A farmer from Bida, Parmeshwar Torat, decided to move away from traditional crops such as pomegranates, aiming for something more original and innovative. This thought prompted him to take a risk by starting to grow avocados in the drought-stricken Bida region.
Choosing and Preparing for the Project
Traditional agriculture was becoming increasingly difficult due to unpredictable rainfall and declining profits. Parmeshwar understood the need to find an alternative to the crops everyone else was growing. A visit to Bengaluru in 2018 introduced him to the Arca Supreme variety of avocado, which seemed suitable for the Bida climate, despite it being an unfamiliar fruit.
Starting and Farming Methods
Before planting, he consulted experts and studied farms to fully understand this crop, wanting to be confident before making large investments. He started with only 50 saplings because there was little knowledge about growing avocados in the region at that time, and no one had tried it before. Despite the uncertainty, he decided to give it a chance.
Every stage of the work was carefully planned. By using drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and organic fertilizers, the young orchard managed to grow despite the dry conditions of Bida. The first avocado fruits appeared after about three years. Initially, people were hesitant because they had never tried this fruit before, so attracting buyers became his next challenge.
Business Growth and Results
As more people tried the fruit, demand began to rise through 'word of mouth'. The crop, which had initially caused skepticism, now found interested buyers. Parmeshwar subsequently switched to natural farming methods, producing healthier harvests and creating an orchard that cares for the soil as much as it does for the yield. Today, his 1.75-acre avocado farm generates about 10 lakh rupees per acre. Furthermore, he supplies grafted saplings, encouraging other farmers to diversify.
