Krishi Jagran Hosts ‘Rootin' for Radish’- Celebration of the Unpopular Nutrition Powerhouse

Krishi Jagran, in collaboration with Mahindra Tractors, hosted the "Rootin' for Radish" event at the Krishi Jagran office in New Delhi today. The one-day event, a part of Krishi Jagran's initiative 'Millionaire Farmer of India', brought together a distinguished panel of experts and stakeholders from various sectors of the agricultural industry. The program focused on the HY Radish X-35 variety powered by Somani Seedz, which offers enhanced nutritional value, and other unique features, underscoring the importance of seed technology in improving radish productivity.

KJ Tradition: Green Welcome to Guests

The event commenced with the traditional felicitation of guests with plants, a gesture symbolizing the enduring partnership between Krishi Jagran and the agricultural community. Following the felicitation, attendees were treated to a short film chronicling Krishi Jagran's journey from its inception to its current standing as a leading voice in agricultural advocacy. The film highlighted Krishi Jagran's various projects over the years, including the highly acclaimed "Farmer the Journalist" and "Farmer the Brand Organic" initiatives.

A key highlight of the short film was the celebration of the success of the 'Millionaire Farmer of India Awards' 2023, an initiative aimed at recognizing and honoring progressive farmers across the nation. The awards, conceived by Krishi Jagran, underscore the important role played by farmers in ensuring food security and promoting innovation in agriculture.

MC Dominic, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Krishi Jagran, extended a warm welcome to all attendees, emphasizing the significance of radish as a powerhouse of nutrition. He expressed his enthusiasm for the insightful discussions and said, “The idea sparked when we noticed millets gaining traction after the PM's endorsement. We felt compelled, as representatives of the farming community, to emphasize something both easy to cultivate and abundant. Radish farming ensures minimal losses; undervalued products often hold immense benefits. Consider the success story of jackfruit cultivation in Kerala: once overlooked, strategic marketing transformed it from a commoner's fruit to a premium commodity."

Millionaire Farmer of India Awards 2024

Building upon the momentum of the previous edition, the spotlight shifted to the upcoming Millionaire Farmer of India Awards 2024, sponsored by Mahindra Tractors. These awards aim to celebrate excellence and innovation in agriculture, with a special focus on horticulture farming. 

One of the notable categories is the Millionaire Horticulture Farmer of India (Vegetables), where farmers cultivating different vegetables will be felicitated including radishes. The Millionaire Horticulture Farmer of India (Vegetables)- Radish is powered by Somani Seedz aiming to celebrate progressive millionaire farmers bringing innovation to radish cultivation.

Rootin' for Radish- A Forum for Discussions

The event featured discussions on various topics related to radish farming, including ‘Radish Farming: A Pathway to Prosperity’, ‘Radish Revolution: A Powerhouse of Health’, ‘The Future of Radish: Value Addition Strategies’, ‘The Role of Seed Technology: Improving Radish Productivity’ and ‘Radish Export: Opportunities’.

Eminent speakers from diverse backgrounds, including agricultural experts, policymakers, and industry leaders, shared their expertise and insights during these discussions.

Among the distinguished speakers were Kamal Somani, Managing Director of Somani Kanak Seedz; Dr. HP Singh, Founder and Chairman of CHAI; Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Commissioner of Horticulture; and Dr. Sudhakar Pandey, Additional Director General of Horticulture, Dr. BS Tomar, HoD, Veg Sciences, IARI, Dr. Kamal Pant, Director IHM, PUSA, Dr. Nutan Kaushik, DG, Food and Agriculture Foundation, Amity University; Dr. PK Pant, COO, Krishi Jagran; Nirdesh Kumar Varman, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh; Tarachand Kushwaha, Agra, UP and Sandeep Saini, Farmer, Hapur, UP.

Edited excerpts from the discussions are:

Dr BS Tomar, HOD, Veg Sciences, IARI: "Radishes are not just white but also available in multiple varieties like red radish, purple radish, tropical radish. But when we talk about round-year crop development, and then we must carefully craft the crops in a way that diversity is balanced and maintained in our plate."

Dr. VV Sadamate, Former Advisor Agriculture, Government of India: "Dissemination of scientific information about radish is really important and I believe there are steps involved to it. First, farmers should be convinced by themselves to listen to the scientists and trust them for advice and suggestions. Also, if KVK, Universities, and Institutions can provide demonstrations helping in imparting information to the last mile. Lastly, exposure visits to the farms where radishes are thriving and becoming profitable can help motivate other farmers to adopt the crop."

Sandeep Saini, Farmer, Hapur, UP: "My goal is to send messages to marginal farmers who can sow crops with quick turnaround time and higher revenue. My first harvest was in 28 days, and I can get 2-3 harvests in a season, helping me gain more income in the past 10 years, I hope this sends the message to all farmer and motivate them to adopt radish as their means of generating revenue."

Nirdesh Kumar Varman, Farmer, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh: "I grow radish in 2-acre land. I get 25 tons of output in 1 acre. I believe market prices do not matter if we have a good crop harvest; I can make more profits."

Nutrition Revolution by Krishi Jagran

The concept note titled "Rootin' for Radish" highlighted the importance of raising awareness about underappreciated horticulture crops like radish and their potential to contribute to nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. The initiative, spearheaded by MC Dominic, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Krishi Jagran, aims to empower consumers, support farmers, bridge the gap in access to nutritious food, and create business opportunities for all stakeholders.

Through collaborative efforts and multi-stakeholder engagement, Krishi Jagran seeks to ignite a nutritional revolution by promoting the consumption and cultivation of neglected fruits and vegetables. Drawing inspiration from the success of initiatives like the International Year of Millets, Krishi Jagran aims to replicate similar transformations for other underutilized crops, starting with the radish.

Kamal Somani, Managing Director of Somani Kanak Seedz, shed light on the transformative potential of radish cultivation. Once a neglected crop by both farmers and giant companies, radish emerges as a beacon of hope, especially for marginal farmers with one to two acres of land. "With a rapid maturation period of 25-30 days and a swift cultivation cycle of 40 days from sowing to harvesting, radish offers a quick turnaround, clearing the land for new crops efficiently. Despite preferences for crops like spinach and coriander, the dynamic market landscape and slow maturity period of other varieties necessitate a closer look at radish farming," he said.

Highlighting the crucial role of government support, Somani emphasizes the need for handholding in processing to ensure direct financial gains for farmers. Just like millet, radish stands to benefit from governmental backing and intervention, paving the way for a thriving agricultural sector."

Dr. HP Singh, Founder & Chairman, CHAI: "Nothing is too minuscule; even a small particle can do wonders. But we need to make a balance. If all the farmers start sowing radish, the market dynamics will engulf farmers in low market prices. Radish is an easy crop, and yes, we need to advertise it in a better way. Conclusively, we need a multifaceted approach and analyze all facets before promoting any crop for commercial use."

Dr. Sudhakar Pandey, ADG Horticulture: "Since radish is a short duration crop, if it's calculated on per unit area and per unit time, every radish cultivator will be a ‘Lakhpati Kisan’. It's important for farmers to assess the market to get a great price for their crops and should time their sowing time accordingly."

Dr. Nutan Kaushik, DG, Food and Agriculture Foundation, Amity University: "We have much talked about radish, but the most important thing is marketing. I could list anecdotes from the past where farmers have uprooted their entire radish field because of low prices in the market. So farmers must assess the gap in the radish market to get better prices. While science can give you productivity, appropriate marketing can help farmers in making more money."

Dr. Kamal Pant, Director IHM, PUSA: "Radish is our indigenous produce and one thing that needs to focus on is making value addition to the crops. I think Kimchi is one of the ways where radishes could be turned out as value addition. Pickled radishes are another such thing."

Dr. Bimal Chhajer, CEO and MD of SAAOL Health: "With a mere 16 calories and negligible fat content, radish emerges as a powerhouse of bio-enzymes and bi-compounds crucial for combating fatty liver and preventing cancer. Moreover, its high iron content makes it a staunch supporter of red blood cells, contributing to healthier skin."

Dr Prabhat Kumar, Commissioner of Horticulture opened the floor for discussion and said, "I'm heartened to see farmers engaged in this event, as they are the ultimate consumers. No longer is produce categorized as 'poor man's' or 'rich man's', but rather by its inherent value. Radishes, once seasonal, now grow year-round, emphasizing the importance of nutrient profiling. I must stress that intercropping is key; a crop every 25-30 days boosts income. Yet, innovation must align with market demands and hygiene standards, mindful of our collective environmental impact. Let's prioritize seed assessment before cropping, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices."

Vote of Thanks

Navigating across diverse segments of the agricultural community, spanning from farming to financing, the event concluded with a heartfelt expression of gratitude by Dr. PK Pant, COO of Krishi Jagran. Reflecting on the discussions, he remarked, "Today, our discourse delved deep into the virtues of radish, exploring its medicinal benefits and more. After this insightful discussion, one key takeaway is that raising awareness is paramount in crop popularization."

"Lastly, I extend my sincere thanks to all for sparing time from their busy schedules. This dialogue was indeed imperative and paves the way for our future endeavors, "he added.

As the event concluded, attendees were left inspired and energized to join the movement towards a healthier, more sustainable agricultural future, one radish at a time.