Profitable Agriculture Techniques for Indian Small-Scale Farmers

Agriculture That Is Successful For Small Farmers
Small farmers make up the majority of the population in India, although they are not always successful. Small-holding agriculture is far more common in India today than it was in the past. This study's focus is on small-scale agriculture, which is essential for India's agricultural development, food security, and livelihoods. It should be kept in mind that India's agriculture is dominated by small and marginal farmers. As a result, India's future agricultural growth and food security will depend on how well small and marginal farmers do. In terms of productivity, small and marginal farmers also make a larger contribution to the production of high-value crops. They make a considerable contribution to the production of fruit and vegetable crops. Small farmers therefore contribute to economic diversification while also ensuring food security.

Following are some of the most successful agricultural techniques for small-scale farmers.

Growing Mushrooms For Small Farmers:
Mushroom cultivation is a relatively recent occurrence in India. Since it needs a cool atmosphere to flourish, it is typically grown on hillsides; but, thanks to developments in modern cultivation techniques, it is now possible to grow mushrooms year-round in controlled environments and seasonally in uncontrolled ones. Around the nation, farming entrepreneurs have built a sizable number of commercial button mushroom producing facilities during the past ten years. However, due to their high moisture content, they are extremely perishable and start to degrade soon after harvest. Phenoloxidase's enzymatic action causes them to turn brown on the surface of the cap, shortening their shelf life.

Fresh mushrooms must be preserved because of their high perishability by employing the proper post-harvest technology to turn extra mushrooms into special products with added value.

The following are some of the processed, value-added items we can create through mushroom farming:

• Mushroom Ketchup
• Mushroom Candies
• Mushroom Murabba
• Fried Mushrooms
• Powdered Mushroom Soup
• Mushroom Fried Rice  
•  Prepared Mushroom Curry
• Mushroom Cookies

Growing Microgreens for Profit:
When two cotyledon leaves have fully developed 7–14 days after germination, microgreens are harvested. Herbs, vegetables, and even flowers are all included in microgreens. Baby greens are more and more popular among chefs as a way to enhance the texture and flavor of salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. Compared to their more mature siblings, they are often tastier and some of them can be quite spicy.
Microgreens have gained popularity due to the increase in culinary demand for them and the ease with which they may be grown, even by inexperienced gardeners in urban settings.
Similar to baby greens, only the stems and leaves of microgreens are thought to be edible. Baby greens can be sold even before they are harvested and are smaller than microgreens. This suggests that the plants can be bought whole and cut at home, keeping them alive until they are consumed. Since they can be grown in a variety of settings, including the outdoors, greenhouses, and even your windowsill, microgreens are simple to grow.

Among the most common microgreen plants are:

• Microgreens of sunflower.
• Microgreens radish.
• Microgreens of pak choi.
• Microgreen broccoli.
• Microgreen cabbage.
• Microgreen spinach.
• Microgreens made of beets.
• Microgreens from corn.

Aquaponics For Successful Agriculture
A technique for growing food known as aquaponics involves feeding hydroponically produced plants nutrient-rich aquaculture water, which nitrifying bacteria use to turn ammonia into nitrates. When compared to private gardens and commercial farms, the food grown in an aquaponic garden is far healthier, fresher, and truly organic in terms of nutrients.

Integrators of Aquaponic Systems
The sizes of aquaponic systems range from little indoor units to enormous commercial installations. They could be brackish or saltwater systems, or freshwater systems. An exceptional opportunity for year-round plant and fish production is provided by aquaponic systems. One of the main sources of income for aquaponic farmers might be the production of leafy greens, herbs, and vegetables out of season, which may benefit from significantly higher seasonal prices. The excellent quality and freshness of aquaponic veggies are highly valued by chefs in urban areas. If buyers can fill in for seasonal gaps with fresh veggies, they are more likely to keep aquaponic producers as a vendor, which will help producers increase their market share.

Conclusion
Therefore, a typical farming method rather than the size of the land is what small-scale farmers face the most difficulty with. Current farmers are required to apply modern techniques because it is true that "old ways won't open new doors," and agriculture practises like aquaponics, microgreens, and mushroom growing not only take less land but are also very profitable.