Farmer Appasaheba Kurabette, residing in the outskirts of Sadalaga town, has achieved an annual income of ₹12 lakh through various agricultural experiments on his 3-acre land. He is recognized as an exemplary farmer in the region.
Despite having only completed sixth grade, Appasaheba has conducted experiments in cultivating a variety of crops such as sugarcane, watermelon, and chillies, even during periods of drought. Amidst severe drought conditions, he managed to cultivate 30 tons of watermelons using drip irrigation on a 3-acre plot, thereby reducing expenses and generating earnings exceeding ₹3 lakh. Successfully grown within three and a half months using drip irrigation from a well, the watermelons thrived despite the challenging conditions of the drought.
Despite owning 10 acres of land, the decline in groundwater levels from the well and tube well due to insufficient rainfall prompted Appasaheba to limit watermelon cultivation to just 3 acres. During the monsoon season, the remaining 7 acres were utilized for cultivating vegetables, corn, sugarcane, maize, and wheat. Subsequently, Appasaheba allocated a 3-acre plot for experimental purposes. In November, watermelons were planted, and the field was covered with plastic to prevent weed growth. Drip irrigation was used to supply well water, and chemicals were sprayed twice. The expenditure incurred for watermelon cultivation amounted to ₹35,000 per acre. The initial harvest yielded 20 tonnes, which were sold at ₹14,500 per tonne. Prior to watermelon cultivation, the land was used for sugarcane cultivation, yielding 70 tonnes per acre and generating an income of ₹6.30 lakh at ₹3,000 per tonne. After transporting the sugarcane to the sugar factory, the land was prepared for watermelon cultivation. Consequently, Appasaheba earned a total annual income of ₹11.90 lakh, comprising ₹6.90 lakh from sugarcane, ₹3 lakh from watermelons, and ₹2 lakh from chillies.
