By Muskan Khandelwal

In the village of Basauli, located in Baghpat district, Rishipal’s 2-hectare sugarcane farm faced numerous challenges, reflecting the struggles of many local farmers. Dependent on sugarcane cultivation, these farmers grappled with high water usage, environmental concerns, and fluctuating market rates. The tide began to turn with the intervention of the Bioenergy Board and the Department of Agriculture, which introduced a novel alternative: lemongrass cultivation.

The Turning Point

The shift was catalyzed by a small seminar organized by the Bioenergy Board and the Department of Agriculture. What started as a modest gathering soon blossomed into a larger movement, inspiring around 750 farmers to form a union dedicated to lemongrass farming. This union received technical training and a full economic grant from the BioEnergy Board, which helped ease the transition from sugarcane to lemongrass. Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Dr. Arun Kumar, District Horticulture Officer, shared about the project and its challenges in detail.

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