Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in the 131st episode of Mann Ki Baat aired on February 22, 2026, highlighted the transformative journey of Shri Hirod Patel, a young farmer from Ratanpur village in the Sundargarh district of Odisha.
Recognizing farmers as the true devotees of the earth who possess the unique skill of turning soil into gold, the Prime Minister emphasized how modern Indian agriculture is increasingly blending tradition with technology to focus on quality, value addition, and market expansion.
Until roughly eight years ago, Hirod Patel followed the conventional path of paddy cultivation alongside his father, Shiv Shankar Patel. Seeking to improve the profitability and sustainability of their family farm, Hirod transitioned to an integrated farming model that maximizes resource efficiency. His innovation centered on his farm pond, where he constructed a sturdy mesh or trellis structure over the water surface. This allows him to grow a variety of creeper vegetables vertically, utilizing space that would otherwise remain unproductive.
The model extends beyond the water’s surface, as Hirod planted high-value fruit trees, including bananas, guavas, and coconuts, around the perimeter of the pond. Simultaneously, the pond serves as a hub for pisciculture, enabling him to harvest fish alongside his horticultural crops. This multi-layered approach has resulted in significant land optimization and water savings, as the moisture from the pond assists in the growth of the vegetables above, reducing the need for intensive irrigation.
This diversified system has provided the Patel family with multiple streams of income and has turned their farm into a regional hub for agricultural learning. Farmers from across the state and beyond now visit the Sundargarh farm to study Hirod’s model of integrated farming. Prime Minister Modi cited this success as a prime example of how a shift in perspective and the adoption of smart farming techniques can empower the youth to strengthen the rural economy while ensuring food security and environmental conservation.