In the quaint village of Daulatpur in the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, there resides a primary school teacher with an exceptional tale. Amarendra Pratap Singh, for the past decade, has diligently imparted knowledge to young minds. But beneath his teacher’s persona, lies the heart of a farmer.
A Dual Desire:
While Amarendra’s primary occupation remained teaching, he harbored a growing inclination towards farming. Balancing his professional duties, he initiated part-time agricultural pursuits.
Modern Methods:
Not one to follow the trodden path, Amarendra delved deep into the nuances of modern farming. He veered away from conventional farming methods, focusing instead on cultivating a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Diverse Roles:
Splitting his time between teaching at a government primary school and tending to his fields, Amarendra’s annual revenue from his green venture now surpasses his teaching salary, fetching him a remarkable Rs 30 lakh annually.
Sharing the Wisdom:
With Barabanki situated merely an hour from the bustling city of Lucknow, Amarendra not only utilizes modern farming techniques but is passionate about imparting his newfound agricultural knowledge to interested learners.
The Beginnings:
Although he hails from a teaching background with his family based in Lucknow, Amarendra’s agricultural inclination took root in 2014. Utilizing school holidays, he began farming on his family’s vast 30-acre land.
Embracing Technology:
The digital age came to his aid as Amarendra turned to YouTube and online tutorials for guidance. Initially, he set his sights on cultivating bananas, allocating an acre of land for this purpose.
Challenges and Choices:
He noticed that most farmers in his vicinity predominantly grew sugarcane, grains, and wheat. The returns on these crops were modest and often not commensurate with the effort and time invested.
Rethinking Crops:
Sugarcane cultivation, for instance, demanded a two-year waiting period before realizing any profit. Such extended durations posed financial strains, prompting Amarendra to consider banana cultivation as a lucrative alternative.
Fruitful Endeavors:
Opting for fruit cultivation proved to be a game-changer for Amarendra. His experimentation with bananas paved the way for more ventures.
Expanding Horizons:
Post his initial success with bananas, he diversified further. He introduced turmeric, ginger, and cauliflower to his fields. While ginger yielded modest returns, turmeric proved to be a golden crop, both literally and figuratively, bolstering his earnings significantly.
Amarendra’s journey from a schoolteacher to a successful farmer is a testament to the fact that with passion, determination, and the right knowledge, one can transcend traditional boundaries and achieve unparalleled success.