Strolling in the farm under the scorching heat and watering capsicum and watermelon plantations, Shabbir Jagirdar does not appear like any typical farmer. The reason being he is a software professional and works for a Pune-based software company.
Having cultivated capsicum, tomatoes and watermelon, Shabbir, though started farming, as a hobby, has now taken it as passion and involved himself fully. This techie has chosen farming as his passion while working from home for the company.
Shabbir vehemently believes that farming should be done scientifically and professionally to earn profit and turn into a lucrative business. “I strongly believe and want to send this message across to educated people that farming can be taken up better than traditional farmers using skilled methods,” he adds with confidence.
With the clear objective of dispelling the notion that educated people are not fit for farming, he said that while traditional farmers spend entire day at the farm, and still do not earn enough profit, the educated modern farmers could spend only a few hours in the farm and earn more profit.
“Since I am working from home, I carry my laptop to the farm here. I spend around 3-4 hours at the farm, meanwhile fulfilling professional commitments,” he said. Admitting that the farming is easier said than done, he however asserts that with a strong commitment and zeal, it is surely possible to earn lucratively through farming.
“In the beginning I did face some hurdles in cultivation, watering, controlling pests etc. However, as I started getting more involved in it, I began learning from my mistakes,” he said.
Having cultivated watermelon and capsicum which is expected to give higher returns, he however experienced some loss in tomatoes on market crashing. “I would have earned profit even if I had sold tomatoes for Rs. 4 per kg, but since the market crashed, I experienced loss”, he said with maturity that comes with awareness.
He has adopted a multi-cropping system which he advises other farmers also, and adds that if one crop causes loss, another crop helps in recovering the loss.
He is hoping to recover the loss in watermelon as the demand will increase in the summers and from the capsicum which will come for harvesting in a few days.
For details, he can be contacted on 8956686124
