Jharkhand Rai University (JRU), Ranchi

When Anshu Bharti completed her class 10^th, she got 10 CGPA. It means, the student has got A1 in all the subjects. And A1 means, a score of more than 90% in all subjects. For her perfect score of above 90% in all the subjects, she received many prizes from her school.

Here’s more – Anshu is a gold medallist in Maths Olympiad and English Olympiad, both. She completed her Class 10^th from Sacred Heart School, Telaiya and Class 12^th from Grizzly Vidyalaya, Telaiya Dam, Koderma.

At Jharkhand Rai University (Ranchi), she has joined B.Sc Agriculture, Batch – 2020.

“One of the best facilities for Agriculture study is available in JRU. Some of my friends recommended this University for agriculture study,” Anshu adds.

At Namkum Campus, Ranchi, the Jharkhand Rai University has a setup of 1600 sq. m. of fully automatic state-of-art greenhouse as agriculture research center. It is the first of its kind in the State. Moreover, this facility embraces the latest technology available internationally. The green house is completely automated with internal and external shading provision. Besides, it has different types of hydroponic systems with fully automated fertigation equipment and water filtration plant.

Anshu asserts that the demand for trained professionals in Agriculture sector is very high. Graduates have career prospects in both public and private sectors.

She encourages students to pursue Agriculture studies because the demand for agriculture inputs and allied services are increasing. The Indian food industry is poised for growth, and Anshu wants to contribute meaningfully to this sector by studying B.Sc Agriculture at Jharkhand Rai University, Ranchi.

A studious girl like Anshu is equally creative. Her hobby is dancing and singing.

“When I want to calm my mind, I sing. I love listening to soothing music whenever I have time,” she says.

“And dancing for me was helpful during this lockdown period. It is like a time for me to exercise and stay healthy.”

A girl of many talents, Anshu has also won an award at inter-school badminton competition.

She is happy to be a part of JRU family and is participating in ROOTS 2020, the orientation program organised for all the freshers.

It takes courage to choose a different path in life. Young Prasenjit, a student of Jharkhand Rai University (JRU) trained in B.Sc Agriculture has chosen a different entrepreneurship journey.

No. He is not doing something with the digital or technology, like other entrepreneurs today. He is applying his agriculture knowledge to cultivate noni fruit, an indigenous plant found in coastal regions.

Besides, when Prasenjit started his journey, he knew that the road he has chosen will be difficult, because in India the noni plant grows wild in the coastal areas of Orissa, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

ALSO READ – VISHAL SAHU, ENTREPRENEUR, JRU ALUMNI, FOUNDER EMURGA.COM

Andaman and Nicobar Islands has the highest naturally grown populations of noni plants. But, Prasenjit is farming noni in Kasmaar district, Bokaro, which is in central India.

Moreover, given the climatic conditions of Bokaro region, it is difficult to grow noni in Kasmaar district.

WHY DID HE CHOOSE TO CULTIVATE NONI?

Here’s why Prasenjit chose to cultivate Noni.

Noni, also known as Indian mulberry, awl tree, cheese fruit, nino, nona has immense medicinal potential. The tree is known as ‘Ach’ in Hindi. Moreover, the plant has been known as a medicinal and wellness plant for more than 2000 years.

ALSO READ – STORY OF IBTESHAM, SUCCESSFUL STUDENT OF JRU

However, currently noni is an endangered plant and is listed in the Red Data Book.

Noni fruit juice is a health and wellness drink. Fruits and leaves are used for preparation of different nutraceuticals. Though the fruit is not edible as such. You have to process to consume noni fruit.

Approximately three kilos of noni fruits when processed will yield 1.0 kg noni juice.

ALSO READ – RANCHI TO INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS, STORY OF EKTA KUMARI

It is considered to be an immuno-modulator plant in its activity on man. Noni is effective against a wide array of diseases such as type-2 diabetes, arthritis, filariasis, skin infections. In fact, noni has a positive influence on AIDS treatment. Research shows that noni is non-toxic to blood, blood elements and also to vital organs such as lever and kidney and has a broad range of therapeutic effects such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, immune-enhancing, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-tuberculous, anti-protozoal, anti-oxidant anti-stress and sedative effects. These effects of noni has made it a popular health enhancer and food supplement world wide.

CULTIVATING NONI IN BOKARO

In February this year, he procured 50 noni plants from Odisha and planted in one acre field. Out of these, only 17 trees survived to bear fruit. From these trees, he now plans to expand his cultivation.

Prasenjit says, ‘Noni seeds are sold in the market for Rs800 per kilo.’

He is the first person in Bihar, Jharkhand and North India to be cultivating this plant in his village. His efforts has surprised the locals.

Enterprising efforts run in his family. His father Vivekananda, back in 2005 had cultivated spirulina in this region, surprising everyone with his produce. His mother is a famous medicinal practitioner. Their family nursery grows several unconventional plants and fruits that include – red-lady papaya, aloe vera, night-flowering jasmine (harshingaar in Hindi), dragon fruit and others Being different and unconventional is what makes an entrepreneur after all. And Prasenjit is proving it to be true.