Harkesh Kumar Balai, Ad hoc Assistant Professor, Dept Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, COA, Indore, RVSKVV, Gwalior
Minakshi Meshram, Ad hoc Assistant Professor, Dept Agricultural Extension, Pt. SKS, College of Agriculture and Research Station, Surgi, Rajnandgaon, IGKV. Raipur Chhattisgarh
Sarita Paradkar & Ravindra Dohley, Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension, RVSKV, Gwalior (M.P.)


Introduction:
Name of the farmer is Mr. Manish Kumar Taunk from village: Chhuikhadan, District: Rajnandgaon of Chhattisgarh state. He is a 10+2th passed and owns 45 acres of irrigated land. He has his expertise in Papaya, Banana & French Beans but he also grows and manage other crops such as Tomato, Brinjal (Egg Plant), Chilly, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Okra, Ivy gourd, Bitter gourd, Bottle gourd, Green leafy vegetables & Cole Crops e.tc. He is a diverse farmer.

Motivation:
He found motivation in agriculture due to a deep connection with the land, a sense of responsibility, and the fulfillment derived from nurturing others life. The agricultural lifestyle is often ingrained in familial traditions, passed down through generations, fostering a strong bond with the soil. The cyclic nature of planting, nurturing, and harvesting offers a unique satisfaction, witnessing the tangible results of their efforts.

Additionally, he play a crucial role in food production, contributing to the sustenance of communities. This sense of responsibility and the knowledge. Despite the challenges, the agricultural way of life provides a sense of purpose and a connection to nature that may be difficult to replicate in other activities.

Behinds:
He basically started growing vegetables in a very small area for his basic knowledge & to experience that what challenges the crops are facing to grow. He learned how to manage, grow & produce vegetables successfully. After few years he practiced it in a larger area in his ancestral land. His smart & timely management helped him to grow his farm.

He grew multiple crops at the same time which decrease the chances of loss & enhance possibility of maximum returns. With time he expanded his farming land from 6 acres to 15 acres then 35 acres gradually. He learned many things by his own & many things by visiting different farms and by sharing experience. He worked very hard to improve the constraints & barriers that he faced during his learning period.

Current Contribution:
He currently owns 35 to 40 acres and living a very good & Healthy lifestyle along with his family. He has many advanced tech. such Digital drip irrigation system, Many advanced machineries such as Tractors, Advanced Pesticide blowers, Self designed furrow maker & other farming implements. He promotes Sustainable Agriculture & suggest other to do sustainable farming. Today along with Farming he helps & consult others about farming and also promotes small farmers to cultivate difficult crops to grow and help them to defeat barriers that they faces. He motivates youth to adopt farming & share his personal experience to students for their practical knowledge. ‘His motto that motivated him to become successful is Life is like a seed, it grows how you treats’.