Retired Principal Excels in Farming: Earns Lakhs Each Season from Vegetables

Hamirpur, October 2 – Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh’s lower regions is witnessing a silent transformation as farmers increasingly adopt off-season vegetables and cash crops alongside traditional wheat, maize, and paddy. Among those setting an inspiring example is Kamlesh Kumar Patial, a retired school principal from Lahli village near Hamirpur, who has turned to farming after retirement and is now earning lakhs annually.

Despite belonging to a well-off family, Patial chose to dedicate himself fully to agriculture. Earlier, his ancestral land was used mainly for traditional crops, which brought little income. After retiring, with the encouragement of officials from the Agriculture Department, the JICA project, and the Horticulture Department, he decided to venture into vegetable farming.

Through the Mukhyamantri Khet Sanrakshan Yojana, Patial received 80% subsidy for fencing his fields, spending around ₹2.5 lakh while availing a subsidy of nearly ₹12 lakh. He also benefitted from ₹1.52 lakh support for borewell irrigation and enjoys 50% subsidy on seeds from the Horticulture Department. Additionally, irrigation facilities under the JICA project have further strengthened his farming practices.

Today, his fields produce a variety of vegetables such as bitter gourd, okra, arbi, pumpkin, bottle gourd, cucumber, brinjal, chili, ridge gourd, and tomatoes. Most of his produce is sold directly in local markets and by the roadside, ensuring quick returns. On average, he earns between ₹8 to ₹8.5 lakh annually, with only about ₹1.5 lakh spent on farming expenses, leaving him with nearly ₹7 lakh net profit.

Patial credits government schemes and departmental support for his success and believes his journey can inspire today’s youth to see farming not just as a necessity, but as a profitable and respectable profession.