Once cited as a backward region of India, Bundelkhand has made a paradigm shift with an innovation that sounds just too good to be true. Amid lockdown and Covid19 pandemic, our citizens have been keeping themselves busy with experiments and one fine example to cite here would be – “Strawberries in Bundelkhand”. Yes, the golden soil of Bundelkhand has now successfully produced exotic fruit of ‘Strawberries’ – one of the finest in the region.
Come to think of it, strawberries have always been associated with the cool and salubrious climate of a place such as the Mahabaleshwar region of Maharashtra- where it’s grown and traded in abundance. Bundelkhand, of all the places, would never have been associated with this delicate fruit. That is, till now.
It was a small experiment that started on the home terrace of a local citizen of Bundelkhand- and is now a 1.5acre farm in the Bhojla region of Jhansi, with over 20,000 blooming and fruit-bearing plants of Strawberries. Using modern agricultural techniques to fight the dry climatic conditions, the drip-irrigation methodology has been used with tissue culture to plant these saplings, which bore fruit in less than six months – ready for market.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the District Magistrate of Jhansi, Mr. Andra Vamsi talks about the Strawberry festival and how he is going to promote the cultivation of the fruit.
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
To celebrate this yield and harvest, it was proposed to celebrate a harvest festival called ‘Strawberry Festival’ in Jhansi from 17th January to 16th February 2021, along with support from the District Administration, Department of Horticulture, and Uttar Pradesh Government. With the proactive support of Honorable CM, Shri Yogi Adityanath, the festival was virtually inaugurated on Sunday, 17th January.
“With a mission to have our educated youth of society get attracted to agriculture and horticulture and to have every home grow ‘Strawberries’, we are looking to encourage the wider community to grow Strawberries in their backyards, lawns, and terrace gardens. We are distributing over 1000 Strawberry saplings throughout this month-long festival” Mr. Vamsi told Indian Masterminds.
The strawberry festival is a month-long ‘stay-at-home’ festival, which will feature more than 100 exotic fresh strawberry dishes made by Jhansi’s leading hotels, restaurants, and home chefs for the wider community. “The locals of Jhansi participating in the festival can also win Gift hampers by participating and sharing their photos and videos on Facebook & Instagram – sitting at the comfort of their home” Mr. Vamsi pointed out.
Today, almost every chef in the city of Jhansi is experimenting with fresh strawberries and serving these to the people. More than five ground events have been organized and more than 600 people have been given live demos and expert information to grow their own strawberry farms. More than 2000 local people have dined-in or ordered takeaway of these strawberry dishes in Jhansi city alone.
PROMOTING FARMERS
Besides, multiple workshops for farmers were hosted in Jhansi, to help them understand the role of modern agriculture and horticulture techniques, and educate and support them with schemes and subsidies offered by the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Government of India at large.
“We discussed cultivation issues with the horticulture department and decided to give various subsidiary components to the farmers who are cultivating crops such as capsicum, garlic, and spices along with strawberries. It is done with respect to organic farming” stated Mr. Vamsi.
The District Administration of Jhansi is taking several steps to promote strawberry cultivation such as training the farmers to enable more earning for them, promoting the spread of sprinkler and drip irrigation facilities, ensuring vocal for the local campaign by identifying local vendors, promoting mixed dry-land farming using the CAFRI & Grassland Research Institute, etc.
“The farmers involved in cultivation take their produce to our local vendors and hoteliers, who in turn bring the product to the customer. This in a way to complete the cycle and ensures our motto of going Vocal for Local” Mr. Vamsi told Indian Masterminds.
Jhansi administration has decided to increase the number of farmers by next year and bring strawberries on the main front. “The plan is to pool 100 farmers this year and give them 100 acres to plant their produce, so they could sell more and therefore earn more,” said Mr. Vamsi.
MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI’S STRAWBERRY FARMING
Former Indian Cricket team captain MS Dhoni began an all-new venture at his 43-acre Ranchi farmhouse, wherein he is farming strawberries on his 10-acre piece of land. He seems to be pretty excited about the cultivation and is unable to stop himself from eating his own ripe produce. In a candid video that he posted on Instagram, he proudly shows his produce and even plucks one strawberry and pops it in his mouth.
It is believed that these fresh strawberries will cater to the local demand in Jharkhand’s capital city. Recent reports also suggest that the ace cricketer will be taking his business to the global platform by exporting the fruit to countries such as the UAE.
