Surat farmer to export 3k liters of Neera daily by 2026
Surat : People in western nations will have the opportunity to savor Neera, a delightful and nutritious beverage derived from the blossoms of different palm trees, commonly referred to as ‘palm...
Surat : People in western nations will have the opportunity to savor Neera, a delightful and nutritious beverage derived from the blossoms of different palm trees, commonly referred to as ‘palm nectar’.
Hemant Patel, a passionate farmer from Umbhel village in Kamrej taluka, has successfully planted approximately 3,500 date palm trees across his 8 bigha plot of land. Patel has set an ambitious goal of gathering approximately 3,000 liters of palm nectar each day, with plans to begin exports to the western world by 2026, potentially generating an income of around Rs 1.80 lakh daily.
Hemant Patel has made significant progress in natural farming by embracing innovative agricultural practices. Simultaneously, he generates an annual income of Rs.10 lakh through the sale of garden lawn grass and cricket pitch lawn grass cultivated on two bighas of land.
Hemant Patel, a dedicated farmer engaged in large-scale agricultural experimentation, stated, “I have been involved in farming for the past 35 years.” I grow a variety of crops such as sugarcane, wheat, gram, vegetables, and fruits on 11 Bigha of land, employing a natural cultivation approach with mixed crop symbiosis techniques.
In addition to his commitment to organic farming, Patel has lined his farm with 50 coconut trees and has also planted 50 Moringa trees. Patel is involved in the cultivation of a diverse range of produce, including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, pointed gourd, lady’s finger, bottle gourd, drumstick, green bean, spinach, bitter melon, radish, carrot, tomato, chili, turmeric, kantola, dragon fruit, banana, pomegranate, sapodilla, guava, citronella, kamarakh, pineapple, fig, amla, orange, and papaya, among others. A total of 12 to 13 crops have been identified. Additionally, a decade ago, ten dates were sown in the farm’s fields. Over the past four years, following the initiation of neera production during the winter, he has enjoyed a substantial income from just one season. This success has led him to make the decision to plant 3,500 date palms across eight bighas, with an eye toward the next five to ten years.
Patel stated that Neera serves as a fantastic health drink to maintain wellness during the winter months. Production is set to commence in 2026, with expectations of yielding approximately 3,000 liters of Neera daily from 3,500 dates. By enhancing its value, there is a belief that it will boost its products and generate revenue in dollars through the export of neera overseas. The projected cost for 1 liter of Neera stands at Rs. 60, with a daily revenue anticipated to reach Rs. 1.80 lakh. Neera is available for approximately 120-150 days during the season.
Patel has successfully cultivated selection one and American blue variety lawn grass across two bigha of land. “We provide a range of options A specific type is designated for cricket fields, while the American Blue variety caters to gardening needs and is distributed to nurseries in Navsari, Bardoli, Chikhli, Valsad, and Surat. An annual income of Rs. 10 lakh is generated from just two bighas. In addition to this, sugarcane was planted, and the mulching done in March of the previous year has shown the potential to yield high-quality sugarcane while utilizing less water.
In discussing the approach of mixed crop symbiosis within the realm of natural farming, Hemantbhai points out that the nutrients required by one crop in the soil are frequently sourced from another crop. Therefore, when both crops are cultivated together, they can access the complementary nutrients essential for their growth. Only manure fertilizer is required for this; no other type of fertilizer is necessary.
Jay Patel, the son of Hemant Patel, stated, “I am also assisting my father in contemporary farming practices.” Agriculture stands out as a more lucrative option compared to various other careers. Agriculture is poised to generate greater earnings compared to Mutual Funds, the Stock market, and Real estate. Investing in mutual funds can yield an annual return ranging from six to eight percent over the long term. Long-term investments in the stock market can yield growth rates ranging from ten to twelve percent, and in some cases, even reaching 15 to 18 percent. In addition to this, investing in real estate can yield an impressive annual growth of 30-40%, particularly when the market is favorable. Moreover, I am convinced that agriculture is generating returns exceeding one hundred percent, surpassing many other sectors. The strong interest in premium organic farm products can result in substantial financial returns, potentially multiplying the initial investment within a single year.
