Progressive8217; radio farmer in record book

The farmer from Bihar has over the years gathered a wealth of information which has enabled him to write five books on farming techniques. His curriculum-vitae aptly describes him as a progressive farmer.8217;

He listens to the raido at six every morning for two hours and then again at six in the evening till at night. He not only listens to Indian sttions but as many as 40 international stations including the BBC, Radio Tashkent, Radio Japan and China Radio International. Under hisinfluence, his wife and two children have also become radio addicts.

His romance with the radio started when he was first presented one as part of his dowry in 1968, the 2-band Boost Baton. Chaupal broadcast by All India Radio was the first programme he got hooked on to. 8220;I realised then that it was radio which could be my window to the world,8221; he says.

And what a window it was. The farmer living 150 km from the nearest town Gaya, he is now on the advisory panels of the state radio broadcast and also in the Research and Extension Council Pusa, Bihar Agricultural College and AIR Bhagalpur. 8220;I was the first one to start the Green Revolution in my state. It was through radio that we would hear of hybrid seeds and then go to look for them in the market,8221; he said.

He inherited 25 acres of land on which he grows seeds, does horticulture. According to him when the land was divided, he being the eldest was given the most arid section of the entire land. He got the soil tested and found out that thephosphorous quantity was low, potash was high and the nitrogen content medium.

So, he treated the soil and the next year had a bumper crop through the same plot. 8220;Because of my knowledge gained from the radio, I was able to make not just my plot but thousands of acres fertile again,8221; he said.

He not only passively listens to the radio but maintains a diary diligently noting down what he has learnt during the radio session. His first award came in 1987 from Radio Moscow when he was able to answer correctly questions on the similarity between Russian and Sanskrit. He travelled to Moscow where Gorbachev presented the award to him.

Since then he has been there to attend a series of seminars on sustainable agriculture in which he has presented papers. 8220;After getting tips on agriculture, I turned my attention to culture and lifestyles of various countries,8221; he said.

His latest book is being published by Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR in which he has got popular age-old sayings fromvarious countries which talk of the link between the environment and farming.

After becoming a walking-talking radio himself, his antagonism towards the onslaught of television is expected. 8220;It is all about maya materialism. It can only corrupt people,8221; he says, shaking his head disapprovingly.