In a remote village of Odisha, 32-year-old farmer Hirod Patel has transformed traditional farming with an innovative idea that’s now turning heads across India. An electrician by profession and a farmer by passion, Hirod adopted a unique approach: building a trellis farming system directly over his pond.

While most farmers grow on soil, Hirod decided to utilize vertical space. He planted climber vegetables like bottle gourd over a bamboo trellis installed above water, which not only saved land but also reduced the need for watering. Simultaneously, he used the pond for pisciculture, creating a dual-income model.

With just 120 plants, he harvested 1,800 bottle gourds in a single season, earning ₹35,000 in extra income! To add to the innovation, he even built a small boat to collect the vegetables himself.

His 10-acre farm has now become a live demonstration site for agricultural scientists and fellow farmers, who flock to learn his integrated farming model.

This sustainable, climate-smart idea proves that with the right thinking, India’s farming future is brighter than ever.