Nitin Bhore
Experience	25 years
Region of operation	Pune
Turnover	Rs. 75 lakh
Volume	100 acres
No. of employees	15–20
Contact details	54, Shri Shivaji Housing Society, Senapati Bapat Marg, Pune - 411016
Phone	09822604275
Email	bhorenitin@rediffmail.com

BUSINESS MODEL
As a consultant, he handles various private and government projects for cost-effective organic farming in India.

INNOVATION DETAILS
Mr. Bhore developed a capability to bring significant cost efficiency and develop market linkages for organic farming,and is now currently a consultant for organic farming.

This cost efficiency is a critical advantage especially in the view of relatively low yields witnessed in organic farming techniques vis-à-vis chemical inputs based farming. Before starting off as a consultant, he undertook organic farming himself for three years in an attempt to finetune the processes and costs, and marketing of the products. He cultivated select high yielding crop varieties under drip irrigation system on raised beds with mulch inter-crop on 100 acres of land in Pune district using the best organic farming practices.

Across the three years, these included 20 Indian vegetables, 15 exotic vegetables, 25 fruits, 7 spices, 4 oilseed and some other crops. He generated revenue of Rs. 30 lakh for the first year. For the second year, he tried other crops and different techniques – generating revenue of Rs. 56 lakh. For the third year, the revenue grew further to Rs. 75 lakh. Mr. Bhore not only concentrated on the best organic farming practices but also established the market linkages simultaneously in order to meet the demand of organic commodities in the market.

After this successful experience, he started his own business as a consultant.

The important activities carried out in such projects include land development and plotting for better mobilization, mechanization of agriculture practices and inputs, scheduling of activities and sourcing from agencies for genuine organic products such as seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, micronutrients, bio-fertilizers, equipments and machinery. He has consulted various progressive farmers, farm house owners, NGOs and trusts for various aspects of organic farming.

He has also worked in association with several units on planning, cultivation and procurement of the raw material in terms of annual supply, quantity, quality and right variety.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
Mr. Bhore’s suggested procedures can reduce the production cost by 30% and preserve the soil by reducing the soil erosion. Besides this, he has also been involved in rural community development. He has conducted various awareness programmes on ‘multiple project opportunities’ focusing on organic farming with an aim to improve the economic conditions of the farmers groups.

RECOGNITION/AWARDS
None

ISSUES
According to Mr. Bhore, it is essential to make people aware of the concepts of and benefits due to organic farming at the both forward and backward linkages. The consumers need to understand the produce from organic farming do not contain any preservatives or harmful chemical and thus, should give priority to buy them. Similarly, the farm producers need to adopt such practices which will not only tap the organic food market but also help them in preserving the soil quality and high productivity. Since organic farming benefits gradually, farmers need to be patient for the results to show those benefits. There is a big challenge to get genuine and certified organic farm inputs in the market, the lack of which sometimes lead to demoralization of the farmers

THEME OF INNOVATION
Horticulture Farming on Hilly Terrain

Focus AREA
Cultivation Practices

DETAILS OF INNOVATOR

Name	Arun Gavit
Experience	14 years
Region of operation	Thane
Turnover	Not disclosed
Volume	7.75 acres
No. of employees	Not disclosed
Contact details	Vanvasi, AP Nahale Budruk, Taluka Jawahar, District Thane, Maharashtra
Phone	09225862368
Email	NA

BUSINESS MODEL
His primary source of income is from mango trees, pineapple, flowers, guava, cashew, banana, vegetables and rice. Last year total income from all these sources was Rs. 3.12 lakh. He has got 100% subsidy on diesel engine, electric motor and pipes. On drip irrigation equipment, he has received 50% subsidy.

INNOVATION DETAILS
On hilly areas soil cover is very thin. Earlier practice here has been to cultivate Varai (an indigenous fine-grained rice variety) and other rice crops.

However due to slopes of the hilly terrain, the productivity was very less. In fact, the yield only sufficed for the farmer’s family consumption. With this leading to poverty, many of them migrated to the cities leaving behind their farming tradition.

Mr. Gavit realized that dependence on the traditional crops of rice would not solve the problem. Consequently, he collected information about various crops that can be traditionally grown or adapted in hilly regions. Flowers and nurseries became one of the main sustainable crops while there was also seasonal income from the fruit trees. Various mango varieties like Kesar, Hapus, Rajapuri, Totapuri, Neelam, Payari Malgao were planted on the slopes. The seeds for these varieties were also being prepared in the nurseries. Similarly, he planted 150 plants of Vengurla, 4 varieties of cashew, 30 local varieties of Guava, 30 Jambul trees of Bardoli variety.

Vegetables are planted in summer and winter while rice is grown in rainy season.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
Seeing the success another 43 farmers also have adopted the farming practice thereby reducing migration considerably.

RECOGNITION/AWARDS
. Awarded by BAIF

ISSUES
Need good market for products. Traders taking produce directly from farms are giving a very low price for the produce. On the other hand, due to the still weak financial position of most of the farmers, they can’t afford to put efforts in reaching out to distant markets.

THEME OF INNOVATION
Cold Water Rice Processing

Focus AREA
Crop Processing

DETAILS OF INNOVATOR

Name	V. P. Gangal
Experience	20 years
Region of operation	Raigad District
Turnover	Not Disclosed
Volume	225 quintals per day
No. of employees	5
Contact details	At Post Janbhivali, Taluka Karjat, District Raigad
Phone	02148 226604
Email	NA

BUSINESS MODEL
Raw rice is engrossed from farmers at the cost of Rs. 900 per quintal and is processed inside the plant at a cost Rs. 125 per quintal. 300 quintal of rice is processed everyday and 20 to 30% weight reduction from raw rice is expected. Ratna is the major variety, which is being processed. The processed rice is sold at door step at the cost of Rs. 1600 per quintal.

INNOVATION DETAILS
Instead of boiling the raw rice with steam as general practice, in this procedure the rice is soaked in water in a vessel having capacity of 300 quintal per day for about 6 hour.

After that the rice is kept on ground for next 6 hours to remove the excess water, and then is sent to the furness for roasting.

The final moisture in the raw rice after roasting is examined by the experienced worker, and after ensuring the correct moisture and temperature rice is sent to the dehusking machine and further to 2 rice polishing mills.

Most of the movement of raw rice is mechanized by conveyer belt. Final rice have 20% extra oil content and negligible broken grains of rice. Finally the polished rice is filled in 50 kg sacks and sold.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY
Mechanization of the process saves 50% of labour. Cold water soaking instead of steam causes 50% saving in electricity. 30 village farmers are being benefited by this process plant.

RECOGNITION/AWARDS
. Vasantrao Naik pratishthan award for the year 1995

. Star Maza TV interview

ISSUES
Electricity load shading is a major problem. Also labour working is not very much reliable because of frequent absentees. In such case replacement is very difficult.