‘Dignity and financial independence’: Hazaribag farmer’s journey from cook to orchard owner

‘Earlier I used to prepare food for others. Today, farming has given me both dignity and financial independence,’ says Vasudev Prasad, 50, describing his shift from working as a cook in Uttar Pradesh to running a mango orchard in his native Kolhu village in Hazaribag district’s Tatijharia block.

Prasad returned home in 2021, drawn by his bond with family and farming, and planted mango saplings across three acres rather than pursuing conventional crops. He bought high-quality grafted saplings from private nurseries using his own savings, while the orchard also received support under the MGNREGA horticulture scheme.

The results have grown season on season: Prasad sold around 30 quintals of mangoes last year and roughly 50 quintals this season at Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg, earning several lakhs of rupees, with many trees still carrying fruit ahead of the season’s end.

He also grows pigeon pea, tomatoes and brinjals between the mango trees for a steady secondary income, and credits his family for supporting every stage of the work, from planting and watering to harvesting and marketing. Neighbouring farmers now visit the orchard to learn from his methods, turning it into an informal demonstration site for the region.