Innovation brings success to Sathiala farmers

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 21

Two farmers of Sathiala village have come up with a direct marketing concept, under which commuters can buy fresh vegetables and pulses on their farm on Sathiala–Bal Kalan Road. The business, titled Jatt Da Desi Sauda, with the help of the Agriculture Department, is getting popular among residents. They use minimum recommended green label pesticides and use manure, instead of chemical fertilisers. Now, they are witnessing a significant increase in their income.

Gurbinder Singh and Baljeet Singh are siblings from Sathiala village. They used to sow vegetables and pulses by adopting traditional practices. They used to work hard on their ancestral land but never got a sound income. They joined a training camp organized by Punjab Agricultural University where Dr Ramandeep Singh, agricultural marketing expert, advised them to initiate the ‘on farm direct marketing’ for good earning.

Gurbinder says, “We have land along the link road. But we were not aware of the potential of the on-farm-marketing. We installed a small stall last year in our field along the road and got a good response.”

According to Satwinderbir Singh, Agriculture Development Officer, Baba Bakala, farmers often hesitate to make such efforts. “But Gurbinder and Baljit implemented the marketing skills, which they get from our training camps. They are members of our Young Farmers’ Club, Sathiala and innovative. They have established a marketing model in the area and earned good reputation.”

Baljit Singh said, “We do not use harmful pesticides on the vegetables and use manure. The government employees such as teachers and health workers, who visit our area, are routine customers. We have increased the area under vegetables and pulses to meet the demand of people this year. The customers get fresh and quality farm products on the market rates. We earn good margin as now there is no middle man between farmer and customers. The other farmers should also adopt such market techniques.”