Puttur: ‘Bhisma of vegetable farming’ Dharnappa Gowda Kuntian no more

Puttur: Dharnappa Gowda Kuntian, a farmer at Bannur village and better known as the ‘Bhisma of vegetable farming,’ passed away on March 22 at Kuntian Farm in Charvaka village.

Kuntian was famous for over 50 years for his expertise in vegetable farming. He executed his efficient farming practice at his farms in Charvaka, Sampya and Madavu villages.

He started by selling areca through a basket carried on his head. Later, he brought a cart and much later traded vegetables from a three-wheeler vehicle.

It was said that he could do this by his frugal economic management. He used his savings mostly to buy land for farming and vehicles to ferry and sell his farm produce.

Kuntian is survived by his wife Chennamma, son Praveen Kuntian, daughters Sunita, Suchitra and Sumitra, sons-in-law Radhakrishna and Ravi, daughter-in-law Sunita and grandchildren.