Kanwal singh
Dr. SK Chauhan, Chief Technical Officer (Horticulture) at ICAR, introduced baby corn in the Aterna village of Haryana during 1997-98. After facing initial roadblocks, the farmers of the surrounding areas have now become entrepreneurs. MOHD MUSTAQUIM reports In the 1990s, Aterna village in the Sonepat district of Haryana had been facing groundwater depletion, caused by paddy farming, which needs round-the-clock water in the field. In 1997-98, Dr. SK Chauhan, Chief Technical Officer (Horticulture) at Indian Council of Agricultural Research , New Delhi, introduced baby corn in the village. Growing baby corn requires little water, depending on the level of soil moisture. In one and a half decade, not only Aterna but also its surrounding villages, Manoli, Khurampur, Bhaira, Jaati and Sersaha, have been turned into green baby corn fields. Today, baby corn farming generates employment among the villagers, and some farmers have become entrepreneurs. Success Story First, Dr. Cha...