Spanning a stellar career of 36 years, Mr Kaushal Jaiswal is no stranger to the domain of agriculture. His interest in the field, which started by “accident”, soon turned out to be his passion as well as profession. In conversation with the content team of Krishi Jagran, he discussed Rivulis Irrigation India Pvt Ltd and more. Read On.
Tell us more about your journey.
It has been a long one! My interest in agriculture was ignited during my college days. The available career choices at that time drew me towards the agricultural sector. In no time, it became my passion.
What is the status of micro-irrigated land in India?
Thanks to the 'Per drop more crop' scheme launched by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India on 1st July 2015, the total micro-irrigated land is at nearly 8.5 million hectares.
Next, the goal is to upscale it. For the same, we are holding brainstorming sessions with industry experts and government officials. At present, there seem to be challenges along the way; I am hopeful they will be mitigated in due time.
With methods like drip and micro-irrigation, there is an expectation of farmers being able to yield more from the same land. Can this be achieved?
Well, it depends a lot on the quality of the seed. That’s the first step towards ensuring the success of any product. Understanding the genetic potential of the seed is very crucial. Besides, the right amount of water, place, and time is essential.
However, the beauty of the micro-irrigation method is it limits the competition between the weed and the crop, by providing water at the right source.
What are the biggest challenges to agriculture globally, according to you?
The world is grappling with the effects of climate change. In my view, we need to be better prepared to be able to tackle it. To this end, we must optimize water usage, diversify crops, work towards climate-resistant technologies, reduce dependence on chemicals, and improve methods of precision farming.
Your advice for young agri-preneurs?
If you are passionate about agriculture, you need to step out of your comfort zone. Moreover, you must understand the importance of being on the field. Technology may be able to ease the burden of agriculture but that’s not a substitute to toiling on the land.
Share your comments