Satyendra Verma is a strawberry farmer from Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. In the early stages, he faced challenges in selling the produce and had to educate traders about the benefits of strawberries. Presently, he earns Rs 5 lakh per acre annually.
Barabanki: Satyendra Verma was the first farmer in Barabanki district who began the cultivation of strawberries. In this district of Uttar Pradesh, cultivating strawberries was not considered a common occupation for farmers and lack of knowledge was a contributing factor. In the early stages, Satyendra Verma faced challenges in selling the produce and had to educate traders about the benefits of strawberries. Presently, he earns Rs 5 lakh per acre annually. Observing his success, other farmers have also ventured into strawberry cultivation.
Who is Satyendra Verma?
Satyendra Verma is a resident of Barbasauli village of Barabanki. His desire to not pursue a private job led him to venture into farming. During a trip to Himachal Pradesh, he discovered strawberry cultivation and brought back plants to grow them in his fields. He started the cultivation some 14 years ago on his one acre of land. Today, he has expanded his strawberry farming to over 5 acres.
Gaining knowledge
Satyendra shares that he did not know anything about strawberry farming before he actually ventured into the occupation. Realizing the potential in this venture, he gathered information from a plant seller who assured him that those plants could thrive anywhere. What boosted Satyendra’s confidence was the fact that within the first year of cultivation, he began making profits.
Overcoming challenges
In the early years, Satyendra faced the challenge of finding traders for his produce. At the time, there was a limited market for selling strawberries. He took the initiative of personally approaching shopkeepers and fruit traders, educating them about the health benefits of the fruit. As the demand for strawberries increased within the local market, the sales doubled. Satyendra shares that for the first time, he sold ten percent of his produce making Rs 5000 from the sales. From that point onwards, there was no looking back.
The sales and costs
The cultivation of strawberries on one acre incurs an approximate cost of Rs 7 lakh, which includes expenses for plants that can amount to Rs 2.5 lakh. Moreover, the costs for labour and farming materials are also added in. According to Satyendra Verma, the investment in strawberry farming does not pose a risk. He mentions that once he successfully sold a one-acre strawberry crop for Rs 20 to 21 lakh. He saved more than Rs 5 lakh per acre then.
Favourable season
The strawberries are typically planted between 15 September to 5 October. According to Satyendra Verma, both the quality and quantity of crop are dependent on rainfall. Each plant yields approximately 700 to 800 grams of strawberries. In the early days, when there was no access to the internet, Satyendra connected with fellow farmers to learn more about farming. He believes that now with easy access to information through internet, anyone can learn how to cultivate strawberries.
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