Retd. Colonel Scripts Success Story
Mohit Garg
Retired army officer Colonel P.C. Rana has become a source of inspiration for the farmers in Himachal. The ex-serviceman has been producing turmeric in the farms from last four years after he retired from the service. He hails from Soran village of Jawalamukhi where the veteran with his fellow farmers is scaling new heights in the field. About 300 farmers are associated with him primarily from Mandi, Kangra, Bilaspur and Chamba districts. At present, turmeric is being produced by the retired officer in 80 kanals of land. The produce has crossed the boundaries of the state reaching cities of Delhi, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad.
Col. P.C. Rana ((Retd) while talking to Himachal This Week discussed in detail his journey from an army officer to a farmer. ”We had appropriate land for the plan conceived. I visited Karnataka for turmeric on advice of my friend. I brought 16 quintals turmeric and cultivated in my farms. The outcome was fruitful and surprising too for me,” he added. Rana succeded to achieve 22 tonne of yield in his first initiative.
It also came to the fore that traditional turmeric usually takes three years to grow but turmeric that he produces takes only seven months to grow and ripe. The traditional turmeric seed yields three kilograms of produce from one kilogram seed, but turmeric grown by Rana gives seven kilogram of produce. The curcumin oil percentage in ordinary turmeric is mere one percent whereas its content in turmeric grown by Rana is 5.2%. This is why turmeric variety grown by him is in great demand.
Inspiration For Farmers
Colonel Rana’s success story has inspired other farmers of the state to amble on his lines. He said despite several hurdles there are vast opportunities in agriculture in the region. Farmers should not move to cities in search of jobs of mere Rs. 5000- Rs. 8000. There is pride, there is dignity and there is money as well in our agriculture, he added.
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