In Barasat, where
urban development and farmland
coexist, a local farmer shows how innovation can
revive the future of small-scale agriculture.
Dinesh Mondol, age 47, has been farming for over two decades in the North
24 Parganas district. Once solely dependent
on paddy cultivation, Mondol
faced years of uncertainty due to erratic rainfall, water shortages, and
rising input costs. But instead
of giving up, Mondol adapted to new agricultural practices. “We can’t rely on old methods anymore. The climate has changed, so we should adopt new methods,”
he said. In 2022, he introduced low-cost drip
irrigation to his vegetable plots and began using natural
compost made from cow dung and organic waste. This led to improved yields and
reduced dependency on costly chemical fertilizers.
During the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when transport and middlemen were unavailable, Mondol took a bold step by selling
vegetables directly to local families via WhatsApp. The initiative kept his farm afloat and also allowed him to build a loyal customer base. People's trust, coupled with his hard work, elevated his goodwill, fame, and income. In 2022, Dinesh began experimenting with plastic mulching and drip irrigation. This allowed him to conserve water and
extend the growing season for off-season crops like watermelon
and chili. The results were promising—his yield improved, and so did his income.
Sayan Deb Biswas interacting with the farmer Dinesh Mondal
Today, Mondol is a mentor to young farmers in the Barasat
region, encouraging them to view agriculture as a business rather
than a last resort. He is currently exploring mushroom
farming and other high-value crops. “Farming isn’t a
dead-end job; it’s a smart career choice,” he reiterated.
Dinesh’s son is a graduate in agriculture and is assisting his father in carrying out low-cost ways of farming in which the yield can be multiplied. The business venture established by Dinesh is taking
off with his consumer base expanding daily, and Dinesh continues to be a role model to
all those small-scale farmers. Dinesh, an ordinary farmer, is doing wonders by
utilizing technology and upgrading his standard of living while contributing to society, educating young farmers, including his
son, about the various ways to cultivate
crops without wasting
too many resources. Dinesh has become a role model for many farmers as he shows that creativity and efforts towards the right cause can create wonders. As India takes steps towards modernizing agriculture, innovators like Dinesh Mondol show that real change starts
at the farm level — with
courage, creativity, and a smartphone.
By Sayan Deb Biswas
B.Sc. Agriculture, Semester 2
School of Agriculture
Adamas University
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