Colombo red gram yields more profits for this Nalgonda farmer

'One acre-One crop-One lakh revenue' concept of young farmer from Chalmeda inspires many to follow suit

Nalgonda: By cultivating Colombo red gram in his four acres of land at Chalmeda of Munugode in Nalgonda district, a young farmer Nellikanti Raghavendar has been earning more than he would with paddy and cotton cultivation for the last four years, which has prompted 100 other farmers to follow suit. He is earning Rs 40,000 per acre after the expenditures that stood as an inspiration to several farmers in the area.

After completing his graduation, Raghavendar has decided to take up cultivation in four acres of land at Chalmeda instead of searching for a job. He has personally witnessed farmers like his father incurring losses by taking up the cultivation of paddy and cotton in traditional methods. Hence, he has come out with a concept of “one acre-one crop-one lakh rupees income”. As a part of it, he has taken up the cultivation of Colombo red gram in his four acres of land.

Two yields a year with inter-crops
Speaking to Telangana Today, Raghavendar said that he got Colombo red gram seeds from Sri Lanka through a friend. Colombo red gram plants would give yield twice in a year for six years. There is no need for sowing of the seeds for each crop season. He took up the cultivation of verities of Colombo red gram-146, 147, 156 and 282. Raghavendar said he took up cultivation of onions as inter-crop in Colombo red gram fields. With this, he would achieve the target of Rs one lakh income for an acre, he added.

Going places
He said that nearly 100 farmers from different places in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State were getting Colombo red gram seeds from him and cultivating the crop in 500 acres.

Demand in market
He said that red gram would have a good demand in the market and farmers would get a good price for the crop. Moreover, the investment required for the cultivation of Colombo red gram was less compared to paddy and cotton. He also developed a special weeder to use in the Colombo red gram fields.

Another farmer K Chandraiah, who is also cultivating Colombo red gram inspired by the young farmer, said that his income through agriculture was significantly increased after taking up cultivation of Colombo red gram.