Dehradun: The emptying villages of the mountains of Uttarakhand are counting their last breaths. Youth from the hills migrate to the cities in search of employment. In the glare of modern technology and facilities, people are moving away from the mountain soil towards cities. Despite there being many possibilities in the mountains, people are not able to recognize it. However, there are some people who, returning from the urban world, are setting an example of reverse migration by producing from their own soil.
The village started getting populated again
Similar is the story of Rajendra Rana, a resident of a small village of Tuni in Chakrata block of the capital Dehradun. After leaving the job in the technical field, he started farming and gardening in his village. Today they produce 20 to 25 varieties of apples, strawberries and many other types of fruits. Seeing them, the youth here have also started working due to which the deserted village has now started getting populated again.
Where did you study from?
While giving information to Local 18, Dehradun based entrepreneur Rajendra Rana said that he did ITI after completing Bachelor of Arts degree. After that he started working in the technical field. He worked with many agencies of the state for many years but was not satisfied because he was afraid that his ancestral home in the village might become deserted. Therefore, he decided to leave his job and return home. He wanted to do something in farming, so considering the possibilities of his village and the environment there, he started apple farming.
chose the path of farming
He further says, ‘Just as agriculture is considered the backbone of India’s economy, similarly agriculture can open the way for development in Uttarakhand too. In this direction, the youth of the state need to think that after leaving such a huge land of ours, we are getting confined to 100 yards in the cities. Those who do not want to do farming can do gardening. If you are living at a higher altitude then you can produce apple, below that you can produce kiwi and if you are living in the plains then you can produce fruits like guava. Now we do not have any fields lying barren but we have also populated the civil land.
Rajendra Rana produces 20 to 25 types of apples.
Rajendra Rana told that currently he has planted saplings on one and a half hectare land and is preparing to do gardening on two to two and a half hectare land. He is waiting for the winter rains. As soon as it rains, he will do plantation work on them till February. They grow 20 to 25 varieties of apples including Red Chief, Red Blox, Jade One and Gala varieties while there are 8 to 9 thousand varieties of apples. Apart from this they produce many things like strawberry, peach, lavender.
Tags: Dehradun news, Local18, Uttrakhand
FIRST PUBLISHED : December 4, 2024, 08:52 IST
