Author: Mahesh Chandra Donia
Publication: India Today
Date: November 8, 2004
Introduction: The fruit made him
famous, but his entrepreneurial spirit has recreated agriculture in Uttaranchal
For three landless sharecroppers
of Dhamora village in Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, life was a hard
grind, but after meeting Sudhir Chadha, it looks promising. They are set
to earn Rs 1 lakh from their 2.6 acre rented papaya farm. Chadha's initiative
has brought them new opportunities.
Chadha's tryst with papayas began
in 1979, when he first grew 40 papaya plants on his father's 45-acre farm
in Kaladhungi near the Jim Corbett tiger reserve. This sparked an interest
in plant breeding-a course trod by few as it demands the expertise of a
scientist and the skill of a seasoned farmer. But Chadha was successful
and in 1986, he developed a dwarf papaya variety.
Christened Farm Selection-1, the
variety's popularity soon spread. Fame followed closely behind, earning
Chadha the sobriquet "Papaya Man" and the 1991 Innovative Farmers Award
from ICAR. "He tests an idea with scientific precision and, after its viability
is proven, goes about propagating it with a missionary zeal," says Professor
Harihar Ram of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture, who taught him plant
breeding. Today, 48- year-old Chadha is one of India's most successful
papaya growers, selling 700 tonnes of the fruit and 300 kg of seeds yearly.
Papaya, however, is not his only
calling card. First to introduce concepts like intercropping and green-house
technology in Uttaranchal, Chadha has also gained expertise in other areas.
He cultivates ornamental flowers, off-season vegetables, Taiwanese sweet
corn, and herbs like safed musali. Respected by agricultural scientists,
he plays a perfect mentor to farmers by providing them input, training
and R&D support.
"Agriculture has to be run like
a manufacturing unit to achieve economy of scale and profitability," says
Chadha. In 1993 he set up Plantiss Agro in partnership with the state government.
It was Uttaranchal's first stride into modern agriculture. No wonder Chief
Secretary R.S. Tolia considers him an architect of modern agriculture in
the region.
Chadha is now motivating households
in the predominantly Dalit village of Dhapla to cultivate custard apples.
"It is through building entrepreneurship among farmers like them that Uttaranchal
can tap the immense potential agriculture holds," envisions Chadha. He
is truly sowing the seeds of self-reliance as he uses his gift to bring
the possibility of success to others.
