Two young enterprising farmers in Belagavi district, India, have found a novel use for WhatsApp — marketing their produce. The two organic farmers, Santhosh Kittur from Kadabi village and Abhijit Kamath from Murgod village, created a WhatsApp group to sell their chemical free produce. They give regular updates on their farms activities and send photos to group members, as well as inviting interested consumers to their visit them: and their initiative is being positively received.
Santhosh, who has a diploma in electronics, took to farming in his seven-acre farm six years ago. Abhijit, an undergraduate, has been cultivating diverse crops in his 12 acres farm for the last 14 years. The objective of making agriculture sustainable brought them together and they decided to grow short-term crops along with main crops and sell them directly. They decided to grow vegetables in their banana plot (about two acres each) individually.
Thus, between two rows of banana, three rows of veggies like ridge gourd, bitter gourd, cucumber, cluster beans, beans, cabbage, tomato, green chillies, capsicum, onions and garlic took form, as well as greens growing on bunds (a sort of embankment).
Each grew different varieties to ensure a good range of produce. The set up is such that they harvest twice a week. Crop rotation and organic inputs maintain soil and crop health. Once they had sufficient produce for sale, they created a WhatsApp group called ‘chemical-free produce’ for the residents of Gokak town in August 2015. Now, there are around 80 members in the group and the two farmers sell their produce every Thursday and Sunday.
They inform the group about available produce the day before and take orders which they pack separately and if required, provide home delivery.
Recognising their efforts, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad has honoured them with ‘Outstanding Young Farmer’ award.
Source: deccanherald.com