Raghuveer Singh Rathod brought saplings from Maharashtra to grow pomegranate, using groundwater drip irrigation and mulching techniques
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Achieving even one annual harvest is a monumental task in the desert regions of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. This is why most farmers of the region stick to well-understood crops that give some semblance of a sure return on the investment. However, Raghuveer Singh, a farmer from Chandan village, about 150 km from the India-Pakistan border, dared to take a huge risk and has been successfully growing 9,000 pomegranate shrubs in the desert, earning several lakh as income.
“Everyone who knew about the experiment called it a foolish idea. The area is arid, dry and alongside a harsh desert. There are hardly any rains in August and September annually. The only source of water is groundwater wells or bore wells,” says Raghuveer.
Jaisalmer, falling in…