Lakhyadhar Das, a 39-year-old farmer from Boka village in Sonitpur, Assam, has seen his life take unexpected turns. Originally a businessman who frequently traveled for work, his life changed drastically after the loss of his wife in 2019. Struggling to balance his business with the responsibility of raising his two young sons alone, he found it increasingly difficult to keep his business afloat. In search of a stable income that would allow him to stay close to his children, Lakhyadhar turned to farming in 2021.
He has three bighas of his own land and leasing an additional 17 bighas, he gradually shifted focus to agriculture. With careful planning, he began growing a variety of crops, ensuring a steady income throughout the year to support his family.
Rice Cultivation and Market Demand
Rice is Lakhyadhar Das' main crop. He produces three different types of rice: Bara, Joha, and Aizome. Bara rice is particularly sought after during the Bihu festival in Assam, making it a valuable seasonal crop. The demand for this rice peaks during Bihu, a colorful festival centered around agriculture. Bihu comes in three primary forms: Magh Bihu (also called Bhogali Bihu), Kati Bihu, and Bohag Bihu (also known as Rongali Bihu), each commemorating a distinct stage in the agricultural cycle.
Joha rice, known for its special fragrance, commands a premium price in the market, retailing at Rs 10,000 per quintal or Rs 1,000-1,100 per mun (40 kg). Aizon rice is also a high-value crop and contributes significantly to his income.
He produces around 190 mun (7,600 kg) of these rice varieties annually. His farming operations follow a set schedule: he plants paddy in May and harvests it in October-November. The rice is dried and ready for sale within ten days of harvest, ensuring quick market turnover and low storage costs.
Diversification into Other Crops
Lakhyadhar Das also grows maize besides rice on two bighas of land. He also grows potatoes on two to three bighas, which is another source of income. His farm has Malbhog bananas, which are a common variety in Assam. This diversification enables him to have financial stability, as various crops are harvested and sold at different times of the year.
Last year, he ventured into a dragon fruit plantation on a bigha of land. The high-value crop is also popular for its health value and good market demand.. He is confident that dragon fruit farming will prove to be a lucrative venture for his farm business, although it is still in the early stages.
Challenges Posed by Wildlife
The greatest challenge that Lakhyadhar Das faces is the frequent trespassing of his lands by wild elephants. Every year, when the paddy is ready for harvest, large herds of elephants, sometimes numbering over 200, enter his farmland and surrounding area, causing severe damage. There is limited government action or assistance in keeping such invasions at bay despite numerous incidents.
This chronic problem compels him to suffer huge losses. Especially when several bighas of harvests are crushed and damaged overnight. He is currently looking into measures to secure his fields. He is, for example, planting gaurd plants and employing other types of fences also calling on the government to assist them to address this problem. Nevertheless, this is a serious challenge that hits not just him but also numerous other farmers across the country.
Fisheries and Future Plans
Lakhyadhar Das is also keen on fisheries, besides farming crops. He has a one-bigha pond in which he rears different fish species, such as Rohu, Bahu, Sikal, and Common Carp. His fishery enterprise fetches him an extra Rs. 50,000-60,000 annually.
Still, he has a much larger vision for this industry. He is particularly worried about the declining population of some fish in Assam. His ambition is to preserve these endangered fish by breeding them in controlled conditions. He is confident that with the right conservation and breeding methods, he not only can preserve these species but also export them to foreign markets.
He informs that these fishes fetch good prices and are in high demand in the foreign market. In doing so, he aims to earn more profits and help save the aquatic biodiversity of Assam.
Dream of Expansion and Mechanization
Lakhyadhar Das also has big dreams for the future. He is planning to scale up his agriculture business by purchasing at least 25 additional bighas of land for cultivating rice. He is confident that the high-value Joha and Aizome rice varieties hold a lot of market potential, and ramping up production will enable him to earn higher returns.
He has a yearly profit of Rs. 2.5-3 lakh and plans to increase his activities further by buying a tractor, which will hugely enhance his agricultural efficiency. Tractors will assist in saving labor costs and increasing land preparation speed. He currently uses conventional techniques, which consume time and effort. He will be able to cultivate more land with a tractor, more efficiently and boost his overall productivity.
A Message to Fellow Farmers
Lakhyadhar Das's experience is a living testament to the strength of resilience and flexibility. In the face of personal loss and financial hardships, he managed to rebuild his life through agriculture. It goes to show that agriculture, with a strategic approach and diversification, can be a stable and lucrative income.
His advice to other farmers is to adopt modern methods, diversify the crops, and concentrate on high-value farm products. According to him, farmers cannot stick with conventional methods but must look for other options, including fisheries, fruit cultivation, and conservation. He also stresses the need for self-reliance since governments can tend to offer limited support.
Lakhyadhar Das has changed his life and become a role model for others in the farming community through his perseverance and creative thinking. His aspirations to grow his farm, protect endangered fish species, and export premium produce are a glaring example of how farming can be sustainable and profitable with the correct strategy.
