PANAJI
A progressive farmer from Parsem, Shriram Jairam Salgaonkar has experimented in taking crops like turmeric and ginger in the barren land beside his home and in the cashew plantation.
"The crops at the plantation have to be saved from wild animals and I had to take various precautions to control the entry of animals in the field." This year, Salgaonkar has planted 80 Kilo turmeric plants, and one plant yields a minimum of half kg turmeric, he explains.
The turmeric plants are sprayed with eco-friendly and natural pesticides like gomutra and cow dung, to protect the plants and also to keep the yield organic.
Instead of waiting to get a job, Salgaonkar decided to turn to farming and utilised the vacant land belonging to him to take simple crops to earn rich dividends.
"Turmeric is useful in many ways, apart from its usage in the kitchen. It heals the wounds, cleanses the blood and skin tone, increases immunity, and controls diabetes, heart diseases, brain illnesses and cancer. It is a prime crop in spice farming in India, and a cash crop too," says the farmer.
