This cabbage is very special for the farmers of Sitamarhi, earn more profit with less effort.

Sitamarhi. Progressive farmer Dinesh Sahni of Lagma village of Sitamarhi has worked to give a new direction to cabbage cultivation. Advanced technology and intelligent farming not only increased their production but also inspired many farmers in the district. Dinesh explains that successful cultivation of cabbage starts with the preparation of the field. For this, two to three deep plowing of the field is necessary, so that the soil becomes friable and suitable for plants. After ploughing, the field is leveled and light irrigation is done, which provides adequate moisture for transplantation after 4-5 days. This is the reason why if the initial steps are taken correctly, the growth of the entire crop is better.

Follow these rules for watering
Dinesh Sahni calls initial care the ‘backbone’ of farming. According to him, weeding for 15–20 days after transplantation is very important. This makes the plants stronger and weeds do not grow. The rule of giving water is also special. They say that the first light irrigation should be done on the seventh day of transplantation, whereas after that it is beneficial to water every 10–12 days. He considers the principle of maintaining light moisture in the fields as most important. Excess water damages the field and less water makes the cabbage flowers smaller. This balance determines the farmer’s income.

Use fertilizer after planting
Talking about fertilizer and nutrition, Dinesh says that the growth of cabbage depends on the right time of fertilizer. Before planting, 2–3 quintals of cow dung manure should be mixed per bush. The first dose of urea and DAP is given 12–15 days after transplantation. After about 20 days, it is mandatory to give potash in the second top dressing, because it makes the cabbage flowers bigger, stronger and brighter. Apart from this, spray of zinc and boron increases the shine and quality of the crop. According to Dinesh, this combination of fertilizer and nutrients improves the entire production.

Crop ready in 55 to 65 days
Dinesh Sahni says that cabbage becomes harvestable 55–65 days after planting. During this period, special attention should be kept on blight disease or insects. Timely spraying of medicine keeps the crop safe and reduces losses. They believe that even though it takes hard work to cultivate cabbage, by adopting the right technology the production per hectare increases significantly. His experience has not only inspired the local farmers, but has also played an important role in making Sitamarhi a leading district in cabbage production.