Latest news with #RavindraPandey
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Dragon fruit farming catching fancy among Prayagraj region farmers
Prayagraj: With the state govt making continuous efforts to increase income of farmers apart from traditional farming and promoting the production of commercial crops, dragon fruit cultivation has attracted farmers in the Prayagraj region. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Changes in climate and low rainfall have forced farmers towards dragon fruit cultivation as growing traditional crops based on irrigation was turning into a loss-making deal for farmers. A section of progressive farmers have opted for dragon fruit cultivation to increase their income with less water and less cost. Chhote Lal Gautam, a farmer cultivating dragon fruit on around two acres in Sarangapur village of the district, says, "Due to weak monsoons for the last couple of years, there was a constant crisis of irrigation. As a result, the income from traditional crops declined. After acknowledging the facts, I moved to cultivate dragon fruit in my fields and managed to increase my income significantly." The state govt has selected 18 districts across the state under the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening Project (UP-AGREES), which includes Prayagraj, Kaushambi, and Pratapgarh districts of the Prayagraj division. Farmers in these districts are fast adopting dragon fruit cultivation. Deputy Director (Horticulture) Krishna Mohan Chaudhary says, "Currently, 16 progressive farmers are cultivating dragon fruit in Kaushambi and Prayagraj districts. Prayagraj division has the highest number of farmers cultivating dragon fruits." Dragon fruit farming was first launched by young farmer Ravindra Pandey in 2016 in the Kaushambi district of the division. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ravindra Pandey says that dragon fruit nurseries are also being prepared and sent from here to other districts of the state, which has increased his income apart from the crop. The fruit is a tropical fruit that got the name dragon fruit because of its bright magenta-coloured spikes. This miraculous fruit, which entered India from Mexico and the US, is called Pitaya in some places and Kamalam in others. Dragon fruit, with a mildly sweet and crunchy taste, has been called a superfood. It is proving to be a boon in the prevention of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. The state govt is providing financial assistance to farmers through Integrated Horticulture Development Mission to promote dragon fruit farming. Chaudhary, meanwhile, said that farmers are being given a 40% subsidy in form of financial assistance. Apart from this, a state grant of Rs 30,000 per hectare is also being given. Dragon fruit grower CL Gautam says that he received financial assistance of Rs 2.78 lakh per hectare from the govt. This has increased the interest of farmers in dragon fruit farming.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
1 killed, 2 hurt as car driven by bizwoman runs over them in Lucknow
Lucknow: A 45-year-old contractual employee of King George's Medical University was killed, while two others, including a teenage boy and an elderly beggarwoman, were injured seriously after a car driven by a real estate businesswoman went out of control and rammed them near Shia PG College in Khadra on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Ravindra Pandey, resident of Rupur, Khadra, who was riding a bicycle when the car hit him. The other two victims, Daksh Sonkar, 16, from Kadamrasoolpur and beggarwoman Ramapati from Baddopur, Barabanki, were rushed to trauma centre with serious injuries. According to police, accident occurred around noon when Tanu Gupta, 35, real estate businesswoman residing in Saadatganj, was travelling in a Maruti Brezza along with her mother, Rajni Gupta. The car, coming from Daliganj crossing, reportedly lost control near Shia PG College. It first hit three pedestrians standing or moving by the roadside and crashed into the counters of a café and an electronics shop before finally colliding with an electric pole and coming to a halt. Eyewitnesses said the impact of the collision triggered panic in the area, as bystanders rushed to the aid of the victims and informed police. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Todos os idosos deveriam ter um desse no banheiro! Veja só! Evite quedas e escorregões Saiba Mais Undo A team from Madeyganj police station arrived promptly at the spot and, with help from locals, transported the injured to the trauma centre, where doctors declared Ravindra Pandey dead on arrival. The other two continue to receive treatment. Tanu Gupta was taken into custody and her vehicle seized. FIR was lodged on the basis of a complaint filed by Golu Sonkar, father of Daksh, the injured boy . SHO Rajesh Kumar Singh of Madeyganj police station said detailed investigation was underway. The vehicle will undergo technical inspection to determine whether the accident was caused by either brake failure or the accelerator being pressed unintentionally. The exact cause of the loss of control is yet to be ascertained.
