An interesting story - Doctorate conferred on Banavasi farmer for pioneering practices
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May 28, 2009, 10:46:21 PM5/28/09
to Plant Protection India
Doctorate conferred on Banavasi farmer for pioneering practices
Personal marketing is the only way to end exploitation by middlemen
Conferring titles and honours on celebrities has become commonplace,
but conferring a honouris causa (honorary doctorate) on a farmer “is a
landmark for our country’s agriculture,” says Dr. K.V. Peter (mob:
9446513017), former Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University,
Thrissur.
The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, Karnataka,
conferred the doctorate on a farmer, Abdul Rauf Abdulkarim Shaikh, for
his pioneering work in pineapple and pepper by adopting latest
technologies.
“The award emphasises the importance of agriculture and its
contribution to the society,” says Dr. Peter.
Multiple crops
Mr. Shaikh, popularly called as, the “Pineapple king of Banavasi”
cultivates pineapple, banana, papaya and pepper in his 300 acres.
“Pepper is generally a hill crop. For the first time, the farmer
successfully grew the crop in the plains. The creepers started bearing
within six years, against the usual 12 years.
“For pineapples he used drip irrigation to shorten the harvesting
season from 18 to 14 months. Fertiliser for the crops is mainly
applied through the drip irrigation tubes,” observed Dr. Peter.
Harvesting tonnage
“I am harvesting nearly 30 tonnes of pineapples from an acre in 14
months after installing drip irrigation. Previously I harvested about
19-20 tonnes,” says Mr.Shaikh.
Pineapple being a seasonal crop, how was he able to supply fruits all
through the year?
“As the demand for the fruits falls during monsoon, I adopted a
technique called hormonal treatment of plants to ensure availability
of fruits all through the year.”
Popular technique
“He says with a sense of pride, “Farmers in Hawaii and Philippines
practise this technique. I also encourage other farmers to follow this
treatment.
“Thanks to the interest shown by other farmers in my region today,
pineapple is a major commercial crop in Banavasi.”
Unlike the usual system of planting on ridges, the farmer planted the
pineapple seedlings on the surface of the land. “A farmer’s work does
not end with harvesting the crops. He should also try to market it.
“Personal marketing is the only way to end exploitation by middlemen
and get a good price,” stresses Mr.Shaikh.
“I encouraged other pineapple farmers in my region to sell their
fruits with mine. I took the lead and started transporting the fruits
to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Goa.
Secret uncovered
“Since our product was good we are getting regular orders and this has
greatly helped us to secure a market for our produce,” the honoured
farmer explains.
It is the duty of every farmer to ensure that his crop reaches the
market with minimal damage if he wants a good price.
“Through personal experience, I learnt to transport the fruits by
placing them upside down (crown facing downwards), as this gives a
cushioning effect. By this practice we are able to minimise 10-15 per
cent of damage while transport,” he says.
Inter-cultivation
Inter-cultivation of various crops such as coconut, arecanut, cocoa,
pepper, vanilla and coffee is also done in his farm. In addition G-9
banana varieties are also grown.
Karnataka ‘imports’ banana from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Kerala
and Tamil Nadu even when the soil and atmosphere here are ideal for
growing the fruit, according to him.
“I wanted to prove that the crop can grow well in this climate and
personally started cultivating the variety. By personal experience I
realised that banana yield is dependant on the crop spacing.
Reduced spacing
“I reduced the spacing between the plants and started growing 2,640
plants in an acre,” he emphasises. (Usually about 1,200 plants are
planted in an acre with a spacing of 6x6 feet).
The farmer is now involved in setting up a pineapple caning unit in
Banavasi with a capacity to crush 10 tonnes or 6,000 fruits in eight
hours.
For more information readers can contact Mr. Abdul Rauf Abdulkarim
Shaikh, Holemath road, Banavasi, Sirisi taluk, Uttara Kannada,
Karnataka, mobile: 94480-098050, phone: 08384-264242, 264268.
Personal marketing is the only way to end exploitation by middlemen
Conferring titles and honours on celebrities has become commonplace,
but conferring a honouris causa (honorary doctorate) on a farmer “is a
landmark for our country’s agriculture,” says Dr. K.V. Peter (mob:
9446513017), former Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University,
Thrissur.
The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, Karnataka,
conferred the doctorate on a farmer, Abdul Rauf Abdulkarim Shaikh, for
his pioneering work in pineapple and pepper by adopting latest
technologies.
“The award emphasises the importance of agriculture and its
contribution to the society,” says Dr. Peter.
Multiple crops
Mr. Shaikh, popularly called as, the “Pineapple king of Banavasi”
cultivates pineapple, banana, papaya and pepper in his 300 acres.
“Pepper is generally a hill crop. For the first time, the farmer
successfully grew the crop in the plains. The creepers started bearing
within six years, against the usual 12 years.
“For pineapples he used drip irrigation to shorten the harvesting
season from 18 to 14 months. Fertiliser for the crops is mainly
applied through the drip irrigation tubes,” observed Dr. Peter.
Harvesting tonnage
“I am harvesting nearly 30 tonnes of pineapples from an acre in 14
months after installing drip irrigation. Previously I harvested about
19-20 tonnes,” says Mr.Shaikh.
Pineapple being a seasonal crop, how was he able to supply fruits all
through the year?
“As the demand for the fruits falls during monsoon, I adopted a
technique called hormonal treatment of plants to ensure availability
of fruits all through the year.”
Popular technique
“He says with a sense of pride, “Farmers in Hawaii and Philippines
practise this technique. I also encourage other farmers to follow this
treatment.
“Thanks to the interest shown by other farmers in my region today,
pineapple is a major commercial crop in Banavasi.”
Unlike the usual system of planting on ridges, the farmer planted the
pineapple seedlings on the surface of the land. “A farmer’s work does
not end with harvesting the crops. He should also try to market it.
“Personal marketing is the only way to end exploitation by middlemen
and get a good price,” stresses Mr.Shaikh.
“I encouraged other pineapple farmers in my region to sell their
fruits with mine. I took the lead and started transporting the fruits
to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Goa.
Secret uncovered
“Since our product was good we are getting regular orders and this has
greatly helped us to secure a market for our produce,” the honoured
farmer explains.
It is the duty of every farmer to ensure that his crop reaches the
market with minimal damage if he wants a good price.
“Through personal experience, I learnt to transport the fruits by
placing them upside down (crown facing downwards), as this gives a
cushioning effect. By this practice we are able to minimise 10-15 per
cent of damage while transport,” he says.
Inter-cultivation
Inter-cultivation of various crops such as coconut, arecanut, cocoa,
pepper, vanilla and coffee is also done in his farm. In addition G-9
banana varieties are also grown.
Karnataka ‘imports’ banana from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Kerala
and Tamil Nadu even when the soil and atmosphere here are ideal for
growing the fruit, according to him.
“I wanted to prove that the crop can grow well in this climate and
personally started cultivating the variety. By personal experience I
realised that banana yield is dependant on the crop spacing.
Reduced spacing
“I reduced the spacing between the plants and started growing 2,640
plants in an acre,” he emphasises. (Usually about 1,200 plants are
planted in an acre with a spacing of 6x6 feet).
The farmer is now involved in setting up a pineapple caning unit in
Banavasi with a capacity to crush 10 tonnes or 6,000 fruits in eight
hours.
For more information readers can contact Mr. Abdul Rauf Abdulkarim
Shaikh, Holemath road, Banavasi, Sirisi taluk, Uttara Kannada,
Karnataka, mobile: 94480-098050, phone: 08384-264242, 264268.
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