On April 17, 2024, Somani Seedz, one of India’s leading seed manufacturers, and Krishi Jagran, a pioneer agricultural media house, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Krishi Jagran’s head office in New Delhi. The primary objective of this MoU is to encourage radish cultivation among farmers across the country, aiming to boost their income levels.
Under the agreement, Somani Seedz and Krishi Jagran will jointly organize 30 farmer training workshops that run up to the Millionaire Farmer of India (MFOI) Awards, which is scheduled to take place on December 1–5, 2024. These workshops aim to train around 10,000 farmers. The training sessions will focus on the best radish cultivation practices for optimal yields. Farmers will also learn market access strategies to connect with buyers and secure fair prices for their produce, empowering them to generate extra income from their produce. These workshops will be conducted across eight states including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, spanning over 50 districts.
Somani Seedz's sponsorship of the 'MFOI Radish Category' in the ‘Millionaire Farmer of India Awards 2024’, underscores their commitment to spotlighting the nutritional and economic potential of radish cultivation. Through this collaboration, Krishi Jagran aims to elevate the status of neglected vegetables while improving the livelihoods of farmers nationwide.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, K.V. Somani, Managing Director of Somani Seedz, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. He highlighted the significance of the partnership, spotlighting the challenges faced by farmers, especially those with small landholdings ranging from 1-2 acres or less than 5 acres. He stressed once again the importance of supporting the farming community, which faces struggles in securing their livelihood.
Further, he pointed out the suitability of radish cultivation for such farmers, noting its less investment and short growth cycle of only 20-25 days compared to other crops that require investments over 3 to 4 months. Somani highlighted the financial burden faced by farmers during the longer crop cycles, where uncertainties in marketing and returns often prevail.
"The cultivation of radish typically requires an investment of approximately Rs 35,000-40,000 per acre. However, some farmers opt to divide one acre into 4-5 smaller plots, reducing the initial investment to a minimal Rs 7,000-8,000 per plot. This approach aims to support farmers in maximizing their returns, potentially transforming them into 'Millionaires.' To further this goal, we have partnered with Krishi Jagran for their 'Millionaire Farmers of India (MFOI)' initiative," Somani added.
MC Dominic, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Krishi Jagran & Agriculture World, stated, “Somani Seedz has been helping the farming community to achieve success. When we envisioned the concept of 'Millionaire Farmer of India,' the focus of Somani Seedz was on 'Acre Millionaires'—farmers who can generate wealth even on a small acre of land. This is where Krishi Jagran and Somani Seedz are collaborating. We plan to conduct 30 training sessions, through these we will provide guidance, training, and support to help farmers scale up in a big way.
"As a result of this initiative, we anticipate a huge number of millionaires to emerge. This partnership marks an important milestone in Indian agriculture history, showcasing industry and media collaboration focused on increasing farmer incomes. Somani Seedz has developed new seeds that enable farmers to potentially earn 5-10 lakhs in India. Our initiative aims to turn this potential into reality," he added.
