Srishail Teli, a farmer in Karnataka, has successfully grown apples in a hot climate, defying conventional wisdom. Despite initial skepticism, his Anna apple variety flourished, yielding fruit in just over two years and earning him recognition.
Success Story: Srishail Teli, a farmer from Kulali village in Bagalkot, Karnataka, is doing something few would believe possible. He is successfully growing apples in a hot climate where temperatures soar above 38°C. Apples are typically grown in cooler regions like Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, but Srishail has proven that with the right methods and determination, it's possible even in the harsh heat of South India. Thanks to his innovative approach and hard work, his apples are thriving and in high demand, turning heads and inspiring other farmers across the region.
Srishail Teli's Journey
In Bagalkot, Karnataka, where farmers typically grow sugarcane, maize, pomegranate, and gram, Srishail Teli once cultivated grapes like many others. However, his interest in apple farming led him down a different path. When he decided to grow apples, a crop usually found in cooler climates, many people around him doubted his decision. They believed apples could never grow in the region’s high temperatures and thought he was making a mistake. But Srishail didn’t let the criticism stop him. Driven by passion and determination, he moved ahead with his plan, challenging conventional thinking and trusting his instincts.
How Srishail Started Apple Farming
Srishail explained that he chose the Anna variety of apple for cultivation. This variety can withstand temperatures up to 42 degrees Celsius. He bought 2600 saplings from a nursery in Shirdi, Maharashtra, and planted them on 7 acres, incurring an expenditure of Rs 7 lakh. Srishail Teli chose to follow the path of organic farming for his apple cultivation. Instead of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, he focused on natural methods to grow healthy fruits. Typically, apple trees take about three years to start bearing fruit. But in a remarkable outcome, the trees Srishail planted began producing apples in just two years and two months.
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Srishail has sold more than 12 tons of apples, fetching a price between Rs 50 and Rs 150 per kg. He has recovered the money he invested in starting apple farming. Today, the same people who once doubted Srishail Teli now see him as a successful and innovative farmer. His work has earned him respect and recognition in the farming community.
