The onset of summer in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat can be a frightening prospect. The rocky terrain of low hills and the semi-arid plains begin to radiate immense heat. Rivers and wells dry up in tandem. Water shortage looms large and the memory of the severe drought of 1999-2000 returns to haunt. God bless the man who tries to indulge in cultivation of crops in these parts.
The result is obvious everywhere, but nowhere more so than in the 500-acre farm of the Patel brothers in Dolpur in the district of Sabarkantha, in the northeast of the state. Jitesh and Bhavesh, both having done masters in agricultural science, have managed to bring together plots owned by family members and friends and grow potato with modern techniques. They contract out their future production to Balaji, ITC and Pepsi. Their high yields have won them admirers. Each week, their farm sees at least 300 visitors from the state as well as Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, keen to learn their key to success. The brothers now act as consultants to other farmers. Very soon, the Patels will be investing Rs. 4 crore on a greenhouse to grow capsicum, tomatoes and muskmelons.
Modi, in his second year in power, ordered the uninterrupted supply of quality power to farms for three-phase pumps for at least four hours a day, but only in night. This ensured that farmers could use the pumps only for a limited time and had to make the most of it. During the day, industry got quality power. The scope for power theft reduced. Farmer groups were initially angry with the changes, but came around after some persuasion.
(This story appears in the 19 March, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
Modi had no role in it.Its people those who gave their full potential earn it.
on Apr 12, 2014Needless to pass any comments, visit Gujarat and you yourself find the difference on going through the agriculture produce available in veg. Market. Okra, Simla mirach, pappya, bannana, potatoes, tur dal and many more.....hard to get this quality in any other parts of India . Agricultural revolution is remarkable. First white (milk) kranti and now Hari kranti. \"Welcome, kutch din tu gujaro Gujarat main\"
on Apr 12, 2014Gujarat people have shown how prosperity can come to the poor and to poorly endowed land. Political leadership and administration\'s commitment are necessary. Political leadership elsewhere in India which is so afraid of Narendra Modi and hence hates him so much does not recognize his leadership capabilities. Instead of guidance and well-designed facilities to grow prosperous, the Indian Poor are fed political poison year in and year out. R.Venkatanarayanan
on Sep 13, 2012Modi should become the Prime Minister of India
on Mar 8, 2011I am from the remote (once upon a time) area of Gujarat, Kachchh, which shares international border with Pakistan. I remember in 90s and early Y2k, we use to get water only twice in a week during wee hours, which would be available for only 1 hour on any given day. I also remember power cuts every alternate hour and sometimes every half an hour, for the duration of upto 3 hours in dark. Some border villages did not had any electricity connection, road connection or water connection. <br /> It was hard to say whether those villages really belonged to India in those days. Things have completely changed now, with Narmada water coming into Kachchh, we get uninterrupted electricity throughout the year, we now get sufficient water on a daily basis. Roads here are much better in condition than many metro cities of India. <br /> The remote villages at the international borders get sufficient water, electricity and are well connected with road transport and IT (Information Technology) connectivity, the border is now lit by street lights in the night to avoid any infiltrations. You will find best example of E-Governance here in Gujarat, where each and every village of Gujarat is well placed on the map of IT and video conferencing. Crime rate is lowest in the country. Crime against women and elders is negligible when compared to other states. Gujarat is really the better place to live.
on Mar 30, 2010Cmplt agree wid you buddy I am from ahmedabad and today it\'s like safe to be in gujarat ppl of gujarat panic. Even if electricity is out even for 10mins this thing is bliss just in gujarat
on Apr 20, 2014Cover this as Modi's achievements....or this is not his doing
on Mar 20, 2010Yes, it is. There is no doubt about it.
on Mar 20, 2010Gujarat has surely attained growth in the past decade and the reason being the completion of SSNNL plans because of which the people are now getting adequate water for irrigation and without water the growth would not have been possible.
on Mar 20, 2010The SSNNL project was begun almost five years before Modi assumed power as CM of Gujarat, and contributed to just a fraction of additional acreage under irrigation. The real boost to agriculture has come from the manner in which (1) electricity reforms (2) encouragement of micro-irrigation with extension services, and (3) water management, including the building of 200,000 check dams, (4)encourage a 'mass awakening' in the agricultural sector through the Krushi Mahotsavs. Other factors have also helped -- like BT cotton and hybrid seeds. But these were available to all states. <br /> It is the manner in which the state's administration pushed through the above four items that made the difference and which should see agricultural growth accelerate in the coming years. Water matters, undoubtedly. But water management matters more. Electricity, micro-irrigation, and check-dams helped achieve that..
on Mar 21, 2010There was a fifth factor as well, which I forgot to mention in my earlier posting. The legalization of contract forming, and allowing farmers to sell directly to consumers. Both allowed farmers to insure their future a bit better than ever before.
on Mar 22, 2010Friends, Modi is much better than any other politicians, If the project is truly workable, no matter whether the previous government project or his project, he gives fullest support to achieve the target. Come and see TN, it is worst here.
on Mar 28, 2010Dear Hari Ram, Instead of lamenting about Tamil Nadu, why don't we start learning and implementing it by ourselves - why should we always lament, crib and cry looking at others development - it would be better if we take inspiration and try and do it ourselves.
on Apr 8, 2010