Sweet potato cultivation ‘promoted’ by Bill Gates Foundation to bring windfall for Gorakhpur farmers

New Delhi: People living in about 35 Vantangiya villages of mainly Gorakhpur and Maharajganj and Shravasti, before Yogi Adityanath became the Chief Minister, were not even citizens of independent India.

When they were not even considered citizens, it was a very far dream to think of government facilities (housing, toilets, etc., LPG and electricity etc.). At that time, as an MP Yogi Adityanath became their voice from the streets to the Parliament.

During that time a case was also filed against him. After becoming the Chief Minister, Yogi assimilated these villages into the mainstream and they started getting the benefits of a revenue village. Now the people of these settlement are creating new records.

Ram Gulab of Vantangiya Basti Beet Sadar of Maharajganj is a striking example of this giant leap forward. People of Mumbai and Ahmedabad are liking the golden sweet potato of farmers associated with their Agricultural Produce Organization (FPO).

On 25 December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Ram Gulab and praised him and described it as a vision for the rest of the farmers.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Maharajganj Vantangiya’s FPO ‘Maharajganj Vegetable Producing Company’ and ‘Tuber Foods Private Limited’ in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat for the purchase of golden sweet potato (shakarkand).

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation played a major role in this. These farmers were originally inspired by Dr. RC Chaudhary, scientist of PRDF (Participatory Rural Development Foundation), to cultivate golden sweet potato in Kenya. About 10 years ago, Dr. Chaudhary brought the golden sweet potato seed from Kenya and cultivated it. At the same time, many farmers of Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar and Maharajganj were prepared for its cultivation, stating its nutritional merit.

Ram Gulab and team leader Vinod Tiwari, director of ‘Maharajganj Vegetable Producing Company’, along with Dr. RC Chaudhary of PRDF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation prepared more than 100 farmers to cultivate golden sweet potato on 80 acres of land. Most of the farmers associated with its cultivation are Vantangiya.

Gujarat company to buy 400 tonnes of sweet potato at the rate of Rs 25 per kg

According to the agreement, the Gujarat company will buy their produce from the FPO of Maharajganj at Rs 25 per kg. 200 tonnes of golden sweet potato is to be delivered by February 2022 and 200 tonnes by June 2022.

Rs 280 lakh production in one acre

According to Ram Gulab, 70 to 80 quintal of golden sweet potato is produced in one acre. It is sown twice a year. The October crop is ready by 15 February and the mid-March sown crop is ready by mid-June. Harvesting will be done.

In this way, the yield of 140 to 160 quintals is obtained in one acre in a year. If sold at the rate of ₹ 25 per kg, farmers will get a profit of around ₹ 2 lakh per acre.