Chitradurga: Roja Reddy, an engineering graduate has quit her IT profession and started organic farming. Now, she earns Rs 10,000 a day. Her technical skills enabled her to develop a mobile application to sell the farm produce.
She studied engineering from a college in Donehalli village of Challakere taluk of Chitradurga district. She was working in an IT company in Bangalore.
Lockdown triggered her to take up farming as a livelihood. At first, her parents have denied her decision to take up farming as water is scarce in her village. Now she is growing 35 types of vegetables in 6 acres of land and earns lakhs.
She was interested in farming during her studies itself. But her parents forced her to do a job in the IT field. In her spare time, she learnt organic farming practices. She then brought vegetable sowing seeds from many parts of Belagavi, Maharashtra. She earns over Rs 10,000 a day.
Agriculture in drought-hit area
Challakere Taluk is affected by drought each year. The young woman has accepted the challenge and has drilled a bore well, and set up drip irrigation in the farm. She uses organic fertilisers, grows vegetables and flowers of Indian and foreign origin.