Come June, the women of Jharkhali, South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, begin their day collecting mangrove seeds and depositing them in nursery bags. 

Three months later, when the saplings are knee-high, the volunteers of Jharkhali Sabuj Bahini (JSB) will plant them to protect their homes and hearths from the cyclones faced by the Sundarbans. 

And their timely action has aided in taming nature’s fury.

“The plantation is done between October and January. Each volunteer devotes around two hours a day to plant almost 200-250 saplings,” says Kalpana Sardar (45), an eco-warrior who has planted thousands of mangrove saplings ever since she joined JSB in 2021. 

Along with more than 200 JSB members spread across 23 villages, Sardar has planted lakhs of mangrove saplings so far under the guidance of Akul Biswas, a visually-challenged person. 

“We have been able to tame the bonna (flood) and the destruction from the cyclones only because of this practice,” explains Sardar, a mother of two. 

The mangroves act as a natural barrier against flooding and waves during the cyclones. The river embankments are protected as their roots hold the earth in place and prevent landslides. 

Having noticed that places in the Sundarbans with less vegetation bore the brunt of the cyclonic winds, it was Biswas who motivated the locals to plant mangroves. A decade-and-a-half later, this movement has led to the rise of eco-warriors who are mostly the locals. Here’s their story.

History of the region

The landscape of the Sundarbans region is unique and includes many water channels. The sea has a significant impact on the Sundarban island, and the tides shape the island’s physical features. Cyclone-prone, it receives heavy rainfall and is low-lying. 

The intensity of natural calamities has increased in recent years due to climate change. The region faces a significant threat from rising sea levels as many islands have already submerged underwater or are on the verge.

The Sundarbans mangrove forest is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger along with a diverse range of mangrove species like the Sundari (Heritiera fomes), Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha), Goran (Ceriops decandra), Keora (Sonneratia apetala), Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum) and Kankra (Bruguiera gymnorhiza). 

The palli (villages) in the Sundarbans are inhabited mostly by the scheduled caste communities who were rehabilitated here in 1957 from East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh).

“Our forefathers migrated from Khulna in 1952 and after moving to refugee camps in Asansol, Serampore and Canning, we were settled here by the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr Bidhan Chandra Ray in 1957,” explains Biswas. 

“Each family was given a land measuring nine bighas and as families grew, the plots were divided and distributed,” the 46-year-old adds.

When Biswas began planting mangrove saplings along Bidyadhari river with the help of some children in 2005, a couple of homemakers, disabled people, senior citizens, and ‘tiger widows’ (women who lost their husbands to tiger attacks) joined him. 

And over the years, this band of people became the JSB which has grown to include more than 200 homemakers.

“It’s Sundari which is dominant here and provides critical habitat and resources for the region’s diverse flora and fauna, including serving as a nursery ground for many aquatic species. Its leaves have glands that can excrete excess salt, allowing the tree to adapt to the saline environment of the Sundarbans,” explains Nivash Golder (36), a resident of Jharkhali, Ashrampada, who heads a group of 50 women of the JSB.

“Interestingly, it is adapted to thrive in freshwater environments, which allows them to dominate areas with lower salinity levels,” she adds.

How has the JSB fared

The Jharkhali Sabuj Bahini’s (JSB) efforts have proven beneficial as Biswas says, “When Cyclone Yaas hit in May 2021, it inundated several coastal villages in the Sundarbans. However, it failed to breach the river banks nor did it render the inhabitants of Jharkhali homeless despite it being a low-lying area.” 

“The same was not the case elsewhere,” he adds.

With the Matla, Bidyadhari and Herobhanga rivers surrounding Jharkhali with a radius of 3-6 km, the area is cyclone-prone. The villagers here have previously witnessed cyclones including Aila (May 2009), Fani (May 2019), Bulbul (November 2019) and Amphan (May 2020).

According to Ranjan Mondol, a former gram pradhan (head), around 5,00,000 mangrove saplings have been planted here over the years covering 100 hectares, thanks to the efforts of both the JSB, and the forest department.

This contributed to Jharkhali coming out relatively better than most other places, he says.

Despite a perpetual fund crisis and insufficient resources, Biswas continues to motivate the locals in activities like afforestation, rehabilitating Sundarbans’ ‘tiger widows’, and raising awareness about the environment. 

Biswas, who lost his sight to glaucoma years back, also runs a coaching centre in a makeshift tent attended by kids and their mothers who dropped out of schools.

“Cyclone Aila caught us unaware in 2009. The embankment was washed away due to the water surge damaging homes, uprooting trees, electric poles, destroying farmlands, washing away cattle, and even killing the fish in the pukurs (household ponds),” reminiscences Biswas. 

“We also noticed that the sparse areas with barely any mangroves had played spoilsport, letting the water inundate the surroundings. By planting mangroves, we decided to shield it.”

The way ahead

The rising sea levels, cyclones, and water salinity has impacted the locals’ primary sources of income like agriculture and fishing, eventually resulting in forced migration. 

Many have left their family farms to work as agricultural labourers in places like Kolkata and other states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. 

Due to their salinity, most farmlands are suitable as paddy fields during the monsoon. This trend is driven by the decline of the farm-based economy and the increasing uncertainty of agricultural livelihoods due to climate change and government failures.

The Sundarbans forest region, straddling West Bengal and Bangladesh, is spread over 10,000 sq km, with India having roughly 2,107 sq km of the mangrove cover. 

Though located at a mere 109 km from Kolkata, the Sundarbans are remote and not easily accessible. 

Despite being the epicenter of climate-associated risks, only a handful of NGOs work here. Of them, the Kolkata-based Society for Socio-Economic and Ecological Development (SEED) has been persistent and active here since 2008. 

Running six mangrove nurseries and extending livelihood support to ‘tiger widows’, they have installed micro-solar domes and encouraged fruit plantations to enhance the biodiversity.

In recent months, SEED tied up with the Ireland-based Tiger Widows Organisation to augment JSB’s mangrove plantation efforts. 

“If only we could provide some livelihood support we would be able to encourage more women to become eco-warriors and help save the ecologically fragile Sundarbans,” says Biswas.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All pictures are sourced by the author.

1. Hiresha Verma

In 2013, moved by the Kedarnath flash floods, Hiresha Verma quit her IT job in Delhi to support the women affected in Uttarakhand. She chose mushroom farming due to the region’s favourable weather and invested Rs 2,000 to start experimenting at home.

After training and establishing Hanzen International, she invested Rs 80 lakh for advanced setups. Now, her farm produces 1,000 kg of mushrooms daily and makes Rs 1.5 crore annually. Her initiative has empowered over 2,000 women, increasing their incomes by 30% and improving their social status. She also founded Han Agrocare to retail their produce across India.

2. Shanker Meena

Shanker Meena was born into a farming family in Rajasthan and wanted to pursue the profession himself. However, his father wanted him to do a corporate job with an assured stable income. While he decided to pursue an MBA as per his family’s wishes, his heart was always set on farming. 

In 2012, he left his MBA midway and returned home. Moved by the hardships his father faced, he founded ‘Jeevan Mushroom’ in 2017. Shanker focused on mushroom spawns, investing Rs 9 lakh from a MUDRA loan, and took his family’s support to set up a lab.

His company now produces 80 tonnes of spawns monthly, generating Rs 13 lakh in revenue, and exports to Bhutan, Nepal, and the UAE. Despite challenges like a Rs 27-lakh loss due to contamination, Shanker’s dedication to quality and innovation has earned him multiple awards and kept his business thriving.

3. Nidhi Katare

In 2016, Professor Nidhi Katare’s world was turned upside down when the college she taught at was shut down. Devastated, instead of accepting offers from other colleges, she decided to try something new. 

She pursued her passion for farming and started a mushroom farming business. With her MSc in microbiology and teaching experience, Nidhi ventured into entrepreneurship, setting up ‘Natural Bio Impact and Research Pvt Ltd’ in 2017.

Despite initial challenges, including poor-quality spawns, she persevered, establishing a lab in her ancestral house. Today, she produces 1,000 kg of spawns monthly, selling to 150 farmers across different states. Nidhi’s innovative approach earns her Rs 1.5 lakh monthly.

4. Rohhaan Gawde

“Only the commonly available button variety is popular among customers in the market. But there are so many varieties of mushrooms that we can consume,” says Rohhaan. So when he attempted to introduce oyster mushrooms to people back in 2014, they questioned if they were even mushrooms. 

Working in the same industry, Rohhaan was forced to quit his job. He decided to start his own venture, The Mushroom Company, and grow mushrooms organically. Initially, he grew oyster mushrooms in Lonavala, about 150 km from Mumbai. 

Today, he operates three facilities in Pune, Nagpur, and Lonavala, cultivating a variety of mushrooms including the Shiitake, Grey, Pink and Blue Oyster, King Oyster, Ganoderma, Milky Mushrooms, Lion’s Mane, and Reishi.

On average, The Mushroom Company sells about 70 kg of mushrooms daily. The company earns a profit of Rs 1.5-2 lakh per month, with monthly revenues reaching up to Rs 4 lakh.

5. Adam Shamsudeen and Raeesa Manaal 

After working for several years as software engineers, Adam and Raeesa wanted to try something different. The couple shared a love for sustainable living which led them to grow mushrooms. 

As per an Open Digest article, their startup, ‘GrowtheFunguy’, is a “one-stop destination to help people grow mushrooms and make a living from it”. Currently, they have collaborated with over 300 farmers who grow different varieties of mushrooms and supply them.

“Their innovative approach has enabled them to offer services that include grow kits of different types of mushrooms, supplements, and nutrients to increase their yield. They also provide an AI-driven chatbot, FungAI, to answer all queries related to mushroom farming,” the article says.

(Edited by Padmashree Pande)

Her cool composting hacks are the secret to her flourishing garden in this scorching heat.

Anju says, “Usually, potted plants need special care during summer as excessive heat can stress the plants causing them to wither out. Watering alone is not sufficient to save them from drying.”

“Gardeners use several methods like a green net shade, shower systems that reduce temperature by five degrees, watering through drip throughout the day, changing the position of plants, mulching using rice husk, newspapers, and adding pebbles to the soil to shield them from harsh sunlight,” she adds.

Anju points out that while there are chances of damage caused due to harsh sunlight, adding chemical fertilisers like DAP (Di-ammonium phosphate) and urea can further the damage, leaving plants burnt. “Organic fertilisers like mustard khali (cakes) and bone meal should also be avoided as they are warm in nature,” she says.

She suggests making cool compost is an easy and effective way to prevent plants from drying up. In conversation with The Better India, she shares five cool composting secrets that retain moisture in the plants and help create a flourishing garden, even in the excessive summer heat.

Meet the journalist-turned-urban gardener

Before turning to urban gardening, Anju worked as a reporter. “I come from an agricultural background so I was always inclined towards it but was never at leisure to do so. Additionally, my beat as a reporter was also agriculture. I always thought that if I ever quit mainstream media, I would devote my time to farming,” she says.

It was after her childbirth that she could focus on her passion for farming. “During my pregnancy, I had switched from reporting to a desk job. But still, the work was very hectic. I would be home by 1 am. It was difficult for me to spare some time for my daughter,” she adds.

This continued for 1.5 years when Anju finally quit her job in 2022. Today, she runs a YouTube channel called ‘Unique Farming’ with her college friend, Pankaj Saini. They promote organic farming, small agro-businesses, and urban gardening.

After actively working for the past one year, the duo has managed to garner 109k subscribers on YouTube and 145k followers on Instagram. “Within three months of actively working, we started earning through our YouTube channel. Although it was less compared to my previous jobs, this work gives me peace of mind and flexibility as now I spend most of my time with my family,” she adds.

Recently, Anju created an informative video on cold composting hacks that take the least amount of effort and maintenance and do wonders for plants during the summers.

“Like doctors first try to control their patients’ health using tablets and advise IV (intravenous) drips when the condition is critical, gardeners should give liquid composts to plants to improve their health during summer,” she adds.

Here are her five cool composting hacks for summer-

Buttermilk

• Keep homemade buttermilk in a plastic container or bucket.
• Place a copper utensil in the container. 
• Leave the buttermilk to rot for at least 10 days.
• Mix 200 ml of this buttermilk in 1 litre of water.
• Give 500 ml of this mixture to the plants once a month.

“Keep in mind that you give this compost to the plants either in the evening or morning. Buttermilk is given to plants like curry leaves, harsingar, and bigger plants. Rich in calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, it boosts the growth of microorganisms and makes soil porous to improve air circulation,” says Anju.

Cow dung slurry

• Soak fresh cow dung or its cake (250 grams) in a bucketful of water for the night.
• Dip it thoroughly in water and cover it with a lid.
• Keep the mixture for three days.
• After straining the mixture, pour a mugful of it into the pots.
• Give this mixture to the plants once every 2-3 days.

“In summer, never add the fresh dung directly to the soil. Diluting it with water is a must. With the same cow dung, you can continue making the compost till the point it stops changing its yellowish colour and is out of use. Use the leftover cow dung for mulching,” advises Anju.

Vermicompost Tea

• It is prepared similarly to cow dung liquid compost.
• Soak vermicompost in a bucketful of water.
• Leave the mixture for two days.
• Later on, strain the mixture and give it to the plants.

“Considered one of the most cold composts, vermicompost tea lowers the soil temperature, promotes the growth of necessary microorganisms, and boosts the plant growth in a controlled and long-lasting manner,” she adds.

Neem khali

“Neem cake is listed among the top cold composts. It prolongs the availability of nitrogen to plants, builds long-term plant immunity, and retains moisture by controlling evaporation from direct sunlight,” says Anju.

She advises adding a handful of neem cake powder to the soil, away from the plant stem. “It can also be directly mixed into the potting mix. Add a mixture of 50 percent garden soil, 30 percent cow dung compost, and 20 percent neem khali to prepare the soil mixture. Thereafter, spray some water,” she adds.

Leaf compost

• You can use small stems, bark, grass, leaves, and petals from the plants to make leaf compost.
• Do not use fruits and peels which are used to prepare kitchen compost.
• Keep leaves inside a container. Mix it in one litre of water.
• Do not add rotten parts of plants into this compost.
• Stir the mixture once every 2-4 days.
• The compost will be ready to use in 2 to 2.5 months.

Anju says, “A plant requires at least 17 kinds of nutrients including nitrogen, calcium, sulphur, magnesium, manganese, boron, and molybdenum. Interestingly, this leaf compost contains all of these nutrients, and additionally helps in controlling unwanted weed growth as well as acts as a good mulching medium that retains moisture in the soil.”

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Anju Singh.

While Mithilesh has successfully cultivated a variety of crops including chilli, coriander, tomato, brinjal, okra, peas, and bitter gourd in his compact garden, Sunita has also found similar success in her home garden.

Their secret? Vertical gardening using PVC pipes.

Sunita has installed PVC pipes to create a vertical garden where she grows around 5 kg of vegetables every week.

Meanwhile, Mithilesh says that using PVC pipes saves space as well as money. “In general, PVC pipes are cheap, easy to find, and can save up a lot of space. Moreover, it does not require a complicated set up,” he adds.

The ingenious gardeners share gardening tips for creating a vertical garden using PVC pipes.

1.Take a five-foot pipe and cut it into sections according to the number of saplings or seeds you have.

2. Avoid drilling an excessive number of holes in the pipe. Maintain a distance of 18 inches between holes on one side and a gap of nine inches on the opposite side of the pipe. In total, there should be five evenly spaced holes along a six-foot pipe.

3. Close the extra holes, if any, using a hot air gun. Do not forget to tape the extra holes to prevent water leakage.

4. Fill three-fourth part of the pipe with soil and plant the seed or sapling.

5. Add a mixture of vermicompost or any other organic fertiliser to the soil.

6. Create a hole in the centre of the soil and fill it with sand.

7. Water the sand so that it stays wet and the moisture reaches the bottom easily.

8. There is no need to change the soil for the next three years.

9. New saplings or seeds can be planted by simply making a hole in the soil.

10. Neem water can be used to avoid pests.

Gardening in two five-foot PVC pipes typically costs around Rs 1,000. With this setup, you can cultivate four to five varieties of vegetables, ranging from leafy greens to tubers.

Happy gardening!

Edited by Khushi Arora

Kolkata-based Krishna Khuku has found an innovative way to transform used delivery boxes into plant protectors. She shares three possible and easy solutions.

1. As a protective layer against heat waves

Krishna says cardboard protects plants from heat waves while keeping the soil moist and preventing pest attacks. “Using cardboard reduces evaporation from the top exposed soil, preventing it from drying out by holding the moisture in. It promotes more steady soil temperature overall. It will suppress weed growth as well,” she says.

2. As a mulch to nourish soil

Krishna says using cardboard as mulch nourishes the soil while it’s decomposing. She also advises using cardboards that are 100 percent recyclable or compostable.

3. As a filling for large grow bags for composting

Krishna says filling grow bags with cardboard for composting helps them transform into rich fertilisers with the help of worms. When tossed in the soil, worms munch through the cardboard until it breaks as it is biodegradable.

She also advises using cardboard boxes as seedling boxes and hard ones for planters as well. “Next time you get them, don’t throw them away,” she advises.

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A post shared by The Better India (@thebetterindia)

Edited by Padmashree Pande.

However, driven by their strong self-belief and a desire to protect agricultural land, they ventured into what is widely regarded as one of the toughest occupations — farming. 

This journey demands immense perseverance and patience, but their determination has remained unwavering.

In their 40s, many believed that Namita and Manisha would only dabble in farming for a few months before returning to their previous lives and jobs; possibly selling the land. However, they defied expectations and persisted in building their agricultural venture. 

Today, they proudly operate Doon Gooseberry Farm, a cozy setup born from their dedication and passion, supported steadfastly by their husbands. 

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we first visited my sister’s land in Dehradun. The scene was not promising. We were faced with 10 bighas of land covered in unruly grass and creepers,” shares Namita. 

“However, what immediately caught our attention were the gooseberry trees (amla) laden with fruit, much of which were going to waste. We instantly felt the need to take action, not only to protect our land but also to nurture it and reap the rewards of its bounty,” she adds.

The two sisters entered the world of farming with no prior experience or exposure. However, through trial and error, they have learned to plant and nurture their crops effectively. Here’s their story.

A combined effort

The two sisters are ably helped by their husbands, Vineet Singh Negi and retired army Colonel Vikas Gosain.

“Harvesting the trees has evolved into a family affair,” Namita shares. “We even invite our friends to join us as it’s a great opportunity to spend the day together and enjoy the fruits of our labour.” 

From chutneys and pickles to jams crafted from the fresh produce such as amla, mango, turmeric, garlic and lemon, Doon Gooseberry Farm has expanded its offerings to include a diverse array of products, making a net profit of Rs 5 lakh. Their total income was Rs 11 lakh for the last financial year.

In addition to this, the farm also houses poultry and cultivates various vegetables such as tomatoes, brinjals, pumpkins, spinach, mustard, and lady’s fingers. While they sell products made from amla, mango, turmeric, lemon, and tomatoes, the other vegetables fulfill their household needs, ensuring a self-sufficient and homely environment.

“At Doon Gooseberry Farm, our mission is simple and yet profound: to provide the world with delectable, healthy food options that are free from harmful preservatives. Our journey began with the desire to embrace a lifestyle rich in vitality, where we could savour all these flavours nurtured in our very own backyard,” says Manisha.

She adds, “Our produce flourishes under the sun, untouched by chemical sprays or insecticides. It is here that the roots of Doon Gooseberry Farm run deep, where our dedication to purity and quality is firm.” 

They use shells of organic eggs, vegetable peels, and cow manure as the prime source of nourishment for their cultivation. 

However, the journey has been far from smooth. “Water availability is a critical issue,” Namita explains. 

“Being in a hilly area with a non-perennial river nearby, water scarcity is a significant challenge. This is a primary reason why many people around us are abandoning their agricultural lands.” 

Despite the government’s efforts to create canals for water supply, Namita notes that there is still a severe shortage, particularly during the summer months. “We are currently exploring rainwater harvesting as a potential solution to create a reliable source of water,” Namita shares. 

“However, we sincerely hope that the water situation improves. While the river has some water at certain points, other areas remain completely dry. We believe that if the government addresses this issue earnestly, it will not only benefit us but also many others who wish to pursue farming with greater ease and happiness.”

Currently, Doon Gooseberry Farm collaborates with local women and small processing units to manufacture its products. However, the farm aspires to establish its own processing unit staffed entirely by women in the future. 

“We initiated our venture with the assistance of an agricultural loan and help from family,” Namita explains. “This enabled us to make the land cultivable and fulfill our basic requirements. Now, our goal is to expand further, with a focus on providing employment opportunities to locals, particularly women.”

This article has been written by Shweta Bhanot Mehrotra. Picture credits: Manisha and Namita.

Edited by Padmashree Pande.

An FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) Global Outlook report states that over 29 percent (96.4 million hectares) of India’s total agricultural land is degraded, wherein the land has lost its top soil. This is a worrying trend as the Indian population is increasing at a rapid pace, while cultivable land is decreasing.

Learning about this alarming fact made the 25-year-old return to his roots in Saharanpur to first understand the problems in the agricultural sector and look at possible solutions. From 2020 to 2021, armed with a certification in organic farming from the Ministry of Agriculture, he interacted with farmers, scientists, and other stakeholders to understand the root causes of soil degradation.

With a firm understanding that soil health had to be improved, a deep dive into the topic led to the understanding that the solution was staring right in his face the entire time — the earthworm.

It is the earthworm that decomposes organic waste into vermicompost.Starting with a trial batch of vermicompost on one acre of his farm, he founded Fertile Beeghas in June 2021.

Over the past three years, the enterprise has transformed over 2,500 tonnes of cattle dung and organic waste into vermicompost. Yash shares he has also provided training to over 2,500 farmers in organic farming so far.

Here’s how he plans to improve the soil fertility of degraded soils.

‘Treat soil as a living entity’

Yash always harboured a vision to create a better India. While pursuing his BA in history from Delhi University, he started a school for underprivileged children called ‘Free School Under The Mowgli Tree’. Here, he encouraged children to think out of the box and develop practical skills as most of them didn’t have access to a formal education.

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The imposition of the COVID-19 lockdown brought a halt to the school and led to Yash contemplating his future plans.

“My great-grandfather and grandfather were farmers. I grew up close to nature in a boarding school in Pune. When I was considering what path I wanted to take after my graduation, I chose agriculture as this sector needs a lot of work,” Yash tells The Better India.

Another major reason for choosing agriculture was Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. The former president stressed his vision 2020 for the nation. Although he had written these books decades ago, Yash realised that we are far from reaching that.

“Dr Kalam spoke about the importance of youth and how we should contribute to the betterment of the nation. Inspired by him, I decided to do something good for the country by focusing on agriculture and improving the lives of farmers as well as agricultural land,” reiterates Yash.

When he started visiting farmers in Saharanpur, he was appalled by the ‘cocktail of pesticides’ being used in their farmlands. Constant use of pesticides also has a detrimental effect on soil health.

In 2022, National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) CEO Ashok Dalwai said that the Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) content in India had come down to 0.3 percent from one percent in the past 70 years. SOC is one of the major indicators of robust soil and gives soil its fertility, water-retention capacity and more.

“Soil is the root cause of most of our problems. While healthy soil should have at least five to 10 percent SOC, the benchmark in India is one percent. As the statistics show, our farms have less than 0.5 percent. I was shocked by this; visiting farms in Saharanpur was an eye-opener,” he shares.

“I saw many documentaries, read books and met stakeholders. I compared the soil status of farmlands in Western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana with soil samples from Europe. The results were shocking,” shares Yash.

Unless steps are taken to improve the SOC and fertility of the soil, in a few years it will also become non-arable. Realising this, he met farmers, producers, microbiologists, Government officials, and scientists over a year to understand the possible solutions to improve soil health.

Charles Darwin published the solution several centuries ago in his book ‘The Formation of Vegetable Mould, through the Actions of Worms’. “Earthworms improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. They are a farmer’s best friend and no fertiliser works quite like vermicompost,” explains Yash.

Yash then went in search of vermicompost. Unsatisfied with the ones he found in the market, he developed one following “the best scientific practices”.

From 2021 to 2022, he worked on making vermicompost on one acre of his own land in Saharanpur. He distributed samples in nearby farmlands, and once he was satisfied with the results, he started selling them through his company Fertile Beeghas in October 2022.

What’s different about his vermicompost?

Yash states that what differentiates his vermicompost is the manufacturing process.

“We treat soil as a living entity, something that most of us have forgotten to do. We invested a lot in research and development to develop the most scientific vermicompost. We use a mix of greens, browns, organic materials, cow dung, and of course, earthworms,” shares Yash.

The secret sauce is enriching it with organic carbon, he states. “While other vermicomposts in the market would have 10 to 20 percent organic carbon, our product has 30 to 35 percent.”

They also introduce crop-specific microbes after harvesting the produce. For example, if the vermicompost is required by apple growers in Himachal, microbes are introduced accordingly.

Fertile Beeghas uses a big storage zone to store, treat and cure the compost. Yash works with over 200 farmers who produce the vermicompost. He works closely with the district agricultural officers in Western Uttar Pradesh who connect him to organic farmers who may benefit from the training. He has also trained over 2,500 farmers in organic farming and making vermicompost.

Kuldeep, a farmer in Saharanpur, shares that he has completely shifted to using vermicompost on his land, which had been ruined by the excessive usage of fertilisers and pesticides.

“The soil health had deteriorated and I had to keep using growth promoters to ensure a good harvest. Over the past three years, I’ve been able to phase out the pesticides slowly, and today, I use only vermicompost. My costs have reduced while my production and soil health have improved,” shares Kuldeep.

The icing on the cake is that Kuldeep now produces his own vermicompost, trained by Yash.

Farmers working with Yash start by making vermicompost on as little as 1/4th of an acre, which would suffice for their own use. If they want to do it commercially, they would need at least one to two acres of land.

So far, Fertile Beeghas has transformed over 2,500 tonnes of cattle dung and organic waste into vermicompost, earning an income of Rs 13.5 lakh in the last two months. They’ve also prevented the burning of over 950 tonnes of rice straws from 100 acres of land.

Yash hopes to train over 10,000 farmers across the country and help them improve their soil health. “Farmers are the torchbearers of our country. Just like we give importance to our physical health, it’s time to devote time and effort to improving the health of our country’s soil.”

You can contact Yash at +91 97112 54856 or email him at yash@fertilebeeghas.com.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; Images Courtesy: Yash Dayal Sharma

Ranjit Singh was half-asleep when his wife, Jaswinder, woke him up and reminded him about the workshop on natural farming. He wondered what she was yapping about and went to sleep.

The next morning when Ranjit enquired, he got to know about the Subhash Palekar Natural Farming workshop that could benefit the couple immensely. On her advice, he immediately left for Solan, 150 km away from his village in Kanshipur, Sirmaur, in Himachal Pradesh.

After training, Ranjit’s perspective on farming took a complete U-turn. “For decades, we had been growing crops using chemical fertilisers like urea, weedicides, and chemical insecticides. I never knew the gravity of the harm that we were causing ourselves and to those buying crops from us,” the 57-year-old tells The Better India.

Considering inorganic farming a sin, the couple decided to convert their entire seven-bigha (1.4 acre) land into a natural farm. “Before training, I thought of growing crops on a small part of our land using natural farming, but later, I swore never to use any chemical fertilisers in the field again,” he adds.

After a month-long training, Ranjit returned to his wife with secret tips and techniques of natural farming. Jaswinder, meanwhile, knew it was the training that could have convinced her husband to shift to natural farming.

Since 2018, the couple has been cultivating at least 25 kinds of fruits, vegetables, grains, and spices including lemons, moringa, Caprica chilies, pomegranate, sugarcane, turmeric, wheat, paddy, guavas, cauliflower, spinach, onions, beetroot, ginger, carrot, and more through zero budget natural farming.

Zero input cost, double income

For Jaswinder and Ranjit, using chemicals to boost production from the field was the only way to farm. But the soil kept asking for more. “We noticed that our fertiliser usage kept increasing every year. Initially, we were able to grow our produce using 5-7 kg of urea, however, we were later forced to add 10-12 kg per bigha,” she shares.

“Also, there were additional input costs for recurring fertiliser and pesticide usage. The input costs for us were Rs 2,000 per bigha in a season. Now, this has been reduced to zero,” she adds.

As the name suggests, there are zero production costs in zero-budget natural farming. It is the practice of growing crops that eliminates the application of chemical inputs like urea.

“There are a lot of advantages of natural farming, the first one being the availability of toxin-free food and rejuvenated soil health,” says Jaswinder.

In the first year of application, the production for the couple was one-third less than the inorganic farming. 

However, the couple was not demotivated.

“We were aware of the losses in the initial years. People would comment how we incurred losses switching to natural farming but we were happy to incur these instead of spending lakhs in medical treatments from eating toxic food,” she adds.

It took them 1.5 years to reap the benefits, the couple shares.

“Today, we get three quintals of produce per bigha. One of the advantages of natural farming is that although the production is the same, the rate of this produce is double. For instance, our wheat is sold at Rs 4,000 whereas the inorganic wheat is for Rs 2,200 per quintal. Similarly, our sugar is priced at Rs 100, compared to Rs 50-60 per kg from the market,” she points out.

With zero cost of production, the couple has doubled their income from Rs 55,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh by selling vegetables and fruits. Their produce has earned a huge demand among the local schools, teachers, and officials.

Jaswinder also processes the low-grade vegetables into pickles, vinegar, and chutneys. Annually, she processes up to eight quintals of vegetables like lemons, cauliflower, reddish, beetroot, and ginger into value-added products. This earns them an additional income of Rs 1 lakh annually.

Bijamrit, brahmastra, agnihastra – components of natural farming

Instead of buying chemical fertilisers and insecticides, the couple makes their own natural products using simple ingredients like cow dung and urine, and agro-waste like leaves and jaggery.

“Firstly, we make bijamrit which is a formulation of cow dung, urine, and chuna (lime). It is used to treat seeds before sowing. After germination, which takes about 15 days, we fertiliise the soil with jivamrit,” she says.

Sharing the technique to prepare jivamrit, Jaswinder asks to start with five kg of cow dung and mix it with seven litres of cow urine in a 200-litre drum. 

“To this, add 1.5 kg of besan (chickpea flour) and jaggery each. Fill the water to the rim and stir the mixture. Take 40 litres of jivamrit to fertilise one bigha of land,” she explains.

Meanwhile, Ranjit shares his secrets to preparing natural insecticides such as brahmastra and agnihastra that enhance plant disease resistance, provide nutrients, and control insects.

“To make brahmastra, take one kg of four kinds of leaves and neem. Crush them and add in four litres of cow urine and dung. Boil the mixture. After two boils, cool it down and strain it into a tank. It will be ready to be sprayed on crops after 48 hours. You can also store this insecticide for six months,” he shares.

“If insects are still not controlled, we use our agnihastra. It is prepared using spicy green chillies, peppers, and garlic. It is sure to control pest attacks,” he adds.

Jaswinder points out, “In addition to the natural fertilisers, ensure to make the medh (field boundary) wall higher so that chemical water from neighbouring fields does not seep into your soil.”

Interestingly, the couple has received immense recognition for their work. In April this year, they were awarded by the Agriculture University of Sirmour. On the occasion of the International Women’s Day in 2022, they were honoured by the Deputy Commissioner of Sirmaur, IAS Sumit Khimta.

“We are small farmers who are receiving so much recognition. It is a big achievement for us. We never knew we would get opportunities to address thousands of people in front of the officials like the governor,” says Jaswinder.

More than recognition, Jaswinder takes pride in receiving compliments from her guests. 

“Earlier, if I ignored the phulke (wheat chapati) for some time, they would harden and dry out. But those prepared from the naturally grown wheat remain soft. We get lots of praise from guests for the taste and aroma of our chapati and vegetables. When asked, we tell them the magic behind it is natural farming!”

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Ranjit Singh.

Imagine switching the familiar click-clack of a keyboard for the earthy thud of a shovel and a hoe. A growing number of individuals, especially techies, are making this switch and embracing organic farming practices.

While some may yearn for a return to nature, the statistics paint a compelling picture: India has become the world leader in organic producers, boasting nearly 3 million hectares dedicated to this method.

This marks a significant departure from the historical reliance on chemical fertilisers. Regardless of the driving force, organic farming is undeniably gaining momentum in India, with a particularly interesting contingent of tech-savvy pioneers at the forefront. 

Here is a list of techies-turned-farmers, many of whom are earning better than their salaries. 

1. Roja Reddy and her toil in the soil 

Like most parents, Roja Reddy’s parents, who have been farmers for their entire lives, wanted her to get a job in the city. As per her family’s wishes, she did her bachelors in engineering and got a job in Bengaluru. 

However, her wish to become a farmer never left her. After working for a few years, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to move back to her hometown and do organic farming on her ancestral land in Donnehalli. 

She was, however, struck with scepticism and mocked for leaving her high-paying job farming. But she persevered and formed a network of 500 organic farmers throughout the country. 

Roja’s dedication paid off, turning 50 acres of land into a profitable venture, earning around Rs 1 crore annually. Additionally, she has also inspired 25 farmers in her village to switch to organic farming. 

2. Nanda Kishore Reddy’s COVID-19 stint 

While R Nanda Kishore Reddy was working a steady job as an IT professional for over three years, he felt something was amiss. So when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the country went into a lockdown, he decided to move back home to Railapur village, Hyderabad. 

“While I had seen my father work on our farm, I never pursued it. Back then, farming didn’t seem like a lucrative venture to me. However, when everyone was buying food to store in bulk during the lockdown, it became clear to me just how important agriculture is to our survival,” he says. 

Combining his knowledge of technology and his father’s farming, he started farming on over two acres, including a 1-acre polyhouse. The father and son duo primarily grows English cucumber and spinach, and obtain annual yields of approximately 30 tonnes. 

3. Someshwar Singh finding joy in farming 

Similar to Nanda Kishore’s story, Someshwar also moved back to his village in Uttar Pradesh to work from home. At the time, he did not have any plans of becoming a farmer but life, as he says, had different plans. 

“As a kid, I used to go to the farm with my father… so when I had some free time working from home, I decided to give it another try!” he says. After a lot of research as to which crop would be better to harvest, he realised papaya farming could be beneficial.

Presently, he has a four-acre papaya farm that yields a revenue of about Rs 15 lakh a year. While he still works at his corporate job, Someshwar says that becoming a farmer in his hometown has helped him improve his mental health and find peace. 

4. Nagendra Naidu Dharmavarapu following his dad’s footsteps

For Nagendra Naidu Dharmavarapu, one thing that he was sure about was that he will one day switch to farming. “I know that there is a certain perspective towards taking up farming. But I was very sure from the beginning of my career that I would end up in the agriculture industry,” says Nagendra. 

Born into a family of farmers, he lived in close proximity to problems that the farmers faced. Even when he was pursuing his engineering degree, he would return often to his family farms and work with his father. After working for a few years developing startups, he decided to quit his job and become an agri-preneur. 

He started Farmties India Private Limited and started growing yellow dates at his ancestral farm. Today, he makes Rs 3.5 lakh per acre in profits selling yellow dates. While he started with just 20 acres of farming land is now an empire of more than 1,400 acres of cultivation.

5. Alankrutha Chandra and Meher Gundavarum’s toxin-free life 

Living in the US Alankrutha Chandra and Meher Gundavarum wanted to live a toxin-free life. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the couple saw an opportunity and time in hand to switch to a more sustainable life. They founded a brand, Elephant In You, which covers the three basics — food, shelter and clothing. 

Alankrutha moved to India and transformed Meher’s family’s 8-acre farm into an organic haven, growing diverse fruits, vegetables, legumes, and rice. The farm welcomes visitors to learn about organic farming and enjoy farm life.

They also make naturally dyed clothing made from unbleached cotton, linen, and hem. And the cherry on the cake — they built a limestone house that stays cool in summer, saving energy. 

They plan to construct eco-friendly mud houses for guests to experience authentic farm living. 

6. Mandeep Verma’s farming dream

Mandeep Verma left his corporate job in Delhi to start Swaastik Farms, an organic fruit farm in Shilli village, Himachal Pradesh. The 5-acre farm, nestled in the Himalayan foothills, produces kiwis and apples without using any chemicals, and yields an annual revenue of Rs 40 lakh.

With no prior farming experience, he learned through online resources and consultations with local agricultural experts, transforming his barren, sloped land which took five months. He planted 150 kiwi plants, using organic methods like jeevamrut and sapta dhanyankur for soil nutrition, and later added 1,200 apple trees.

Presently, his farm now has 700 kiwi plants yielding 9 tonnes of fruit annually, with expected production increases. He also developed two nurseries with 12,000 saplings for additional revenue.

7. Rohan Prakash’s certified mangoes 

Growing up in a farming family watching his father and grandfather, Rohan Prakash felt an affinity for fields and farms. The engineer’s passion for agriculture led him to convert their farm into a completely organic operation. 

This shift to organic farming yielded immediate improvements in the quality and size of their mangoes. The transformation process started during his second year of college when he and his father decided to replace pesticides with Neem oil extract.

Encouraged by the results, Rohan branded their produce as “Sure Organics”. Rohan’s farm grows various mango varieties, including dasheri, langra, chaunsa, and safeda, along with lychee and turmeric. Over three years, his farm achieved organic certification, boosting their revenue significantly and increasing overall productivity by 40%. 

8. S Sivaganesh’s homecoming 

Working as an engineer at an atomic station in Rajasthan, S Sivaganesh always felt something was amiss. Growing up in nature with a farmer father, he longed to go back home and start farming. 

After working for four years, he decided to move back to his hometown in Meenakshipuram, at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, in 2010.

Sivaganesh asked his father for 6 acres of land to practise organic farming. “I planted nutmegs as an intercrop along the coconut plantations of 1,600, and took up mango, turmeric, pepper, and areca nut plantations across my 6-acre farm along with it. I used organic methods for all the crops,” he says. 

His started meaning Rs 2 lakh per acre as a combined income from all plantations. His secret — farming techniques such as the intercropping method, a practice of growing multiple crops in close proximity, and the drip-irrigation technique, among other agriculture-allied practices.

(Edited by Padmashree Pande)

Surat-based home gardener Anupama Desai says, “Sometimes it becomes very difficult for us to know the quality, age, or if there is any kind of chemical coating on seeds available in the market. Once purchased, you cannot return them. So it is better to store seeds from your garden, as there is no compromise on their health.”

For the past 14 years, she has been growing seasonal vegetables and has been collecting seeds of most of the produce grown at home. “Believe me, storing seeds at home makes your gardening work very easy. It does not require a lot of effort,” adds the 56-year-old gardener.

In conversation with The Better India, Anupama shares 10 easy tips to store seeds in summer to be able to sow them in the next season.

• You can store seeds of watermelon, muskmelon, galka (sponge gourd), pumpkin, valor papdi (field beans), and kakdi (Armenian cucumber), etc in this season (May-end).
• Both watermelon and muskmelon are fruit plants and can easily be grown on terraces. After cleaning the seeds, let them dry on tissue paper.
• Let the vegetables like cucumber, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, okra, and different types of beans dry on the plant instead of plucking them.

• Wait until vegetables dry up and change their colour to brown. You can scoop out the seeds at that stage.
• Avoid storing seeds from the vegetables bought in the market as farmers harvest pre-mature produce. “Even if you want to store seeds from the market vegetables, make sure that the vegetables are completely ripened. For instance, a ripened karela (bitter gourd) is red in colour and its seed can be used to store.”
• After scooping out seeds, keep them in a clean and airtight plastic or glass container.
• Store seeds in the refrigerator at a constant temperature. Do not deep freeze them. You can also store them in a matka (earthen pot) as well.
• Add charcoal powder inside the container to protect seeds from insect attacks.
• You can store seeds for a year. “There is a particular age till the seeds are fertile, similar to human beings. After a year, its gene will become weak and lead to low fruiting or no plant growth at all,” she says.
• In the case of watermelon and muskmelon, sow the stored seeds in the first week of December to get fruits in March. Sow other summer crops like kakdi in winter. Vegetables like karela can be harvested during May and sown 45 days prior to monsoon to get fruiting.

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All photos: Anupama Desai.

As a young boy, a keen interest in science led Ramdhan to spend most of his time tinkering with machines and experiments. He participated in every science competition announced at the school with the mindset of creating something new. While the innovations were small in the beginning, a problem he observed at home left him with a burning desire to solve it. 

He saw his father, Rajaram Lodha, spending hours at the field, lugging around a heavy spray pump on his shoulder to spray fertilisers on the crops. With age, this task became increasingly difficult and tedious for his father. Continuous usage also caused injuries on his shoulder, which pained young Ramdhan.

The young innovator decided to solve this problem for his father by building a machine that would spray fertiliser and uproot weeds at the same time. While the idea was great, funding was a challenge as Ramdhan didn’t want to burden his parents.

Starting almost three years ago, he participated in competitions to earn the money for his innovation. With the prize money received, he has successfully built a solar-powered weed killing machine today, which is a multifaceted agricultural tool that significantly reduces the physical strain on farmers and is eco-friendly. 

Besides this achievement, he recently received Rs 1 lakh as prize money at the Indian Silicon Valley challenge, a nationwide competition hosted by the Scaler school of technology.

Here’s how Ramdhan built this innovation:

A ray of hope for small farmers

Ramdhan, who recently passed Class 12, had a keen eye on solving agricultural problems through science and technology. He saw the hardships faced by the farmers in Jhalawar – where a majority of them own less than five acres of land. 

Right from weed removal to spraying fertilisers, these farmers had two options, rent expensive machines that save time, or hire labourers to do the work causing a significant dent in their already low income.

As the teenager looked for solutions, he remembered seeing his grandfather using a manual machine to remove weeds.

Could he modify it by making it electric and add multiple options using technology?

“Most of the farmers around me, including my father, used to rent tractors and other machines to sow seeds and remove weeds. The other option was to hire labourers for 10-12 days. Both options caused a lot of expense to farmers,” shares Ramdhan with The Better India. 

At the age of 15, he sketched the first prototype of this machine and submitted the entry at the government’s INSPIRE Award – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge). He won the award and received a prize money of Rs 10,000, which he used to build his first prototype.

“I wanted to build a machine that would do multiple tasks. I wanted to prevent farmers from lugging around 10 litre spray pumps on their shoulders, which you have to refill from time to time,” he adds.

He took his sketch, some old cycles and went to a welder who helped him make the machine. His first prototype was a machine which could sow seeds and spray pesticides. Ramdhan laughs as he shares that his machine is a product of jugaad (hack). 

Testing the machine was easy as his father became the guinea pig. Seeing the practicality of it, farmers from nearby also borrowed it, validating the teenager’s efforts.

“The farmers liked it and even though they had to manually push it, it was better than renting machines. I wanted to improve it further as I saw that it was helping them practically,” he shares.

Subsequent prize money won at national science fairs helped Ramdhan add a motor, batteries and solar panel, making it electric. Started when he was in Class 10, he had made his final and third prototype by the time he was in Class 12. The entire machine was built at a cost of Rs 30,000.

How the machine works

The machine is in essence, a modified cycle, with a battery, solar panel, spray pumps on both sides and a weed remover in the front. 

The multi-tasking machine can perform four critical farming operations – cleaning weeds, drilling seeds, spraying fertiliser and laying manure. It works on both solar power and has a battery, for cloudy days. 

It can be customised for length and folded for easy transportation. The design incorporates easily adjustable parts and attachments that mimic the functionality of larger, more expensive farming machinery, making it an ideal solution for small-scale farmers.

“It can do all these different tasks at the same time, saving time and energy. You can remove weeds and spray fertilisers at the same time. It eliminates the need for picking up heavy spray tanks and hiring labourers,” adds Ramdhan. 

It also comes with a bulb for farmers who wish to work at night and has a charger for the battery. 

Ramdhan’s father beams with pride as he speaks about his son’s innovation. 

“It made life so much easier for me. All manual tasks which would take time can now be done at a press of a button,” he shares. 

The latest prize money at the Indian Silicon Valley Challenge is a shot in the arm for Ramdhan, as he aims to get his machine market ready.

Even as most people in his village aim for a government job, Ramdhan is firm on becoming an entrepreneur and making his practical and cost-effective machine available to small-scale farmers across the country. 

With his family’s support clearly behind him, Ramdhan continues to refine his invention and dreams of wider adoption across farms in India.

“I want to make the lives of small farmers across the country less laborious and more profitable,” he concludes. 

Edited by Padmashree Pande, Images Courtesy Ramdhan Lodha

In 2022, Dhiren Solanki quit his fantasy of landing a government job to become a farmer. Unlike traditional agriculture practices, he turned to creating a livelihood out of donkeys!

Historically, donkeys have been primarily used as pack animals to pull ploughs and carts, deliver goods to market, collect water from wells, and in the construction industry. However, these donkeys are rarely used as agricultural animals like cows, buffaloes, and goats.

Interestingly, donkeys have become a good revenue source for Dhiren. At 22, he set up a multi-lakh business earning Rs 3 lakh per month by selling donkey milk. In conversation with The Better India, he explains how he stood out in making donkey milk a profitable farming business.

Donkey milk – a hidden gem

Like his father, Dhiren’s childhood aspiration was to pursue a career in teaching. So, after completing his schooling in science, he started preparing for the government examinations in 2020.

“There are limited vacancies for government jobs and there is too much competition in this field. Anyway, I appeared for many state and central-level examinations in February 2020 but I did not get any results. I was sitting idle for at least six months, I did not know what to do and was just waiting for my results. I was getting demotivated,” he says.

In early 2021, his father read about the donkey-rearing business in Karnataka and Kerala. “This concept was not at all popularised in the North. Although there is little demand for donkey milk in the country, it has huge demand in countries like Turkey, Malaysia, and China,” he adds.

“At a time when people are bothered by soaring prices of cow and buffaloes milk at Rs 60 per litre, they are not interested in buying donkey milk which is sold for Rs 3,500 a litre. But it has an international market and is widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries to make products like moisturisers, baby cream, and soaps,” he adds.

A 2020 research article reveals that donkey milk stimulates the immune system, regulates the gastrointestinal flora, and prevents inflammatory diseases. It has long been used as an alternative for infants and patients with Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA).

Dhiren says the demand for donkey milk also increased amid the COVID-19 pandemic to make immunity-boosting tablets. Other than its potential roles in human nutrition, donkey milk is used in ethnomedicine, and cosmetology, most likely due to its lysozyme content, and smoothing skin and scalp inflammations.

Considering a potential business opportunity, Dhiren shifted his focus to set up a donkey farm in his village Manund of Patan district, Gujarat.

Didn’t get held up after Rs 40 lakh losses

In 2022, Dhiren started TDS Donkey Farm without any formal training. For this, he also took a loan of Rs 37 lakh to buy 20 donkeys and set up a 40×30 feet shed.

“I took the risk as I was confident and positive. But I overlooked the risk and my decision turned out to be wrong,” he says.

“I thought that I would purchase donkeys, milk them one day, and sell their milk the next day. This was not at all possible. I did not consider its low shelf life. There was no proper local market for it and it could not be sent abroad in its liquid form via plane or ship due to this,” he shares.

In the first year, he incurred losses up to Rs 40 lakh as he had to throw 3,000 litres of milk down the drain. The only solution was to transport the milk abroad by converting it into dry powder form for transportation. But it took him a year to understand this and find suitable companies that did this process.

“I sought help from a marketing company and bought their annual package of Rs 3.5 lakh which brought in customers. After more than a year, I got my first order of 50 kg milk powder,” he adds.

By that time, Dhiren had already stored 200 kg of milk powder. He shares, “It takes 17 litres of milk to make one kg powder. It is sold for Rs 63,000 per kg in the international market,” he adds.

After initial hiccups, Dhiren was able to scale up the business and gradually expanded his farm to 50 donkeys. The current daily milk production at his farm is about 15 litres.

He adds that he also ensures the general well-being of the donkeys at his farm. “We make sure that the donkeys are not exploited for milk. In our village, we have a veterinary hospital very close to our farm. We get them treated and vaccinated for tetanus every year and give them B-complex supplements every month,” he adds.

Looking back at his success, Dhiren says, “With this work, I feel I have also been able to raise some respect for donkeys that are considered of no value in the Indian setup. Besides, I have also been able to get fame at a very young age. Had I been in a government job, nobody would have known of my existence,” he says.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Dhiren Solanki.

But what if you can grow these juicy delights easily at home in containers?

Delhi-based urban gardener Rashmi Shukla has been growing grapes on the rooftop of her house for the last seven years.

She says growing grapevines in a grow bag and container is not very cumbersome and can be done with little care. And as a bonus, your garden will be frequented by a lot of birds!

According to Rashmi, grapes can be grown through seeds as well as cuttings but gardeners should opt for a sapling. “It will substantially reduce the time taken for the plant to bear fruits. If you use seeds, it may take many years before fruiting while a sapling can fruit in three years if properly nurtured,” she adds.

Rashmi shares 10 things to keep in mind while growing grapes in containers.

1. Make sure the sapling brought from the nursery is healthy.
2. The rainy season is the best time to grow grapes.
3. Keep the plant in a small pot and keep repotting it as the plant grows. After about two years, it can be planted in a 24-inch size grow bag or pot.
4. To prepare the potting mix, mix 50 percent soil with 30 percent compost and 20 percent sand.
5. Keep the plant in a good sunny place as the grapevines will need six to seven hours of sunlight to bear fruit.
6. Keep watering it every day.
7. Keep adding good potassium and boron fertiliser to it every month.
8. During winter, all the leaves of the tree will fall from its vine. Put those leaves in the pot so that they turn into compost.
9. The vines will start growing after six months. Let them grow upwards with the support of a wire. Leave the main stem below so that more vines can form at the top.
10. When the clusters of fruit start appearing on the vine, wrap it with a handkerchief so that the fruits are not damaged by birds.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. Photo credit: Rashmi Shukla (Instagram)

This was the only career advice that Bihar-based Prabhat Kumar received from his father who was a farmer. Following his instruction, he went on to become an engineer and co-founded a healthcare company that allowed him to travel to at least 25 countries.

“I was winning several accolades and meeting successful people worldwide. But wherever I went, people would recognise my Bihari roots because of my accent. They would immediately shame me for coming from Bihar. Also, most Biharis who become IAS officers or engineers don’t come back to the state. When I got global exposure, people expected the same from me,” he tells The Better India.

“Their words would cause me pain. Although I was not very well-connected with my roots as I went to Jalpaiguri right after school to pursue my higher studies, I wanted to change this notion. More than the individual success, I felt it was high time that I work on the success of my native people instead of just mocking their circumstances,” adds the 35-year-old.

In 2015, Prabhat returned to his hometown in Gaya district and launched SumArth, a non-profit organisation that has impacted the lives of 25,000 farmers in 500 villages across six districts including Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad, Nawada, and Nalanda in Bihar.

Coming out of their shells

After coming to Gaya, Prabhat spoke to local farmers and understood the gaps in the industry. “Farmers believe that the kewal (black) soil in the region is not fit for cultivating crops other than paddy and wheat,” he shares. 

“Apart from this, they were dependent on dealers for seeds and fertilisers, and middlemen for sales. There was no favourable system in place. After toiling day and night for months, farmers were hardly earning Rs 10,000 from an acre in a year,” he shares.

“The biggest problem that I observed in traditional farming is that farmers have to bear recurring expenses for six months on fertilisers and pesticides, but will get a one-time return if climate conditions are favourable,” he adds.

Owing to the unprofitable farming, Prabhat says his cousins and friends back home would ask him to get them menial jobs in cities. “Despite the long working hours and discomforts of cities, they wanted to move outside Bihar for Rs 5,000- 10,000 monthly jobs as security guards but did not prefer to stay in the village to farm,” he adds.

However, Prabhat was hopeful of reaping benefits from farming and the same kewal soil. “After coming back, I convinced farmers to try horticulture crops and made a deal with them to get them jobs in the cities if we don’t succeed,” he says.

In 2015, Prabhat sent 10 farmers to Maharashtra to understand the potential of horticulture crops. “A single farmer there was earning Rs 15 lakh from an acre of land by growing horticulture crops like pomegranate, grapes, and onions. Contrarily, the entire village here could not imagine earning this amount,” he laughs.

“That day, those farmers learnt how limited they were in terms of trying new crops and adopting farming techniques,” adds Prabhat.

Doubling incomes with cash crops

Filled with new hopes, the overjoyed farmers returned home to adopt horticulture crops. 

“They opted for onion cultivation as it is a nonperishable crop and its price increases by four times if you have good storage facilities. I asked the farmers to spare 10 percent of their land to grow onions. Meanwhile, I invested in building a low-cost storage facility with cross ventilation,” explains Prabhat.

After 4-5 months, farmers doubled their income by investing Rs 4 per kg and getting Rs 10 per kg from onions. “Each farmer earned Rs 1 lakh income per acre of land,” he shares.

With the low-cost storage facility, farmers stored onions for six months from May to October in 2016. “But the unit would be vacant for the rest of the time. So, we introduced mushrooms for the utility of that part. It is a winter crop and was a perfect match to utilise our vacant facility in that period,” he says.

Talking about the switch to mushroom cultivation, he says, “Growing mushrooms was completely opposite from traditional agriculture. In conventional farming, farmers bear recurring expenses for one-time income whereas, in mushroom farming, there is a one-time expense to procure the bags and get recurring income daily. That was the need of the Indian agriculture system,” he shares.

Seeing the success of onion farming, 200 farmers joined Prabhat next year in 2017 to grow mushrooms. He informs that currently 2,000 farmers are producing around 600 kg of mushrooms per day whereas 5,000 are reaping benefits by growing onions.

After mushrooms, Prabhat trained farmers to grow seed corn, baby corn, and strawberries which gave immediate results and better income. In 2023, he also set up Gaya’s largest processing unit with a 10,000 kg per day capacity to process crops to increase their shelf life from 24 hours to 24 months.

Talking about his role, Prabhat says, “We provide an end-to-end solution to these farmers by helping them procure inputs, training them to learn new crops, and awareness on seed treatment to prevent future fungal attacks and boost production. We are also providing them with a marketplace to sell their produce.”

Starting with 10 farmers, today Prabhat is associated with 25,000 farmers in 500 villages who earn double by growing crops like onions, mushrooms, baby corn, and sweet corn. 

On average, he says the initiative has helped farmers double their income. Interestingly, these farmers have collectively generated an income of Rs 100 crore in the past 10 years and Rs 23 crore in the last financial year.

“It is so satisfying to see the impact. However, I still feel this is not enough. We want to increase farmer income to five times so that we do not lag behind progressive states like Maharashtra. In the coming years, I am planning to achieve this by helping farmers process their produce into value-added products,” he adds.

Edited by Padmashree Pande; All photos: SumArth.

Typically, avocados are grown in northeast India, parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, as they require temperatures between 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. According to a Krishi Jagran document, avocado is a tropical to subtropical fruit that struggles with the hot and frosty winds of North India.

“I imported 10 saplings from Israel, and now I have a 10-acre avocado plantation in Bhopal,” he tells The Better India.

But how did this urban farmer manage to successfully grow avocados in Bhopal? He provides an insight into his journey.

‘Farming was never my plan’ 

Born and raised in Bhopal, Harshit says that farming was not even “remotely on his plans for the future”. 

From a very young age, he was interested in marketing and after his schooling, he went to the UK to study business. 

“No one from my family is in farming and neither did I ever think that I would end up in the agriculture sector. In 2017, I was pursuing a BBA degree and wanted to make a career in marketing,” he says. 

Harshit was very interested in health and fitness and that is what led him to pursue agriculture.

“Avocados were very easily available to us and high in nutrition. I used to love eating them and consumed them almost every day in the UK. One day, I just flipped the box and saw the packing which said it was made in Israel,” he says. 

Taken aback, he started researching more on how a dry and hot country like Israel can grow avocados. 

“I was aware of the kind of soil and temperature it needed to grow. It needs a temperature below 30 degrees and acidic soil with good drainage. I was very intrigued and wanted to learn more about how Israel did it with such high temperatures,” he says. 

“Upon research, I found out that Israel has successfully grown various varieties under controlled conditions and has even made new hybrid varieties. The country has been exporting the fruit for decades now,” he adds. 

A market enthusiast, Harhsit realised that the trend of eating the fruit would soon catch up. 

“There is a huge demand for the fruit in the west which means that it will reach India soon. This gave me an idea and an opportunity to capitalise on it. I thought that if I can enter the market early on, it will lead to greater profits,” he explains.

Harshit was enthusiastic about learning farming from the farmers in Israel and decided to try it out in India. “I decided to cut short an internship I was doing at the time and go to Israel. I found a farmer who was gracious enough to help me learn the entire process. I stayed with him, and he taught me the ins and outs of avocado farming,” he says.

How to grow healthy avocadoes? 

Discussing his routine in Israel, he says, “My daily routine there started with waking up at 5 am. We would work in the fields only during the morning hours until 10. Then, in the afternoon, he would introduce me to various industry experts, such as the greenhouse managers, irrigation specialists, exporters, and marketers.” 

After his training period, he invited them to India. “I brought my farmer friends over in 2018. My mentor and the nursery owner conducted soil tests and assessed the climate conditions in Bhopal. They also visited other farms growing citrus and mango. After evaluating the area, they suggested that a garden could thrive in Bhopal.” 

They identified specific avocado varieties that would be suitable for the city. “This made me realise that while India lacks high-quality avocados and specific varieties, Israel has excellent rootstocks,” he says. 

So, he decided to import these rootstocks from Israel and began planning his first consignment, which took place in 2019.

“However, the import process turned out to be lengthy, complicated, and full of regulations that I needed to adhere to. In 2019, I struggled with the import procedure, causing my consignment to be delayed until 2020,” he says

He continues, “Then, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and both India and Israel went into lockdown. This resulted in yet another delay of one year for my consignment.”

“Finally, in 2021, I received my first shipment of avocado plants from Israel, which I planted in my own orchards,” he says. 

Harshit was able to grow this batch of avocados in a polyhouse nursery the same year. 

“While I have not made the fruit commercial yet, the yield was shared among my friends and family,” he says.

“Before I planted the avocado plants, they were kept in the nursery until 2023. Finally, in March 2023, I planted them in the fields. This will be the first year the crop will be commercially viable,” he says. 

Harshit now sells avocado plants all over India. 

Harshit says that he uses Israeli technology to irrigate his plants. “We employ advanced techniques that allow us to control water distribution precisely to the root zone of each plant. Instead of using flood irrigation, which wastes a significant amount of water, we ensure that each plant receives the exact amount of water and fertiliser it needs every day.”

Therefore, regardless of the topography of the orchard, you will have an even distribution of water for each and every plan, he stresses. 

Tips for new urban farmers

When planting avocados, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

Harshit says that you need a reliable water source or should practise rainwater harvesting, especially if you’re in hot climatic conditions.

“In regions like the Northeast, natural rainwater is usually sufficient. For other areas like Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, or Chhattisgarh, a dependable water source is crucial,” he adds.

Another key consideration is choosing the right variety of avocado plants. “I offer a 100% buy-back guarantee, ensuring that my customers won’t have any problems selling their produce. I source the plants from Israel, where extensive research has been conducted on avocados over the last 60 years.”

Israel has developed varieties resistant to drought and poor water quality that yield high productivity even in extreme climates.

“In contrast, the plants sold in South India for Rs 500 each may be grown from random avocado seeds and then grafted, leading to variability in quality. My plants, which cost Rs 2,500 each, are grown on commercial rootstocks of specific avocados developed in Israel,” he explains. 

Avocado plants consist of two parts: the rootstock (the part below the graft) and the cultivar. The rootstock imparts certain properties to the entire plant, such as high yield and manageable canopy size. This allows for easier harvesting at heights of just 10 to 12 feet.

Choosing the right rootstock and variety, as well as seeking the appropriate support, is essential.

“Remember, different climates require different management practices and techniques. For instance, the methods used in South India differ from those used in Central India where I am based. Expecting similar results from cheaper plants without considering these factors may lead to disappointment,” he adds.

(Edited by Padmashree Pande; All Pictures Credit: Harshit Godha)

Its irresistible beauty, tranquil environment, and rocky mountainscape attract thousands of tourists every year. However, one of its residents, Ashish Negi, was deprived of its charm when he moved out for work in crowded cities.

“I have always admired our tribal ways of living — quaint village setting, simplicity of people, culture, and traditions that have been followed for thousands of years. My village in Kinnaur is a gem of a mountain place. We have a very small population and the pollution level is almost zero,” Ashish, who hails from Huri village, tells The Better India.

Despite his strong longing, he would be able to come back to his hometown only once a year. Eventually, in 2011, he quit his four-year-long career in mechanical engineering to move to his village permanently.

More than the desire to reconnect with his roots, Ashish yearned to look after his ancestral apple orchards that were lying unattended. “While Kinnaur is known worldwide for its apples, our orchards were abandoned as there were no young members in my family to look after them. The land was losing its richness and I couldn’t bear that. It was one of the prime reasons why I decided to come back,” he shares.

Not only did Ashish restore his apple orchards but also became a saviour to at least 1,000 small apple farmers of Kinnaur. Today, he runs a startup ‘Kayang’ to supply Kinnauri apples to customers directly — saving them from a vicious circle of middlemen.

Homecoming and the moment of truth

After coming back to his village, the first thing Ashish did was to learn how to become a farmer before entering into the apple business. He picked up a shovel and started working on the apple orchard, which he says was not in great shape. It took him three to four years to make the 15-bigha farmland cultivable.

Today, he owns the 1,500 apple trees in his orchard and also grows other crops — including wild apricots, pulses, rajma (red kidney bean), seasonal vegetables, and buckwheat.

When he went to the local market to sell his produce, he observed that the tribal growers were at the mercy of middlemen. Sharing his first-hand experience, he says, “The whole market system was totally corrupt, biased, and against farmers. It favoured big firms, companies, and middlemen. At least five distributors are involved before the apples reach from the grower to the consumer. These people benefit more than the grower.”

Ashish adds that Kinnauri apples are one of the most expensive ones in the world, and yet, the apple growers never receive their fair share. “They would get payment almost 15 to 20 days late or sometimes after six months; and in some cases, nothing at all. Apples were sold for Rs 300 per kg in the market but the grower would get only Rs 60 – five times less than its market value. This corrupt system has been in practice for 50 to 70 years, and nobody voiced the problems of these small farmers. Despite this, farmers had been working with utmost honesty” he shares.

It was heartbreaking for Ashish to see the market apathy for farmers. “Growing crops is not a cakewalk and growing apples is certainly not easy. Usually, any plant requires three or four months of care but apples require a minimum of nine to 10 months of care. We only harvest once a year and look after the tree for the remaining months. You’ll see an apple farmer every day in the field, come what may — pest attacks, hailstorms, unseasonal rains, and snow. They nurture and protect them like a baby,” he adds.

Being a farmer himself, Ashish decided it was high time to redirect the system.

There’s gold in them thar hills

In 2015, Ashish launched an online platform ‘Kayang’ to end the woes of farmers and bring them profits directly from end-consumers. The apples are directly sourced from small farmers. After sorting, grading, and packaging, the company transports them to consumers across India. For this, a team of 300 people is employed.

One of the farmers, Gajendra Singh tells The Better India, “Earlier, we had to spend our time, energy, and money on labourers to sort, pack, and transport produce to the local market. Despite all the hard work, we wouldn’t get decent pay because of middlemen. We would get payments only after a month.”

“Now, people from Kayang come to our orchards and take care of all the work from sorting apples to transporting them to end consumers. Initially, we would only get Rs 2,100 per peti [1 trunk = 22 kg of apples]. Now, we earn up to Rs 3,000 and get payments on the same day,” adds the 32-year-old, who earns Rs 15 lakh annually by selling the Royal Black variety of apples.

With the help of Kayang, Ashish says farmers have observed an income boost of up to 20 percent. The startup takes a profit margin of 2.5 percent to sustain the business.

Sold at Rs 350 per kg, these organically grown Kinnauri apples have major consumers in Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai.

Among the popular varieties grown in the region, their Royal ‘Black Gold’ apples have a huge demand among buyers. “Compared to the reddish-coloured apples, these are darker in colour and one of the costliest apples worldwide. That’s how it gets its name, Black Gold. Its taste, crunchiness, and juiciness add to its uniqueness. That’s why it has a high value. And these can be grown only in our region given our climatic conditions,” he says.

This year, Ashish aims to commercialise value-added products of these apples to further the income of regional farmers. “We aim to process apples into jams, vinegar, juices, and healthy dried apple chips. Our processing unit will be operational from September onwards,” he reveals.

Looking back at his city life, Ashish finds contentment in rural farm life. “I enjoy my field of work as I get to meet real India – its small farmers. With my work, I see improvements in front of me every day. These farmers were once in distress and at the mercy of middlemen. To be able to help them even on a very basic level is so fulfilling. We are not just helping a person, we’re helping the whole family and the community,” he adds.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Ashish Negi.

“I would ask my students to adopt a plant and grow it, but by the time the course ended, the plant had only grown a little bit. Since it takes longer for a fruit or vegetable to grow, the activity was not as fruitful as I hoped,” she shares in a conversation with The Better India.

This is when she discovered an alternative: growing microgreens. At the time, she was not aware that what began as a way to make farming more engaging for her students would later become a career path for her.

“Microgreen plants require less time to grow, which makes them an excellent option for my students to cultivate. However, as I began to explore them further, I realised they are nutrient-dense and are considered a superfood,” she says.

Currently, Aditi is the founder of Mali Greens, a business that offers over 18 different varieties of microgreens to more than 900 customers across the city. We talked to her extensively about the intricacies of running a microgreens business and how you can start one yourself.

‘Entrepreneurship is in my blood’ 

Born and raised in a business family, Aditi says that she has been learning and doing marketing for her father since she was a child. “Business is in my blood. I have been around businessmen my whole life. However, as I grew up, I started to drift a little towards other things,” she says. 

In her graduation, she opted for Urban Planning and fell in love with the way villages work. “I fell in love with the rural lifestyle. The city life is good but if I was given a choice, I would have lived in a smaller city or farming in a village,” she says. 

This love was nurtured over time and she decided to study urban farming and nutrition. 

“However, I was a commerce student in school and I was told that I could not do a masters in farming. I was adamant and wanted to learn urban farming which is why I decided to look for colleges outside India. I found one in the UK and got admitted into it,” she says. 

The course went beyond mere farming; it delved deeply into the nutrition we require. “When I returned, I began teaching as a visiting faculty member at several colleges in Ahmedabad. Watching my students grow microgreens inspired me to try it out myself,” she says, adding that previously her work and life got in the way.

. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were all confined to our homes, I decided to give it a try. I had an empty guest room, which I converted into a space to grow microgreens,” she says.

She continues, “I found the whole process very intriguing, and decided to take it up as a business. I decided to set up my own farm and grow microgreens commercially.” 

This laid the foundation of Mali Greens in 2021. “I started with growing 1 kg of microgreens at home and now my farm can grow 50 kg of microgreens in one harvest,” shares Aditi. 

Why microgreens? 

Falling between the categories of a baby green and a sprout, microgreens are nutrition-packed herbs and vegetables. According to a Healthlinearticle, “They often contain higher nutrient levels than more mature vegetable greens. This makes them a good addition to any diet.” 

Aditi believes that India still doesn’t have a lot of knowledge about the superfood microgreens. 

“When I am at the farmer’s market or at pop-ups and am interacting with the people, I realise that there is a lot of unawareness among them. Including these little pockets of nutrition in your daily diet can really do wonders for your body. They contain large amounts of vitamins B, K and C, folic acid, magnesium, minerals and antioxidants, which have immense health benefits,” she says. 

“When you consume 20-30 gm of a microgreen vegetable, you are eating double the nutritional value of the same amount of regular vegetables,” she adds. 

Aditi believes that growing microgreens with the right tools and guidance can be done, adding that you can simply start at home. 

Behind the scenes of growing microgreens

Talking about the harvesting process of microgreens, Aditi says, “We have a vertical farm and we do it indoors. The microgreens take an average of 5 to 7 days to grow, but it also depends on the variety. We deliver them according to the demand.” 

After several trials and errors, Aditi has developed a method. “We use chemical-free seeds to grow our microgreens. We are very organic in our methods and do not use any pesticides. On day one, we grow them in a dark room and once they sprout, we bring them to the light room. We harvest only on demand to reduce wastage.” 

This also ensures that the delivery is fresh and natural. “If we overproduce at all, we feed it to stray animals,” she says. 

Growing the power-packed superfoods can come with a set of challenges. Talking about it, Aditi says, “Since the concept is still relatively new, there are not many resources available to set up a microgreen farm.” 

“From the racks to the boxes, sourcing raw materials was challenging. We repurposed trays for use in our setup. For the soil, I experimented with different combinations of soils and cocopeat to find the right mix after a lot of trial and error. There were no direct predecessors to learn from, so I relied on online resources and YouTube videos to understand the process,” she says.

Creating a balance between the demand and scaling the farm was another challenge that Aditi faced.

“It is tricky to develop a balance between demand and supply of the microgreen. We are still learning on the go and there is nothing much we can do but learn from last year’s mistakes,” she says. 

Things to keep before starting a microgreens business 

1. Market your product before growing microgreens, Aditi advises. “It is difficult to make people understand what they are and why they should consume it. Once you have found your market, you can start investing money into a farm.” 

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A post shared by Mali Greens by Aditi Mali – Microgreens, Lettuce, Exotic Veg (@maligreens)

2. Microgreens need constant temperature monitoring. “So make sure that you do not buy a farm in an electricity-deficient area. The farm will need constant monitoring and supply of electricity and water.” 

3. Growing microgreens is like raising babies. “When I started doing it, the first six months I had even stopped going out. I had to dedicate myself completely. You have to water them thrice a day and keep a sharp eye for pesticides. So, it is a big commitment,” she says. 

4. Understand your surroundings well. If you are in a city, where the weather is similar to Bengaluru and Pune, then your cost to set up a commercial farm will be somewhere around Rs 5 lakh. However, if you are in drier areas, the cost can go up to Rs 10 lakh. 

5. Being patient is the key to growing any plant, she says. “While the microgreens do not take much time to grow, there is a lot of scope for things to go wrong. And things will go wrong, so having patience and doing things over and over again is the key,” she says. 

Want to know more about microgreens? Visit the website here.

(Edited by Padmashree Pande; All picture credit: Aditi Mali)

Rasik Nakum’s family had similar ambitions for him as well. He succeeded in getting a job as a government teacher. However, while his family of farmers rejoiced at this news, the Rajkot resident had other plans. 

Watching his father and grandfather toil on the fields, the 33-year-old was well aware of the problems they faced. Almost a decade ago, he came across an article in the newspaper which spoke about a pesticide being banned after it caused skin and health issues to farmers.

This article left a deep impact on Rasik, prompting him to delve into the subject and look for solutions. He chanced upon hydroponics, a soilless cultivation technique that uses a water-based nutrient solution. 

What struck him about this method besides its innovativeness was the fact that it provided a perfect solution to some of the biggest problems faced in modern agriculture –water scarcity and lack of space. He was so enamoured by this that he took the bold step of quitting his much-coveted government job to embark on a journey which was deemed ‘impractical’ and ‘unnecessary’ by everyone around him.

Rasik has proven the naysayers wrong by establishing a thriving hydroponics farm on his terrace, where he grows over 25 vegetables. That’s not all – the teacher is on a mission to teach this technique to all and sundry. So far, he has equipped over 5,000 people with this farming method through his ‘One Farm Hydroponics’ venture.

His larger vision is to teach hydroponics to everyone for free, through his Maruti Nandan Charitable Trust. 

“We are born to serve others. I’ve found my purpose through teaching a better way to grow plants,” Rasik shares with The Better India.

A practical solution to climate change

It was almost a decade ago that Rasik first heard about hydroponics. After reading about the adverse effects of chemical farming, he researched organic and modern farming methods. However, another major issue faced by his family was water scarcity, which rendered traditional organic farming methods ineffective.

“We are staring at a big water crisis in the future and hydroponics vertical farming is a great solution for that. It uses less water and space to provide higher produce,” explains Rasik. This method is a win-win for big city-dwellers.

After almost a year of research, the farmer tried his hand at hydroponic cultivation on his terrace with a modest setup of 50 plants. He visited agricultural universities, spoke to scientists to gain more knowledge about this technique. 

Despite all his efforts, he didn’t get the results he desired. The first year was a failure as the crops didn’t grow. 

The 33-year-old then went back to the drawing table and checked the mistakes he made. 

“There are many important factors like temperature, humidity, pH levels. I had not purchased the instrument to measure the pH and TDS (total dissolved solids) levels,” he adds.

After more trial and error, he finally cracked the perfect conditions and reaped the fruits of his labour right from his terrace. 

Today, he grows lettuce, basil, spinach, coriander, chilli, brinjal, strawberries and over 25 other vegetables.

The word hydroponics comes from ‘hydro’ meaning water and ‘ponos’ meaning toil or labour, literally translating to ‘working water’. Interestingly, while hydroponics has gained popularity today, it’s been around since time immemorial; seen even in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the floating gardens of the Aztecs in Mexico and more. 

Since then, with the advent of technology, greenhouses, scientists have developed some tools and systems to make it effective and efficient. 

Rasik uses the method of vertical farming by employing the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT). This technique uses pumps to circulate a thin film of nutrient solution through shallow channels, where plant roots can dip to receive nutrients, according to Pure Greens container farms.

The advantage of this technique, he states, is the usage of less water and space to enhance production.

Save water, no soil to get maximum yield

Once Rasik mastered the art of hydroponics, his terrace drew hundreds of visitors in Rajkot, including scientists. The increased interest also paved the way for awareness programs and his training centre, One Farm Hydroponics. 

For the past five years, he has been training students and farmers through various universities in Gujarat and Karnataka. This training is for one month and provides all the necessary information, dos and don’ts which the teacher learnt over his three years of trial and error. 

“I want to distribute my knowledge and create awareness that such a technique exists. The beauty is that it requires minimum water. The system consists of PVC pipes which supply nutrient-rich water solution directly to the roots of the plant. This water is then rotated and reused. Plants get nutrition through the water used,” he explains.

Over the past five years, he has trained over 5,000 people. Over time, Rasik felt the need to provide this information to more people for free, and started the Maruti Nandan Charitable Trust. 

“I want to conduct a mega city awareness campaign, and reach more people. It’s essential that people learn this technique that doesn’t need acres of land, saves water and needs no soil. I’ve always wanted to serve people, and this is my path,” says Rasik.

With a limited availability of arable land, hydroponics is a great option to fulfil the demand for vegetables judiciously. 

You can support Rasik’s mission to promote a sustainable alternative to traditional farming by contributing to the Maruti Nandan Charitable Trust. 

A/c Number: 41803167622
IFSC code: SBIN0011001

But is his family happy now? “They still think I shouldn’t have quit my job,” laughs Rasik, as he heads off to teach another batch of students the farming technique of the future.

Edited by Padmashree Pande

Known as mealy bugs, these thrips damage the developing buds. This problem  intensifies in summer and takes a toll on the plant. Apart from mealy bugs, the common insects that attack the hibiscus plant are spider mites and aphids.

Gorakhpur-based urban gardener Brahmadev Kumar says, “These insects suck the juice from the plants and gradually make the plant sick. Without timely intervention, your plant may die.”

He shares that people use chemical pesticides to get rid of these insects. “This chemical harms our plants and if given to fruit and vegetable plants, it will be harmful to our health too,” he adds.

The urban gardener suggests opting for organic alternatives. He shares three secret and simple solutions to control pest attacks using household ingredients like liquid dishwash, neem leaves, garlic, ginger, and chillies.

Neem insect repellent

• Fill a vessel with water and boil neem leaves. Boil the content till its volume reduces to half.
• After the water cools down, filter it and fill it in a bottle. You can prepare this water in bulk as it can be stored in a shady place for 2-3 months.
• Make garlic paste and mix it in a glass of water. Filter this mixture and mix it with neem water.
• Take a spray bottle and fill half of the bottle with normal water. To this, add a spoonful of refined oil and liquid hand wash each. Mix it well.
• Pour water containing garlic and neem into this spray bottle. Mix all the contents. Your organic insect repellent is ready to use. Spray it on your plants twice a week.

Insect repellents should always be sprayed on the plants in the evening or night. The following morning, you should spray normal water on your plants.

Dish soap spray

Brahamdev says you can also use soap water to get rid of pests. “Take a spoonful of liquid dishwash or shampoo in a litre of water. Spray this mixture on the plants. You can also use a jet sprayer that removes the pests by spraying water with force on all the plants. However, this method is effective only when the pest infestation has just begun,” he adds.

3G mix: ginger, garlic, green chillies

The urban gardener suggests preparing effective pest repellent using garlic, ginger, and green chilies.

“Make a paste of these three ingredients and mix it in water. Cover this mixture for a few hours. Filter it and fill it in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture on plants once a week or at an interval of 10 days to prevent plants from pest attack,” he says.

Edited by Khushi Arora.

However, indiscriminate usage of chemical fertilisers and pesticides started degrading soil quality and water bodies in the region. “While farmers relentlessly used chemicals to get more production in less time, it gradually destroyed our soil to an extent that it started losing its richness,” Abdul Ahad Lone tells The Better India.

Abdul’s family was among one of these farmer families until 2002 when he converted his 40 kanal (5 acres) land into an organic farm. To achieve this, the progressive farmer learned to make vermicompost – worm manure that enhances soil structure, fertility, and drainage.

With vermicompost, not only did Abdul improve his farmland fertility but also turned it into an additional source of income. Today, the farmer makes vermicompost in 1,000 beds with a daily production of five tonnes, earning him a daily income of Rs 50,000. Last year, his annual turnover was Rs 1.5 crore!

Boarding the gravy train

It was in 1996 that Abdul first heard of organic farming. On a train journey from Mumbai to Kashmir, Abdul met an organic farmer from Sikkim who explained the long-term perils of inorganic farming. Although the train journey came to an end, he embarked on a new path to adopt organic farming in his family farm.

“I remained in touch with Swagata. Back then, there was no YouTube, so we would discuss organic farming methods on the landline network. In 2002, she advised me to prepare vermicompost to get more production from the organic farm,” he says.

“Vermicompost is rich in nitrates and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. These work as excellent organic fertilisers and enhance soil quality,” he says.

The progressive farmer went on to take a 15-day training from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Anantnag, to understand the nitty-gritty of vermicompost making. “I was a curious farm boy. The training increased my interest to implement the learnings,” he says.

Utilising raw materials – cow dung, agricultural and kitchen waste – available at home, Abdul began preparing vermicompost for his organic farm. For this, he spent Rs 10,000 to establish a small shed, a pit, and tarpaulin sheets. He used organic manure and much to his expectation, Abdul got double production from his farm of apples, walnuts, paddy, vegetables, maize, and peaches. The production kept increasing day by day.

Empowering unemployed villagers with waste

Seeing his success, local farmers started frequenting Abdul’s production unit to understand the benefits of vermicompost. “Gradually, they started buying vermicompost in small quantities from me. The demand grew when they observed good production compared to inorganic farming,” he adds.

Abdul felt that the vermicompost had the potential to be turned into a business. By 2009, he scaled up the work to a commercial level and started selling worm manure under the label Ahad Agro Farms. Soon after, his sales surged and he started getting repeat orders from local farmers.

To cater to the demand, he constructed 350 vermi beds. “I prepare vermicompost using the bed method where composting is done on the kaccha floor by making beds of organic manure. Earlier, I used to prepare it in cemented pits but had to discard this method as it did not provide a safe environment for worms to thrive,” he says.

“Worms require optimum heat to survive in the harsh winter of Kashmir. There was a time when I found most of my worms to be dead. However, there was one cemented pit that was kaccha in one corner. The worms had found their way into the soil through it and survived the winter. This gave me an idea to keep them in open beds so that they seep into the ground when it snows outside and come out in summer,” he adds.

Abdul manages to sell at least 5 tonnes of vermicompost daily to local farmers in Jammu and Kashmir. With his efforts, almost the entire Simthan village has discarded chemical fertilisers to use organic manure. 

Annually, he manufactures 36,000 bags of 50kg each. “But there is a huge demand for vermicompost in entire Kashmir. With the current production, I am catering to only 10-15 villages. I am planning to boost production to 1 lakh bags now,” he adds.

Using his business model, Abdul has also encouraged unemployed residents in his village to take up the vermicompost business by giving free training. As of now, around 25 rural youth and 150 women homemakers trained by him are running their units across Kashmir.

For his work, Abdul has received several national-level awards including the Progressive Farmer and the Entrepreneur Award by the Government of India. 

He has also received the best farmer award by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), and recognition by the Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat governments.

“I am humbled to get recognition from so many states. As part of it, I met many ministers and governors but my real award is to empower these homemakers and rural youth who are now earning char paise (additional income) from what was a waste to them. Earlier, they would get Rs 100 by selling 50 kg of cow dung, but now they are earning Rs 400 by just converting it into vermicompost. It gives me immense satisfaction when I pay them,” he adds.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Abdul Ahad Lone.

“These days, people put chemicals to artificially ripen fruits. Fruits are coated with wax and chemicals to make them glossy. We are blessed to eat fruits that are completely chemical-free and organically grown. Our fruits are comparatively sweeter than those available in the market,” she says as I prepare to ask Jayanti all about her journey that led to her turning her very home into a mini jungle.

Her 350 sq ft terrace, along with her three-storey house covering a total area of around 1,500 sq ft, is thriving with a diverse array of plants. “There is no vacant place left in my home where I could add more pots. I wish I had more space,” she laughs.

Jayanti, now 56 years old, narrates that it was during her childhood she took a keen interest in gardening. Growing up in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, a young Jayanti lived along with her six siblings and parents.

“All of us lived in a small home. My father would grow fruits and vegetables in the backyard and we helped him in gardening. We would be very excited to fetch water from the well and water all the plants together. He would teach us how to take care of plants. It was fun to be in the garden,” she recalls.

This piqued her interest in gardening and her desire to create a small garden of her own. “My father would not grow flowering plants. But I always desired to grow roses and rajanigandha (tuberose). So, when I grew up, I set up a small garden of roses and other flowers. My father would bring guests to my garden and proudly say that this was his daughter’s garden,” she smiles.

In 1989, when the BSc graduate got married, she took her gardening interest to her husband’s home along with her clothes and jewellery! “My husband’s place did not have many plants except bananas and drumsticks. I started planting flowering plants like marigolds and bougainvillaea,” she says.

Once, Jayanti visited an offline exhibition where she was introduced to the concept of grafting. “I saw trees like mangoes, oranges, and chikoos were grown in a pot! Before this, I had only seen these trees on large farms. Unlike them, these fruit trees were just 5 to 8 feet in height, but they were yielding fruits. I was eager to grow such fruit trees at my home,” she adds.

Jayanti’s quest led her to create a mini jungle on her terrace and in her house. Along with seasonal vegetables like brinjals, cucumber, okra, spinach, tomatoes, radish, and more, she cultivates 17 kinds of fruit trees — including guavas, pomegranates, oranges, cherries, star fruit, white jamun, mulberries, apple bear, water apple, mangoes, and chikoos on her terrace.

“In all, I grow flowers, fruits, and vegetables in my house spread across a total area of about 1,500 square feet including the terrace and balconies,” she reiterates.

In this article, Jayanti shares secret tips and techniques that have helped her to grow fruits in her rooftop garden, which can help you too.

Grow your own fruits with these 8 tips

1. Place the fruit trees strategically

As per Jayanti, urban gardeners should first ensure a proper drainage system on the terrace so that it does not absorb excess water.

“Secondly, keep your pots such that they are placed above the beams and walls of the rooms that are below the terrace. This will ensure that the weight of trees is balanced and the foundation of the house does not get damaged,” she says.

2. Upcycle discarded fish crates

Instead of large pots, Jayanti plants fruits in fish crates of 27*17*12 inches. “I purchase discarded fish crates at lower prices in the fish market. I make holes at its bottom and then add the soil mixture. These fish crates are very sturdy. I am still using fish crates that I bought 20 years ago,” she adds.

3. Prefer grafted saplings

“Earlier, people would grow fruits from seeds, but this process takes five to seven years to give yield. In contrast, grafted plants give produce within a year. Initially, I plant the sapling into a small pot of say 15 inches before transferring it into the fish crates. After about a year, the plant will be root-bound enough to be shifted into a comparatively large fish crate,” she says.

4. Prepare the right soil mixture

Jayanti says preparing a perfect soil mix for pots is an extremely important step as its components act as true boosters for fruit trees that are typically grown in large farmland.

“When you grow fruit trees on the terrace, you should prepare a lightweight potting mixture. Mix 30 percent garden soil with 30 percent cow dung compost, 30 percent cocopeat, 5 percent of neem khali (cake) powder, and 5 percent of bonemeal powder. Before transferring the mix into the pot, place a thick layer (4-5 inches) of dried leaves on the pot which will turn into compost later on,” she suggests.

5. Add liquid fertiliser to boost growth

“When grown on a farm, trees take nutrients from the soil, but when we grow them in pots, we need to provide them with additional nutrients regularly,” says Jayanti.

“To provide additional nutrients, take 1 kg mustard cake and 250 grams of neem khali powder and mix it in 5 litres of water. Stir it and then keep it under shade for five days. Mix 1 litre of this liquid fertiliser in 10 litres of water and give the diluted fertiliser to the plant every 15 days. This liquid fertiliser helps boost the flowering and fruiting in the trees,” she adds.

6. Deal with pests early on

Jayanti regularly sprays neem oil to control pest and insect attacks. “Usually, I handpick bugs from plants and remove leaves where they lay eggs. I have also used sticky fly traps to control fruit flies,” she says.

7. Know when to prune trees

In order to keep getting good yields, Jayanti advises urban gardeners to keep pruning trees every two to three years. “If you avoid pruning, then you’ll start getting fruits that are smaller in size. Pruning helps maintain tree size and maximise fruit quality,” she says.

8. Provide additional nutrients for rootbound trees

“After three to four years, urban gardeners should dig out a thick layer of soil (say 3-4 inches) and replace it with cow dung compost, bonemeal, and neem khali powder. Place a thin layer of soil above this and then water the soil. This will help you get good-sized fruits in the long run,” she shares.

Jayanti’s techniques have helped her get sufficient fruits for the past three decades. She now eagerly awaits to harvest mangoes from her garden!

For the homemaker, gardening is more than a fun hobby. “It brings me immense mental peace and contentment. It is part of my everyday routine. My entire day goes by taking care of their nutrients and protecting them from diseases and pests. I raise these trees like my children,” smiles Jayanti.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Jayanti Sahoo.

At 40, Srikanth is reaping significant profits from his floriculture venture. He cultivates 12 varieties of flowers across his 40-acre farmland near Doddaballapura, Bengaluru.

With customers from all across the country, Srikanth earns a turnover of Rs 70 crore in a year, working with a team of more than 200 people from across rural Karnataka. 

However, while these numbers seem staggering, the road to success for Srikanth was not a bed of roses.

“I worked for Rs 1,000 per month because I needed the money. It was determination and patience that led me to where I am today,” Srikanth shares in a conversation with The Better India.

So, how did a young Srikanth forge his way to success, and how can you enter the floriculture industry? Here’s his story.

Farming in his blood

Born and raised in a family of farmers in the Nizamabad district of Telangana, Srikanth describes his idea of work to be just farming.

“In my head, there was no other profession for me. Farming felt like an obvious choice to me,” he says. 

However, farming did not benefit the family much. 

“We were drowning in poverty and debt. There were so many challenges with the profession and very less profits. I wanted to get educated but I was in class 10 when my parents told me that they can no longer fund my education,” he shares. 

Stricken with poverty, he had to work to support the family income. “I was 16 and had to start working. I got an opportunity to work with a relative in Bengaluru. We had heard that floriculture was gaining momentum there and I decided to join the relative,” he says. 

In 1995, Srikanth moved to Bengaluru with dreams of doing something. “However, the money that I was being paid was very little. It was only a thousand rupees a month, but I had little choice,” he says. 

After working for a year, Srikanth equipped himself with the tricks of the trade, learning everything from cultivation, harvesting, marketing, and even export of the flowers.

“I could clearly see that there was immense potential in the business and I decided to take a leap of faith and do something of my own. Back then, with no financial support and very little savings, I started to source flowers from farmers and trade them,” he says. 

In 1997, he opened a small flower shop in the city. “I did that for more than a decade and was making reasonable profits. However, I had an urge to do more. I knew there was immense potential if you knew the right flowers to grow,” he shares. 

Wanting to start his farm, Srikanth decided to start growing his own flowers. “I had a lot of contacts in the industry, including buyers and other floriculturists. White the idea of buying my own land and starting a farm was alluring, it came with its own set of challenges,” he says. 

A multi-crore flower empire

The first challenge that he was presented with was investment. “The per acre investment in a flower farm is much more than a traditional farm. Since the investment is high, the risks are high too,” he explains. 

While Srikanth had some savings, he also turned to the government for support. “The government gives a lot of support to individuals like me. I drew up a plan and approached the National Horticulture Board to get loans and subsidies,” he shares. 

Accumulating loans from the government and investing all his savings into buying his first piece of land. He started with 10 acres and has now grown to 52 acres of farmland. 

Talking about the other difficulties that he faced while setting up the farm, he says, “Farming does come with a bunch of risks, especially with changes in climate conditions. As a young man in the business, it was very difficult for me to garner the trust of investors and banks. Once that was done, things became easier.”

Srikanth grows 12 varieties of flowers in his 52-acre farmland. These flowers include Roses, Gerbera, Carnations, Gypsophila among others that are grown organically in greenhouses and polyhouses.  

“We try to be as organic and sustainable as possible while cultivating our flowers. All the waste that is produced once the flowers are ready to be shipped is used to make vermicompost which is in turn used to fertilise the plant,” he informs. 

Being in the industry for decades, Srikanth has learned a few lessons that he carries and shares with everyone. 

“There is a general trend in the society, especially in the youth, to not become farmers. This is mostly because of the idea that there are no profits. However, if you play your cards right, there is a lot of money to be made in this industry,” he shares. 

“For all those who are wanting to enter the industry, it is a great time to be here. However, if you are in it for quick profits and subsidies, then this might not be the right choice. The art of growing flowers requires a lot of patience and hard work. You have to get your hands dirty and be vigilant with your flowers, water them, control pests etc. If you have the determination, nothing is impossible, all you need is faith and patience,” he adds.

Srikanth’s customers range from wholesalers, retailers, wedding planners and others spread all across the country.

Looking back at his journey so far, he says, “I wanted to study further as a young man but life seemed to have other plans. At one point, there was no planning. I was just following the path in front of me and worked hard, these are the only two things I did,” he notes. 

(Edited by Padmashree Pande)

This soil-less farming technique piqued the interest of the Barabanki district farmer.

“Israel has been extremely progressive in farming despite having a dry climate, limited water resources, and high population density,” he tells The Better India.

“With what they grew in an acre of land, they were able to export it to several countries. I wondered, if they were exporting produce from just one acre, why was I lagging behind despite owning 10 acres of land? I was not able to sell my produce even to the next village, let alone to the other countries,” he adds with a sigh.

Dheeraj was so fascinated by the technique that he went on to watch hundreds of related videos on hydroponics farming in Israel. His obsession led him to adopt the practice in his village Meenapur, Barabanki, which is well-known for cultivating traditional crops like wheat, maize and rice.

Early this year, Dheeraj made sales of Rs 3 lakh within two months by cultivating strawberries hydroponically.

Four problems, one solution

For the past 13 years, the BSc graduate has been growing traditional crops using conventional farming techniques. In fact, he used to grow strawberries on the open farm on five acres of land.

“The process was very cumbersome as it required a lot of land, mulching, and drip irrigation. Weeding is also a common issue in growing strawberries on land. To get rid of the unwanted grass, we had to employ agricultural labourers. The labour charges alone would cost us Rs 50,000 to remove weeds from a bigha of land,” he adds.

For Dheeraj, hydroponics farming seemed a panacea for all challenges.

In 2021, he went to Madhya Pradesh to undertake training by Dhakad Brothers to learn the hydroponics method of cultivation. “In hydroponics farming, you give nutrients to plants via water. A crop requires 13 kinds of nutrients including primary nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, secondary nutrients like calcium, sulphur, and magnesium, and tertiary nutrients like iron, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, molybdenum, and chlorine. These elements act as an essential catalyst for plant growth,” he explains.

“Although I knew the technique to give these nutrients via water, I did not know the ratio in which these elements were required to be given to the crop. The training helped me learn the approach,” he adds.

5x more produce in small space

Coming back, Dheeraj established a 3,500 sq ft hydroponics set-up on his farm. Thereafter, he planted 9,000 saplings of strawberries using coco peat as a medium.

“I used grow bags and filled them with cocopeat. In these grow bags, I connected four drippers for water supply and made four small holes for drainage. Next, I planted the saplings and supplied all the nutrients to the crop with water. With this method, I water the plant at a gap of a week, instead of running the water supply 24×7. Almost 70 percent of water gets absorbed in the media for plant growth,” he says.

It took Dheeraj 1.5 months and Rs 12 lakh to build the structure. 

“But it was all worth it. It is a one-time investment that reduces the overall input costs after a certain period. For five years, I do not have to worry about the maintenance of the system,” he says.

Within two months, Dheeraj was able to harvest 5 tonnes of strawberries and earned an income of Rs 3 lakh in the same period. “This method is far better than conventional farming. With hydroponics, I got five times more production in hydroponics compared to open-land farming,” he adds.

Highlighting the tasks farmers should be mindful of while adopting this method, he says, “Farmers need to monitor the hydroponics farm at least once every day. The strawberries are heavily attacked by pests and fungus. In land-based farming, we were forced to spray chemical pesticides indiscriminately. But in hydroponics, I was able to cut chemical inputs,” he says.

For this, he prepared a unique fungicide using curd. 

“In one litre of curd, add 50 grams of copper wires or a copper lota (spherical vessel). Keep the content for at least 15  days until the content becomes completely blue. Take 2 ml of this mixture and dilute it in 1 litre of water. Spray the diluted content on crops once every week throughout the season. This tackles fungi attack and gives a good yield,” he explains.

“Although I am extremely happy to reap benefits by adopting this new technique, initially I made some mistakes in getting good nutrients from the market. I got misled into buying nutrients from fraud companies. This delayed my production by 1.5 months. But I am confident that I will be able to earn up to Rs 10 lakh in the next season from the same setup,” says Dheeraj, who is currently cultivating red and yellow varieties of capsicum on the hydroponics setup.

Giving his example, Dheeraj advises other farmers to explore hydroponics farming. 

“This technique is not rocket science, any untutored farmer can reap handsome profits with hydroponics like me,” he suggests.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Dheeraj Verma.

On the dinner table were two engineers: her son and daughter-in-law, and her husband, who runs a cold storage business. They were intrigued by her idea and immediately started looking at how to make her vision a reality.

Conversations in the following weeks and months that followed were no longer about the everyday mundanities, but rather about how saffron could be cultivated indoors and how they could achieve the necessary climatic conditions.

Saffron, a highly valued spice, is exclusively grown in Kashmir, benefiting from its unique soil and weather conditions. Through trial and error, they replicated the climatic conditions of Kashmir in a cold storage room in Mainpuri using IoT (Internet Of Things).

Thus, by integrating technology, they planted the authentically sourced seeds in the cold storage chamber in August 2023, yielding their first harvest approximately three months later. Named ‘Shubhavni SmartFarms,’ they commenced selling their first produce of two kilograms of saffron earlier this year. They have sold over Rs 8 lakh worth of saffron and employed 25 women so far.

Here’s how Shubha achieved this remarkable feat.

A business trip to Kashmir

After completing her MA (Master of Arts) in Hindi from Shikohabad, Shubha got married and moved to Mainpuri. She spent the next 40 years of her life taking care of her two children: a son and daughter, and later her grandchildren.

It was only in the past few years that she started looking for avenues to start a business. “I wanted to put my time and life to good use. Luckily, I’m healthy and ready to do some hard work. At this stage of life, I want to find some purpose and meaning to it,” shares Shubha.

As agriculture is a major occupation in Mainpuri, she started looking at possible options of crops that could be grown indoors, thanks to her husband’s business because cold storage is a requirement for indoor farming.

“I would often meet farmers and women who worked as helpers in fields. They had a tough time providing for their families and educating their women. I wanted to employ these women through whatever venture I began,” Shubha tells The Better India.

She finally shortlisted mushrooms and saffron after months of research and feasibility studies, and decided to go ahead with saffron.

Known as kesar in Hindi, saffron is one of the most expensive spices globally. Iran holds the title of the largest producer of saffron, with India following suit. Within India, this spice finds cultivation exclusively in Jammu and Kashmir, owing to its favourable climate.

Shubha’s son Ankit started researching ways to grow the spice indoors using aeroponics. He also looked into the technology and sensors needed to monitor the crop.

Meanwhile, Shubha faced a dilemma regarding procuring seeds or saffron bulbs. She wasn’t content with simply ordering them from Kashmir without assessing the quality and gaining insights from local farmers. To address this, the family embarked on a trip to Kashmir for a week, engaging with farmers, immersing themselves in the cultivation process, and learning the dos and don’ts directly from the locals.

“We met about 25 to 30 farmers in Kashmir and spent many days with them. We wanted to learn about the kind of soil they use, the process of cultivating saffron, how long it takes, and which temperatures saffron thrives in. We also bought the bulbs from them,” says Ankit.

After coming back, Shubha set up a cold storage room of 560 square feet and started with 2,000 kg of saffron bulbs.

How do you grow saffron indoors?

After getting the saffron bulbs from Kashmir, which look like garlic pods, the first step was to dry them in a room and later aerate them for three days. They had to be checked, cleaned and turned every few hours by hand, which is traditionally done by women in Kashmir. Each seed was checked for moisture and rot, and any extra skin was removed through a process called silvering.

Once the seeds were aerated, they were placed in a cold room in vertical trays on racks. “There should be no water, moisture or humidity,” informs Ankit.

The bulbs started growing and buds emerged after a few days. Then, the challenge was to know when to provide light to the buds and at what temperature. While the beautiful valleys of Kashmir provide the perfect ambience which the buds enjoy, replicating them 1,200 km away was a massive task.

“In Kashmir, the bud receives light only when it comes out of the soil. Learning at what stage that happens and providing the right temperature was the biggest challenge. When we started, we placed bulbs in 18 racks in six rows and provided different temperatures and light to each rack to judge which one worked the best,” shares Ankit.

To achieve this, Shubha and Ankit went through 10 years of saffron production data in Kashmir. They found that the best harvest was achieved in 2015-16 and replicated the temperatures of that year. They developed a programme using IoT devices and sensors to maintain the right conditions and a controlled environment through aeroponics.

In about 60 days, the beautiful purple flower emerged and was ready for harvest!

Each saffron flower has three components — the stigma, which is used for consumption; the stamen, which is yellow and used in the textile industry; and the petals, which are purple and used in the textile industry too.

Once harvested, the stigma, more commonly known as saffron, must undergo drying and packaging. Shubhavni sells one gram of saffron for Rs 750. They are currently conducting online sales, with total sales amounting to Rs 8 lakh thus far.

While Ankit developed the system, it’s Shubha who maintains it and oversees the business. She learned about the technology employed, computer handling, the art of sales, and much more. She smiles as she says, “There’s no age limit to learning.”

She now plans to multiply production by tripling the area under production. She also wants to try for two harvests in a year, while typically only one harvest is done.

The advantage of growing saffron indoors

Shubha is one of the few people leading the shift towards indoor agriculture, especially in saffron. Many farmers in Kashmir too are making this switch, as climate change has severely hampered their saffron production. A report in The Wire states that the area under saffron cultivation in Kashmir has reduced from 5,707 hectares in 1996 to 1,116 hectares in 2020.

Indoor farming isn’t threatened by climate change, soil issues or developments nearby. It is essentially foolproof if one masters the art of maintaining the right temperature and settings.

Another advantage is the space needed for cultivation. “A farmer would typically sow 2,000 kg of saffron in 1.5 acres of land, while we are able to do the same in 560 square feet,” Ankit explains.

Shubha wants to create a saffron “revolution” and help more people grow the spice indoors. Through her venture, she is currently providing employment to over 20 women in Mainpuri, as the process of growing saffron is laborious. Right from drying the bulbs to plucking each stigma, drying, and packing them, it requires careful and precise work.

For women like Geeta Devi, it offers a dependable income. At 40 years old, she’s a mother of five and the primary provider for her family. Previously, she laboured in the fields under the scorching sun, struggling to make ends meet. Work was inconsistent, and income was meagre, she recalls. However, since joining Shubhavni Farms last July, her situation has improved.

“I enjoy the work here and brought in 20 more women. We were taught everything about saffron cultivation and did everything from aeration to keeping it clean and removing the stamen from the flower. We are working in a comfortable environment instead of bearing the harsh heat. We get paid at least Rs 100 more per day,” says Geeta.

It is Shubha’s dream to provide a regular source of income to more women like Geeta and ensure that their children have a better future. And to every woman wanting to start a business, she has one message, “Never underestimate yourself and your dreams.”

“I would like to believe that we are no longer a patriarchal society. We are equally capable. Self-reliance gives immense confidence and gives you an opportunity to inspire others. Even starting a small business will boost your happiness level and morale,” says Shubha.

Today, the Bhatnagar family’s dinner table conversations are about how the harvest has been and how they could achieve two harvests in a single year!

Edited by Pranita Bhat, Images Courtesy Ankit Bhatnagar

Instead of tossing the fruit out in bins and landfills, its rinds can be used to make an excellent compost. As the rinds are rich in nitrogen content, their scraps can nourish flower beds and vegetable gardens.

Anupama Desai, an urban gardener from Surat, says, “Although, we can prepare compost from all kinds of vegetables and fruits, using peels of seasonal vegetables and fruits is good for the growth of plants.”

“For instance, we throw away watermelon rinds in summer even though they contain potassium, phosphorus, calcium, carbohydrates, and many other micronutrients. Compost prepared from its rinds acts as a very good fertiliser for the growth of indoor plants,” she adds.

Besides, she shares that compost prepared at home is completely organic and also inexpensive. Watermelon rinds make a good liquid fertiliser and to prepare this, gardeners only require water, she notes.

Here, she shares a step-by-step guide to preparing compost from leftover watermelon rinds:

1. Toss out the watermelon rinds directly into the compost bin. However, she adds that chopping it into small pieces can reduce composting time as smaller pieces decompose faster, whereas large chunks of rinds have a significantly slower decomposition rate.

2. Transfer the chopped rinds to a plastic bucket. Fill this bucket with twice as much water as watermelon rinds. Use tap water for this purpose.

3. Cover this bucket and keep it under shade, away from sunlight.

4. Stir the contents of the mixture once every day.

5. The liquid fertiliser will be ready to use in about three days.

6. Filter the mixture and strain the water. Now you can either add the fertiliser to the plants directly or mix it with water in a ratio of 1:1.

7. Give this fertiliser to plants in the morning or evening after sunset.

Anupama suggests gardeners can further decompose the remaining rinds in a compost bin to completely utilise them.

Happy gardening!

Edited by Pranita Bhat

“In these traditional crops, farmers usually get profit within five months post-harvest. And they require cash to sow crops for the next season. Because of this financial dependence, they cannot afford to venture into horticulture as it takes years to bear fruits. But I looked at it as a one-time investment with a long-term profit,” he tells The Better India.

This tour inspired him to foray into lemon farming, which is widely practised in states including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.

“Lemon farming is new for farmers in Uttar Pradesh. In my district, nobody was growing lemons. So I decided to take the risk, thinking either I’ll learn to swim or I’ll drown,” adds the Raebareli district resident.

But he sailed to success. “I am earning at least five times profits from lemons compared to traditional crops that would have earned me just Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 annually,” says Anand, who earns up to Rs 7 lakh on two acres of lemon farm.

Owing to his huge success, today, Anand is dubbed the ‘Lemon Man of Raebareli’. In this conversation with The Better India, he virtually takes us to his lush green lemon farm.

Preferring the farm life over the city noise

Hailing from Kachnawan village in Raebareli district, the BBA graduate worked for 13 years with multinational companies in UP’s Noida, Punjab, and Bihar. While he worked in several cities, he deeply missed his hometown.

“In cities, life is full of obligations. People hide their miseries in makeup. You will find them good-looking but they are not fit from the inside. For rural people, looks do not matter. They breathe clean air and consume organic food,” says Anand.

“Whenever I would visit my hometown, I would be keen to venture into farming. I was happy with the job but wanted to utilise our ancestral land,” he adds.

So by the end of 2016, he quit his job to focus on farming. “Everyone in my family supported me in this decision, except my mother as she was a little concerned about quitting a well-paying job,” he adds.

Anyway, Anand was determined to farm.

In contrast to what his family had been cultivating traditionally like paddy, wheat, gram, peas, and arhar (pigeon pea), he took a risk by opting to grow lemons.

Without any formal training, Anand prepared the soil to sow lemon saplings. To start with, he sowed dhaincha — a tall branching grass used as a manuring crop to increase carbon content in the soil.

After levelling the farm, he planted 900 saplings of lemon that cost Rs 200 each. “I had procured saplings of the Thai variety from a nursery in Varanasi. This variety gives juicy and bigger fruits than regular lemons. Thai lemons weigh up to 100 grams compared to regular lemons which weigh 30 to 50 grams,” he shares.

Highlighting factors to be mindful of in lemon farming, Anand says, “The rows in which saplings are to be planted must be in the direction from east to west, per the wind in the region, so that saplings do not get uprooted in storms. Also, saplings are planted at least one foot deep into the ground. We keep the distance of 10×10 feet between saplings and rows. Also, lemons thrive in soil that has a pH between 6 and 7,” he informs.

Anand says he adopted the low-cost and high-profitability approach to growing lemons and placed 50 plants of mosambi (sweet lime) among 400 lemon trees.

He adds that he uses both organic and inorganic ways to fertilise the soil and control pest attacks. “Before monsoon, I add 15 kg of compost to every tree to get a good yield. Along with this, I add fertilisers like DAP, urea, and potash. Although no chemicals are used in natural farming, we were forced to use chemicals,” he says.

“Usually, in minor fungal and pest attacks, we spray organic pesticides prepared using cow urine, jaggery, garlic, and chillies paste. This mixture needs to be sprayed at a gap of two to three days. But when the damage on leaves is beyond control, we use permitted amounts of pesticides like chlorpyrifos. We only need to spray it once in a season,” he explains.

It took about four years to bear fruits in lemon farms.

Last year, Anand says he harvested 400 crates (or 100 tonnes) of lemons, which were sold between Rs 40 and Rs 70 in the local market. Interestingly, lemon farming also ensures a continuous inflow of income to Anand as lemons are in demand throughout the year.

After an initial investment of Rs 1.85 lakh, today, Anand reaps profits of up to Rs 7 lakh on his two acres of land. More than the huge profits, the 50-year-old finds contentment in leading a stress-free life in the village.

“I do not regret quitting my well-paying job. Earlier, I was a servant to a company, now I am a proud owner of a farm. I feel thehrao (composure) in the village,” he shares.

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All photos: Anand Mishra.

“There is no right time to take risks. You will have some responsibility at every stage of your life. You will never feel ready to take the plunge. You just have to believe in yourself and your talent, and you will be successful,” says Bhausaheb Navale (55).

This mantra and fearless attitude helped this Pune resident to take what some might consider a very big risk, at the age of 50.

Leaving behind a cushy job that paid him Rs 3 lakh per month, this floriculturist dived head first into a nursery business, which is investment-heavy and takes time to give returns.

Ask most middle-class people, who most often worry about their responsibilities vis a vis their children’s education or planning a corpus for retirement, Bhausaheb took the bold decision to fulfil his dream. After spending the past three decades of his life in the horticulture industry, Bhausaheb was itching to start his own business.

With three children in school, Bhausaheb’s family was initially surprised by his decision. However, they were confident in his experience, knowledge, and strong determination to make the venture successful.

So, on 1 March, 2020, he started a nursery business in Pune called ‘Greens and Blooms’ with his friend Sharad Patil. The duo invested almost Rs 50 lakh of their own capital to start the business.

As luck would have it, 23 days later, the Government called for a nationwide lockdown to combat COVID-19. Bhausaheb’s business of growing exotic flowers, such as orchids and anthuriums, involved a lot of imports. So with the lockdown imposed, his business was off to a rocky start.

Yet, he didn’t lose hope. His tenacity and passion for floriculture inspired him to beat all odds and take his business to heights. This year, he earned a turnover of Rs 2 crore.

‘It’s all in or nothing’

Bhausaheb grew up in Akole in Sangamner, Maharashtra. He watched his father, a farmer, carve a good name for himself in the market. His father grew sugarcane and a variety of fruits and vegetables, which instilled a deep interest in agriculture in young Bhausaheb.

“I learnt a lot from my father. I would follow him everywhere and much of my knowledge and working style comes from watching him. I wanted to take his name forward and chose to study BSc agriculture,” Bhausaheb tells The Better India.

After completing his education in Pune, he worked in polyhouses and horticulture training centres. He was one of the early adopters when the floriculture industry started in India. After his stints in the country, he worked in Ethiopia for 10 years where he handled over 200 acres of rose cultivation.

After returning to India in 2015, while he wanted to start his business, he decided to work in a nursery in Pune to understand the Indian market better.

Finally, in December 2019, Bhausaheb quit his job and started working on his lifelong dream of starting his nursery.

“I worked on getting the necessary permissions and place in MIDC to start the nursery. I also started growing some plants on a trial basis. Since most of the plants I wanted to grow had to be imported, I had to get the required licences and find the right places to buy the young plants,” he adds.

With the initial paperwork done, the horticulturist launched Greens and Blooms in March 2020, only to face a major challenge that would derail his best-laid plans.

Bhausaheb wanted to place orders to import the phalaenopsis orchid from Taiwan and anthuriums from Holland. Due to the lockdown, his import paperwork took a lot of time, delaying the whole process. The pandemic also caused a problem in getting the basic materials for his nursery — such as flower pots, cocopeat, and soil, among others. Getting labour too was a big challenge, with Bhausaheb himself doing most of the work.

“Sometimes I wondered if we made the wrong decision or started at the wrong time. I encountered a challenge at every single step. Imagine starting a nursery with flower pots or plants,” he says.

A bumpy start, a quick recovery

Not one to lose hope, Bhausaheb persevered. Since imports were going to take time, he started planting local plant varieties, which were ready by June 2020. Through word of mouth and joining All India Nursery Groups on WhatsApp, he started selling his plants.

Today, Greens and Blooms is a wholesale business which caters to nurseries across the country.

It was only in August 2020 that the company received its first import, the much-prized phalaenopsis orchid. Slowly, over the next few months, more varieties were added. Today, the nursery has over 100 varieties of ornamental potted plants and exotic flowers. Starting with one acre, the nursery is spread over two acres today, selling over 7,000 pots every month.

Bhausaheb’s positive mindset shines through; after discussing tough times, he promptly shifts to the bright side of the situation. The pandemic also sparked a surge of interest in indoor gardening, greatly benefiting nursery businesses.

“Starting at a difficult time and facing challenges can also be looked at as an advantage. It develops skills and problem-solving nature. Since there was a shortage of sellers, people who managed to sell greatly benefited,” he adds.

While the sales were slow in the beginning, their brand grew through word of mouth, he adds. “Once we get a customer, they keep ordering from us as we offer proper quality, variety, and price,” he adds.

Savitri Wadhwani of Savi Orchids in Mumbai has been a regular customer of Greens and Blooms for the past year and a half. “I buy orchids, anthuriums and other varieties from them. The quality is outstanding and Mr Navale is a gem of a person. I’m also glad that someone is growing these plants locally. The consistency is maintained and he manages the business with great passion,” says Savitri.

An orchid takes about a year and a half to grow, while anthuriums take around eight to nine months to grow. He sells one anthurium pot for Rs 200 and an orchid pot for Rs 400.

While the company has had sales of Rs 2 crore this year, the founders didn’t draw a salary for the first three years, as it is a heavy investment business. Currently, they have 15 employees.

“We have to continuously invest in the business for facility upgrades, getting premium plant varieties, and maintaining the temperatures to ensure that each plant grows properly. For instance, we recently bought a fan and pad system for our polyhouse,” says Bhausaheb.

“Now, we just draw a salary to meet our household expenses,” he shares.

What then is the motivation to leave a cushy job with a package of Rs 36 lakh? “Satisfaction,” says the entrepreneur, emphatically.

“Whether you run a vada pav stall, a chai shop, or even drive a rickshaw, you will be satisfied the moment you do something of your own. Being your own boss is the best feeling. Whatever you are talented in, if you give your 100 percent, you will be successful,” he says.

Does he feel that the risk was worth it at 50?

“Absolutely. If you have the mindset of thinking about lost opportunities in your career, you can’t find happiness. You will never feel ready to take a risk. Remember though, that some risks beget big rewards,” says the 55-year-old.

Life is beautiful for Bhausaheb, as he tends to his plants in his gorgeous nursery in Pune. It’s all about the attitude at the end of the day, isn’t it?

Edited by Pranita Bhat; Images Courtesy Bhausaheb Navale

In fact, during Ramadan, khajoor or dates are used to break the fast that observers keep, thereby becoming a household staple.

But did you know that India’s date consumption requirements are met by other countries? 

The largest exporters of dates to India are Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan. Data also suggests India imports 38 percent of the world’s production of date palm.

Nearly a decade back when Rajasthan’s Mukesh Maanjoo, a former National Security Guard (NSG), caught on to this fact, he was disheartened. “The climatic conditions of both Pakistan and India are the same, so why don’t we cultivate dates ourselves? We should lose some of the dependency on other countries,” he tells The Better India.

Believing this as his patriotic duty, he decided to cultivate dates in Pilani. Last season, Mukesh harvested five tonnes of organic dates which earned him a huge income of Rs 12 lakh. Here’s his story.

From commando to farmer

Before taking up date farming, Mukesh worked as a commando at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi for 15 years. He specialised in counter-hijack operations to safeguard people. In 2018, he took voluntary retirement from the NSG services. 

“As part of my work, I got an opportunity to visit 20 countries. On my way from the airports to hotels, I would spare some time to visit nearby farms and learn about their technologies,” he says.

“Agriculture is in my DNA,” he laughs, adding, “I have seen my father and grandfathers grow crops. But like them, I did not want to grow traditional crops like mustard, wheat, and grams. I wanted to try new technologies. Therefore, I was looking for crops that required less water to grow in our dry region of Rajasthan.”

While working as a commando, Mukesh had already started preparing himself to take up farming. But in 2018, he was forced to return to his village after his father was diagnosed with cancer. “Six months later, my father lost his life to the disease. His last advice to me was to take up date farming for a profitable farming business,” he recalls.

Later on, he undertook a 3-day training programme at the Centre of Excellence for Date Palm at Sagra-Bhojka in the Jaisalmer district. At that time, the state government was promoting date cultivation in Rajasthan by distributing subsidised date palm saplings to farmers. 

Mukesh procured 250 date palm seeds of yellow-coloured Barhi and red-coloured Khuneji varieties and planted them on his farmland. It took four years before he saw the first fruit on the date palm.

‘I grow money on trees’

Mukesh points out that growing dates have been extremely fruitful as both Barhi and Khuneji varieties give high yields in low maintenance and have lower mortality rates as well. 

“If you plant say 100 trees, then only 1-2 will die. The remaining trees will survive and continue to yield for 80 years. Besides, once the seeds are sown, we are only required to provide organic manures like cow and goat dung. Every year, I just add 150 kg of manure to one tree,” he says.

“Being sturdy, the date palms do not attract any pests and diseases, so there are hardly any input costs. All they require is water for irrigation, manure, and protection from birds, which can eat the fruit. So, I wrap a net around the date bunches,” he shares.

Apart from this, Mukesh mentions that dates require manual pollination. “The male and female species in date palms grow as separate trees. The males produce pollen from flowers and require manual pollination with females which bear fruits. For every 100 female plants, you need 4-6 male plants,” he adds.

After the flowering season in February, these fruit varieties ripen before monsoon and the produce is harvested by June-July annually.

Interestingly, Mukesh has also created a pond where he harvests up to 3 lakh litres of rainwater. “This rainwater is an elixir for our dates as it contains nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and much more. This also helps me save 20-25 percent on irrigation in the dry region. Additionally, I use drip irrigation that takes water directly to the roots through pipes and minimises water wastage,” he says.

With date cultivation, he says any farmer can earn up to Rs 6 lakh per acre. “At least 60 date palms can be planted in an acre and up to Rs 10,000 can be earned from each tree. About 250 kg of fruits can be harvested from one tree,” says Mukesh, who has 250 date palms and earned Rs 12 lakh in the last season.

He sells all his produce to about 120 consumers based in Gurugram, Delhi, Noida, Chandigarh, and Jaipur.

In the past five years, he has received immense recognition at the state and district levels for growing dates organically. In 2018, he was felicitated for the promotion of indigenous breeds of cows for organic farming at the district level under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme in 2019. 

For his work on date farming, Rajasthan’s agriculture minister Lalchand Kataria presented him with an award in 2020, followed by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot in 2021.

More than the recognition, Mukesh says he is blessed to lead a peaceful rural life on the farm. “I remember people would say, paisa ped me thode laagey hai (money doesn’t grow on trees). I wanted to prove this saying wrong. You can harvest money from trees if you follow the right farming methods and cultivate the right crops,” he smiles.

Source:

Plantation of Date Palms has changed fortune of farmers in Barmer: By Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Mukesh Maanjoo.

Neelam was not your ordinary villager; he possessed a deep reverence for the land and its treasures. With each passing day, he witnessed the subtle yet undeniable shifts in the climate, sensing the looming threat it posed to the cherished crops of his ancestors.

Determined to safeguard their legacy, he meticulously tended to a collection of seeds, each a precious heirloom from generations past. These seeds, once abundant, were now disappearing — victims of modernisation and the relentless march of time.

But Neelam refused to let them fade into obscurity. He understood that in the face of a changing climate, adaptation was key, and these heirlooms held the secrets to survival. His endeavour became a symbol of resilience, a guardian of tradition in a rapidly evolving world.

“Heirloom seeds, passed down for at least 50 years, are resistant to floods. This is a vital trait in combating food security threats posed by climate change,” Neelam, now 37, tells The Better India, “However, sadly, due to the increasing adoption of genetically modified hybrid seeds, farmers in the Northeast are abandoning heirloom varieties. This, coupled with frequent floods, has made agriculture unsustainable in the region.”

“In my opinion, the solution lies in preserving these heirloom seeds, which serve as an essential resource for farmers striving to adjust to climate change. I wanted to show them why it’s important to conserve our agricultural heritage,” says Neelam, who went on to promote the cultivation of heirloom seeds in his region. So far, he has conserved over 1,000 heirloom seed varieties of vegetables and rice, and trained at least 24,000 other farmers in seed conservation.

He claims his company ‘Pabhoi Greens’ is “the first seed conservation company in the Northeast” where farmers are propagating the organic seeds on their own. “Every time, these farmers grow heirloom seeds, they preserve that diversity and ensure these seeds are available for future generations,” he remarks.

Quest of a farm boy

Since childhood, Neelam recalls being compelled to study due to societal pressure. “I’m a farm boy!” he adds, “I wanted to pursue a career in agriculture like my father. He was a medical doctor by profession but quit his job to farm in the village.” But sadly, Neelam’s father passed away from a stroke while Neelam was studying in Class 11.

“After completing Class 12, I applied for graduation in arts from an open school. However, I was so disinterested that I neglected to submit assignments required to complete the degree,” shares the Pabhoi village resident.

In 2001, he inherited 18 acres of land from his father. Around the same time, he read Rachel Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’, which highlighted the environmental harm caused by the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Motivated by Carson’s message, Neelam resolved to transition his land into an organic farm. By 2003, he had successfully converted his entire acreage to organic cultivation.

“After switching to organic farming, I found out there were no organic seed varieties available in the market. While some were accessible for rice, none were available for vegetables. The absence of reserves or authenticity in seed sources was concerning. Instead, the market was saturated with genetically modified hybrid seeds. This was a big worrying factor,” he says.

That’s when he also observed that most of the farmers in the Northeast were switching to hybrid seeds and overlooked heirloom seeds. “After the Green Revolution, it was clear that only hybrid seeds were to be supplied to the market to the farmers. This was never a solution for an ‘evergreen’ revolution,” he opines.

“While hybrid seeds offer higher yields in one season, they cannot be saved for the following year. Consequently, farmers neglected heirloom seeds, leading to a loss of their sovereignty over time,” he points out. Since then, Neelam’s mission has been to conserve decade-old seeds for future generations. 

Backed by the traditional wisdom imparted by his father and the elderly in the village, he set out in search of these heirloom treasures. In the past 15 years, Neelam has conserved nearly 800 varieties of vegetables like tomatoes, chillies, capsicum, basil, and 200 varieties of rice — including madhuri, nanyya rice, sticky gum rice, black rice, soft rice, and joha.

“These seeds have their own identity in terms of taste, colour, and shape. They are adaptable to the diverse Indian climatic zones. In one way, they are more resilient than hybrid seeds,” he says. 

Hybrid vs heirloom seeds

Explaining the difference between hybrid and heirloom seeds, Neelam says, “While hybrid varieties give more yield, they are produced via genetic manipulation. We compel hybrid seeds to grow using external fertilisers and chemicals.”

“Farmers in Punjab, Western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana are extremely dependent on these outside inputs,” he adds.

Neelam further points out that, unlike heirloom varieties, the seed saved from hybrids does not grow true to its type in the next cycle. “They will be less vigorous and more genetically variable. If you cannot replicate it, there is no point in keeping the seeds. It only compels farmers to buy new seeds every year,” he says.

“Meanwhile, heirloom seeds are genetically diverse, don’t require chemical-laden fertilisers, and are naturally resistant to disease and pests. As they are open-pollinated, you can easily replicate those seeds next year,” he informs.

Giving an example of how the produce harvested from both varieties differ, Neelam says, “Today, tomatoes are available year-round, unlike in the past when we only had them in winter. To satisfy demand, farmers now grow tomatoes in mountainous areas with heavy fertiliser use. However, organically grown tomatoes in their respective seasons may not last as long but are richer in nutrients, tastier, and more vibrant in colour.”

He continues, “In France, various tomato varieties were once used in different recipes, but now a single, sweeter tomato is used universally, replacing the sour ones of the past.”

Neelam says he wanted the local farmers in his region to wholeheartedly adopt and switch to heirloom seeds. “Otherwise there’s no point doing all this work,” he says, adding that his work received a great response from the community.

So, going beyond conserving seeds at an individual level, Neelam now trains thousands of farmers in seed conservation. So far, he has trained 24,000 farmers across the Northeast — including states like Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh — helping them grow and conserve their own heirloom seeds.

Each year, Neelam sells approximately 8,000 packets of heirloom seeds at Rs 99 each to farmers. With these seeds and the training he provides, farmers can cultivate crops and harvest new seeds for the next cycle, ensuring sustainable food security — a goal Neelam passionately pursues to this day.

For the past 10 years, Diganata Bora has been cultivating vegetables using such heirloom seeds on his two-acre farm in Paschim Manjiri village of Assam.

“Compared to hybrid varieties, we get good yield using heirloom ones. In a bigha [0.33 acre], we now get 6-7 quintals of vegetables over 2-2.5 quintals. Additionally, our input expenses of Rs 40,000 have been reduced to zero as we use readily available cow dung as fertiliser. I am so happy to have decided to switch; now our soil fertility has also improved,” Diganata tells The Better India.

Neelam concludes, “Back when I began organic farming, there were no resources available for me to learn from. Now, I’m happy to have created a helpful platform for other farmers. When I visit their fields, I feel great to see the joy on their faces. By cultivating their own organic seeds and crops, they’ve made agriculture economically viable in our region.”

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Neelam Dutta.

Born into a farming family, Saravanan realised that all he had to do to ensure a good crop — which benefitted him as well as the consumers — was to go back to his grandparents’ style of farming and abandon chemicals and pesticides.

The Namakkal resident soon realised the benefits of organic farming, and through different training at the local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), along with his innovations and home recipes to keep pests at bay, Saravanan soon became a certified organic farmer with many awards up his sleeve. 

After all, he has been practising integrated farming for several decades now. 

Initiated with avoiding chemicals completely, he soon moved towards drip irrigation, vermicompost, a biogas unit and hydroponics. Unable to cultivate enough fodder for his cattle, hydroponic maize production proved to be a gamechanger for him. 

Since 2018, he has been using this method to grow fodder for his livestock. What’s unique about it is the fact that he grows it in his cupboard! He uses the soilless hydroponic method to grow maize fodder. 

Then in 2018, he received the Haldhar Organic farmer award from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research along with the ‘Innovative farmer award’ from the Central government, among others.

So how did a farmer practising traditional farming in a village in Tamil Nadu move to organic methods and find success in them? Here’s his story. 

An attempt to save soil

P Saravanan has been farming for over 40 years now in Ariyagoundampatti village, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. While his grandparents practised organic methods of farming, his father introduced chemicals and pesticides, which Saravanan continued till 2006 as well.

The government introduced the micro-irrigation scheme in 2005-06, under which subsidies were provided for drip and sprinkler irrigation. Saravanan, an early adopter of many such new
schemes, decided to give drip irrigation a try. 

“We used to face water scarcity, which made irrigation very difficult. Drip irrigation saves water and irrigates thrice the amount of land using the same water used by traditional methods,” Saravanan tells The Better India. 

Since 2007, the farmer has moved to drip irrigation on his 6 acre and 36 cents (1 acre is 100 cents) land on which he cultivates turmeric, groundnuts, and vegetables. He also practises integrated farming, a sustainable agricultural system where crops, livestock, aquaculture, poultry are managed together. 

Along with these crops, he also manages livestock, including cows, goats, ducks and birds.

Shortly after he started drip irrigation, he got his soil tested. The test indicated that the soil was not healthy, and had rising pH levels and was getting spoilt. This was the same time when his turmeric crop was affected by diseases. 

“People at the KVK suggested some biofertilisers to salvage the turmeric crop, and it worked. They also suggested that the only way to preserve the soil and prevent further damage was by moving to organic farming,” explains the 58-year-old. 

Starting in 2008 in a bid to save his land, soil and crops, he slowly stopped using chemical fertilisers and pesticides. He also started practising crop rotation to ensure soil health. 

“After I plant pulses, I ensure that I change the crop for the next year. I also planted nerium as a border crop to absorb pollutants and grow agathi & maize around the field as a barrier crop to prevent the entry of pests,” he says.

He also constructed a vermicompost production unit in 2008 which produces over 6 tonnes per year. He uses this vermicompost, neem cakes and castor cakes as fertilisers. He also has a biogas plant that converts the waste into energy and purifies the air.

Besides these, he utilises panchakavya (a solution made of cow’s milk, curd, ghee, cow dung and urine used as a fertiliser) spray in addition to a homemade spray containing ginger, garlic & chillies for controlling pests and disease. 

While everything was going well, Saravanan found it tough to grow fodder for his cattle. Buying it from outside was expensive. 

But then, in 2011, KVK Namakkal conducted a demonstration of soilless hydroponic farming for maize. 

Growing maize in a cupboard 

“The fodder demand was increasing and I was unable to keep up. The existing land was just not sufficient to grow fodder. While I saw the demo in 2011, it was only a few years later that I got access to the kit,” explains Saravanan,

In 2018, Aavin the dairy co-operative in Namakkal, gave a hydroponics unit to Saravanan. Hydroponics is a technique of growing plants without soil and very little water. It uses a water-based solution and produces fodder, cereals and pulses on a small scale level.  

Saravanan explains that by planting 500 gm of maize, he gets 4.5-5 kg of maize fodder in a matter of 8 days. 

“I keep the trays in my cupboard as we have to keep them away from sunlight. Since it grows in 8 days, I get a sufficient yield in a month. I’ve been pushing other farmers too to try hydroponics,” he adds.

The unit costs about Rs 20,000.

Saravanan explains the steps to grow maize fodder using a hydroponics unit:

1. Wash and soak the grains for 24 hours. 
2. Tie the seeds in a gunny bag and keep it in water for 24 hours. 
3. Transfer the sprouted seeds to a tray and spread it out. Keep it in the cupboard.
4. Water it once every three hours, either manually or using a sprinkler with a timer for 7 days.
5. The yield will be ready on the 8th day. 

Edited by Padmashree Pande. Picture credits: P Saravanan.

However, the very existence of butterflies today is facing many threats — including habitat loss, climate change, and indiscriminate usage of pesticides on plants. Seen abundantly earlier, their habitat is now unfortunately confined only to a few parks and gardens.

But interestingly, in the heart of Mumbai, Priyanka Singh’s apartment has turned into a haven for many butterfly species.

Affectionately dubbed the ‘Butterfly Mom’, Priyanka has transformed her balcony into a paradise, all set up to attract these winged beauties. Picture this: lemon plants, lantana, Jamaican spike, curry leaves, meswak, ixora, patharchatta — all blooming and buzzing with life. These plants aren’t just for show – they provide the perfect spots for butterflies to lay their eggs and nectar.

She believes that these tiny eggs often fall victim to destruction during routine weeding or mindless pruning. Once hatched into caterpillars, they voraciously feed on plants until they undergo metamorphosis into pupae, eventually emerging as beautiful butterflies. Before taking flight to seek out new habitats, they rest and stretch their wings, preparing for their journey ahead.

Originally from Varanasi, Priyanka never imagined working to protect biodiversity. However, when she moved to Mumbai, she was disheartened to witness garbage and waste issues with ecological degradation. Having spent her childhood enjoying the shade of trees and rich biodiversity, she wanted to raise her daughter in an environment closer to nature.

This motivated her to create an urban organic garden.

Then one day, she saw a small caterpillar eating a leaf from one of her plants. And after a few days, she saw that this caterpillar had transformed into a beautiful butterfly. After that incident, she became so fond of butterflies that she started reading about them. This newfound passion led her to create a small ecosystem within her high-rise apartment, where she rears butterflies on the 13th floor.

In the last 10 years, Priyanka claims to have nurtured over 5,000 butterflies — including tailed jay, lime swallowtail, common mormon, red pierrot, blue tiger, salmon arab, and lime blue. She adds that rare species — such as the apefly butterfly and sunbeam butterfly — visit to lay their eggs, while others like the painted lady, common grass butterfly, common emigrant, common leopard butterfly, palm bob, and blank swift frequent the space for nectaring.

Apart from that, she has been studying and documenting butterflies in her residential area, having successfully raised over 55 species from caterpillars. Among these are the common crow, plain tiger, blue tiger, blue moon or great eggfly, danaid eggfly, common jay, palm fly, giant red eye, common awl, peacock pansy, chocolate pansy, and lemon pansy.

She also claims to have raised over 5,000 butterflies from 50-55 species and “caught sight of the Red Spot butterfly after 108 years in Uttar Pradesh”.

To learn more about the butterfly world, you can reach out to Priyanka (Green Hope) on Facebook, Instagram, or email her at greenhope26@gmail.com.

(Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Priyanka Singh)

Trying something new, a progressive farmer Kanchan Verma ventured into turmeric farming in the division. “Although I did not face any losses cultivating traditional crops, I wanted to explore new crops for better returns. As a farmer, we should keep experimenting in the field,” she tells The Better India.

“By cultivating traditional crops, we were able to earn Rs 1.5 lakh in an acre. Whereas, we have doubled our income to Rs 3 lakh by growing turmeric,” adds Kanchan, who lives in Somalwada Khurd village.

Last year, Kanchan got a bountiful harvest of 400 quintals, earning an income of Rs 12 lakh. We sat down with the farmer to learn how she was able to reap huge profits by switching to turmeric cultivation.

Old field, new crop, huge success

Coming from an agricultural background, Kanchan turned to farming soon after her marriage. Alongside cultivating vegetables, wheat, and maize, the BA graduate sowed turmeric for the first time in 2020.

“Once, I saw a programme on television that showcased the advantages of taking up turmeric farming. To learn more about it, I went to the nearby KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) and undertook a training programme of seven days,” she shares.

Kanchan opted for the Sangli variety of turmeric which has high curcumin turmeric and is often used for medicinal purposes. In addition to its deep-orange colour and rich aroma, Kanchan says, this variety produces big roots compared to other indigenous varieties.

She procured eight quintals of kachhi haldi (seed) from KVK at Rs 40 per kg. “Thereafter, we started tilling the farmland to remove weeds and reduce the soil compaction [relieve the tightness of soil], and level the soil. After seedbed preparation, we added four trolleys (1 trolley comprises 40 quintals) of cow dung in the soil. We then sowed germinated kachhi haldi in the beds. The process is similar to sowing any tuber crop like potatoes,” she informs.

In turmeric farming, the soil is usually mounded around the base of a plant to get large rhizomes. At first, Kanchan says she did not know the right time to earth up the plant. She later learned that it was done a month after planting the crop.

While the sowing period is between June and July, the crop is ready for harvest by February-end. She points out that it is very important to keep in mind the kind of soil used for cultivation. “Our region is famous for black soil that is suitable for wheat cultivation. However, a well-drained sandy loam soil rich in humus content works well for growing turmeric,” she informs.

“Also, black soil is soft when wet but forms hard blocks when it gets dry. So, we need a sandy loamy solid that is well-drained. In our district, only a few blocks including our Kesla block have such soil,” she adds.

Talking about the fertilisers and pesticides required for boosting turmeric growth, she says, “We only use cow dung and jeevamrut (liquid organic manure) to boost the fertility of the soil. Besides, as turmeric in itself is antiseptic and herbal, there are fewer chances of pest attack. Even if pests attack the crop, we use Trichoderma biopesticides to control the attack,” she says.

As she wanted to be careful of growing a new crop, Kanchan sowed and used only an acre of land to sow eight quintals of turmeric root. After eight months, she harvested bumper produce of 100 quintals.

Processing raw turmeric for good returns

After harvesting the rhizomes, Kanchan processes the entire produce to sell it in powdered form. “Once we wash the roots, we boil them in water and dry them completely under the sunlight. Thereafter, we peel the roots and grind them. It takes about 15 days to process the kachhi haldi (raw turmeric) into powder,” she says.

“In a batch of 100 quintals, only 20 quintals are left after processing. But this step is extremely advantageous as powder turmeric gets higher returns,” she adds.

Last year, Kanchan earned Rs 3 lakh against the input costs of Rs 50,000. Currently, she has expanded turmeric cultivation on 10 acres of land. “This season, we expect an income of Rs 30 lakh,” she says with pride.

Interestingly, Kanchan makes 1 kg packets of powdered turmeric and sells entire produce on the farm itself. “We do not need to go to the local market as we have earned great demand at the local level. By the time any outside customer reaches us, we have usually sold all our produce. Also, we sell our organic turmeric at Rs 150 per kg compared to Rs 240 per kg in the local market. We do not have any issue lowering the price as our cost of production becomes less with organic methods,” she says.

Kanchan claims she is the first such farmer to practice turmeric farming in this region.

“Local farmers here were reluctant to grow turmeric as it has a longer growing season but they ignored the fact that it gives definitive and huge returns. Other than being able to earn double income, it gives me immense contentment that I grow the produce organically. The more we minimise the use of chemical pesticides, the more toxin-free food will be there for our kids to eat,” she shares.

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All photos: Kanchan Verma.

In 1980, after pursuing electrical engineering at NIT Kurukshetra, Ramesh worked for several multinational companies for over three decades, as part of which he travelled extensively. “In 2002, I travelled to South Korea for work. During my six-month stay, I learnt about advanced farming techniques such as hydroponics, microgreens, and indoor saffron cultivation. I was really impressed by these experiences,” he tells The Better India.

“Meanwhile, I came to know that India imports 70 percent of saffron from Iran due to the limited availability within the country, and Kashmir only meets 30 percent of the domestic demands. This gap between demand and supply is a huge market in itself,” he adds.

So, the 65-year-old engineer decided to take up saffron cultivation after his retirement. In 2017, he started growing saffron in a 100-square-foot room in Sector 63, Noida. He spent Rs 4 lakh to construct a greenhouse to create a suitable environment to cultivate saffron within an artificial structure. He spent an additional Rs 2 lakh to procure saffron seeds from Kashmir.

Ramesh informs that apart from the one-time initial investment, one only needs to pay the electricity bills, which cost around Rs 4,500 a month, and the labour costs, rounded up to Rs 8,000 a year.

“Saffron has a good rate in the market. You can earn up to Rs 2.5 lakh per kg in wholesale markets and Rs 3.5 lakh per kg in retail markets. You can also earn up to Rs 6 lakh per kg if you tap into the export business,” he shares.

After reaping substantial profits from sales, Ramesh ventured into training others in indoor saffron cultivation. Today, he runs the ‘Akarshak Saffron Institute’ in Noida, where he has successfully trained over 370 individuals to date. His two-day online training course, priced at Rs 12,000, offers comprehensive guidance and mentorship for a year to interested learners. This endeavour yields him an impressive monthly income of Rs 3.5 lakh.

If you too want to learn saffron cultivation, you can contact Ramesh here.

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All photos: Ramesh Gera.

Growing up in cities, away from farms, most children are not even aware of where their food comes from. However, for Rishabh and Ayush Gupta, two brothers from Agra, it was different.

“My father and grandfather were both very interested in agriculture and farming. When we were young, my father even tried his hand at polyhouse farming but was not able to take it through. Since then, my brother and I have been interested in the field,” Ayush says in a conversation with The Better India.

Presently, the duo run an organic polyhouse farm in Agra growing 16 varieties of vegetables and mushrooms. Their business has been soaring with success, selling more than Rs 1 lakh worth of products every day. Their farm produces 40 tonnes of mushrooms and 45 tonnes of vegetables every month!

Intrigued about how they do it? Here is what they have to say:

Making our father’s dreams come true

Originally from Delhi, Ayush (25) and Rishabh (27) grew up watching their father dream of pursuing polyhouse farming. The family moved to Agra in 2014. 

Polyhouse farming, also referred to as greenhouse farming or protected cultivation, involves growing crops within a controlled environment. Polyhouses, constructed from transparent materials like polyethene or polycarbonate, permit sunlight penetration while trapping heat inside.

“My father was working and could not dedicate full attention to it. He suggested my grandfather take it up, but he didn’t either. So, he always harboured this wish, and when my brother and I decided to venture into it, we knew where to start,” says Ayush.

It all began when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country. “Back then, I was in London studying BBA, and my brother was studying in Dubai. We had no intention of coming back home that year, but I had to return due to the lockdown,” he says.

“But my brother was stuck in Dubai due to travel restrictions. It was during that time that he started feeling lonely and wanted to come back home. He realised that he needed to be near his family. So, during our conversations, he made the decision to return to India,” he says.

By the end of 2020, the brothers reunited and decided not to go back to either London or Dubai and instead stay back home.

“We used to always discuss how, if we ever became business persons, we would enter the food industry. However, my father’s passion towards having a farm motivated us to try our hand at that,” he says.

However, the brothers’ decision to become farmers was not well-received by the family.

“It is not uncommon in Indian households for the relatives to have strong opinions. My father was told that he has put so much money into our education and sent us abroad for nothing,” he says.

Disheartened by the reaction, it was his father that gave them the courage. “My father told us that we need not listen to anyone. If this feels right, then we must continue with the idea,” he shares.

With a nod from his parents, the brother duo decided to use some savings and loan some amount to set up the polyhouse farm in Agra.

Organic, natural and fresh

By the end of 2020, the duo had initiated the setup of their farm. “We even secured a 40 percent government subsidy, prompting us to commence with planting English Cucumber in our polyhouse farm,” he says.

Within four months, the duo established their initial cultivation and harvested it within five months. “The cucumber marked just the beginning. We sought further expansion and ventured into experimenting with additional vegetables,” he says.

Almost a decade ago, Ayush recalls, while he was in Delhi, he launched a small mushroom business. “We sourced mushrooms from farmers, packed them, and sold them. Although brief, it made me realise the substantial profit potential of mushrooms.”

Therefore, when Ayush and Rishabh decided to diversify into mushrooms, they anticipated increased profits. “We allocate 1 acre of the farm for other veggies such as cucumber, tomatoes, and potatoes, and 2 acres for mushrooms. We initiated mushroom cultivation in 2022, and our profits have been on the rise since then,” he shares.

Apart from his previous mushroom experience, Ayush also observed a trend in his city. “The region is predominantly inhabited by vegetarians who favour mushrooms. Button mushroom’s popularity has surged over the years. With new recipes circulating online, people are relishing this chewy fungus. I even noticed mushrooms featuring prominently in wedding celebrations, with various dishes showcasing them as the main ingredient.”

Currently, they yield approximately 40 tonnes of mushrooms per month. “They are all A-grade mushrooms, distinguished by their maturity, well-formed shape, and meticulous trimming. Additionally, there are ‘B’ grade mushrooms, which, due to irregular shapes, are sold to food processing companies for canning,” he adds.

Operating under the brand names Gupta Organic Farms and A3R Mushroom Farms, the brothers market their products to businesses and direct consumers. “We supply to numerous businesses in Agra and Delhi, and there’s significant consumer demand in the city. In total, our monthly sales exceed Rs 1 lakh. Our annual turnover stands at Rs 7.5 crores,” he says.

Ayush underscores the brand’s commitment to providing the best to its customers, emphasising that no chemicals are used to aid growth. “All our vegetables and mushrooms are grown organically, without the use of any chemical fertilisers,” he says.

Reflecting on his journey, Ayush says, “I know it is becoming increasingly uncommon for people to look down on a profession like farming. People would comment on how there are better jobs out there, but with the right set of people and motivation, you can make it profitable.”

You can learn more about their products here.

(Edited by Padmashree Bhat; All picture credit: Ayush Gupta)

According to the US Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC), the imports of blueberries in fresh and dried forms grew from almost zero in 2009 to 1,900 tonnes in 2020, making India one of the world’s top importers of blueberries. This trade between the United States and India is growing at a rate of around 30 percent per year.

While these numbers are rising annually, Maharashtra’s Keya Salot has stepped up to bring these numbers down to some extent. “In 2021-22, India was importing $2.2 billion of exotic fruits and vegetables. That’s not really a good number. I wanted to get into the sector to cultivate these exotic varieties locally. By doing this, it would also make them affordable for consumers beyond metros,” she tells The Better India.

In 2021, Keya set up Farm2Fam to cultivate these exotic berries. Today, she has scaled up the production on 20 acres of land and estimates a production of at least 135 tonnes of berries this year.

In conversation with The Better India, she sheds light on the innovative methods that helped her cultivate berries in the harsh weather conditions of the country.

Quit law to become a farmer

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Keya was a lawyer by profession. After pursuing law from Mumbai’s Government Law College, she continued her practice with law firms for nearly four years until she understood her calling.

“I had always wanted to become a farmer. For me, the idea of pursuing law was always to later focus on entrepreneurship. But before that, I wanted to get good access to the legal framework to build a successful business. I wanted to work in an impactful sector to create a very purpose-driven entrepreneurship programme which would not only benefit me personally but would also benefit the society,” says the 32-year-old.

In 2018, she took a break from work to understand the nitty-gritties of farming as she did not have any agricultural background. To begin with, Keya started growing about 30 varieties of microgreens in a vertical set-up made on the terrace. Soon, she started supplying them to restaurants, and within six months, she on-boarded 50 clients. This boosted her confidence and allowed her to establish retail connections.

“During this transition, I started researching on the kinds of crops grown in other countries that had gained a lot of traction in agriculture. Compared to countries in South and Central America, India has not graduated beyond growing major basic crops like paddy, sugarcane, and wheat,” she shares.

“Even today, despite a significant portion of the economy and the population being dependent on agriculture, we are not able to produce high-value crops. We needed to choose crops that will get a slightly longer cycle but will give definitive returns,” she adds.

After a year of research, Keya zeroed down to cultivating the crop of blueberries and raspberries – cultivated largely in the United States, Russia, Mexico, Serbia, and Poland.

Making foreign crops adaptable with innovative methods

Keya shares the major challenge in cultivating these exotic varieties was to make them adaptable to the Indian weather conditions. “While blueberries require cold winters and moderate to high rainfall throughout its growing season, raspberries are also suited to temperate regions with cool summers and mild winters,” she adds.

By late 2019, Keya along with her husband, Vimal Salot, visited Mexico and Europe which had similar geometric conditions to Maharashtra. In 2020, she imported the first set of saplings adaptable to Indian weather conditions and harvested the first commercial yield in 2021.

In order to cultivate them in the tropical climate of Maharashtra, Keya opted for the tunnel method of cultivation that overcame the drawbacks of extreme weather conditions.

“We are required to protect crops like raspberries and blueberries from extreme temperatures. Currently, India only has poly houses as an infrastructure for protected cultivation, and in geographical climates like Maharashtra, we need protection from harsh conditions rather than adding heat,” she shares.

“So, we developed our own low-cost tunnel structures for growing these berries where we can add or remove the plastic cover as per the weather requirements and maintain ideal temperature conditions for the growth of plants. With this, we can now provide a warmer climate during the winter nights and cooler conditions for growth during the summer days, in addition to protecting the crops from rain. This technique has its origin in the European countries where they use the structure to protect the heat,” she adds.

Keya installed low-cost tunnels in about 80 percent of her farm and is cultivating at least seven varieties of exotic berries. “Growing blueberries under high tunnels protects them from extremes of temperature, requires less water, and yields more fruit. This method also helps blueberries ripen earlier. Instead of the usual harvest period that lasts only for a few weeks, we can harvest yields for four to five months with this method,” she informs.

Highlighting one of the other challenges she faced in setting up the farm business in Talegaon, Pune, Keya says, “Getting access to land was extremely difficult for us as it was very difficult to convince a farmer to lease their land to a city dweller. As you do not have a base in a village, it invites a lot of aversion. But after 3 to 4 months of trying our hands, we got our first piece of land. It took some time to build trust among the farmers.”

Today, she has expanded the production on 20 acres of land and expects a bountiful harvest of at least 135 tonnes of berries this season. As of now, she has collaborated with delivery partners like Swiggy and Zepto, and supermarkets like Star Bazaar, KisanKonnect, Reliance Retail, and Nature’s Basket to deliver the produce.

Talking about her transition from being a lawyer to an innovative farmer, Keya says, “It is a perception that agriculture is not a profitable business. At the same time, a huge portion of our economy rests on it. It is the responsibility of people with exposure to change this perception rather than fear it.”

“I feel if I had only practiced law, the kind of impact that I would have had would have been much smaller than what I’m having today in terms of cultivating new kinds of crops by using innovative methods,” she adds.

Edited by Padmashree Pande; All photos: Keya Salot.

Triggered by this news, he took matters into his own hands, but he soon realised how space was a constraint for him. 

As an alternative, the engineer decided to give aquaponics farming a try. While brainstorming, he had also gravitated towards hydroponics but ultimately chose aquaponics.

“The major difference between hydroponic and aquaponic setup is the media used to provide nutrients to the soil. It has a similar setup of hydroponics but with an additional fish tank to breed fish. The fish excreta is decomposed by bacteria into nitrate which is an ideal fertiliser for plants. It is like imitating the river ecology. Through this fish tank, water is regulated throughout small tanks that hold plants,” says Shashank. He upcycled drums and cans to use as fish tanks.

Besides nitrates produced by fish waste, he also adds iron nails, lime and egg shells to increase the iron and calcium nutrients. After six months of research and assistance from ICAR-CAFRI, he successfully grew vegetables in a 600 sq ft area for three years. 

In 2018, he decided to quit his job and grow vegetables in a commercial terrace setup.

Presently, he grows nearly 2,500 varieties of plants, which include green leafy vegetables, medicinal herbs, and flowers and harvests 500 kg of vegetables every month.

Found his work interesting? Watch this short video to find out more:

(Edited by Padmashree Pande)

The two sisters started their business with 10 employees and entered into contract farming agreements with 14 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Today, they buy millets from 500 farmers and employ 180 people with 90 percent of them being women.

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A post shared by The Better India (@thebetterindia)

Currently, RA Foods is involved in selling packaged products like thinai rava, varagu rava, mixed millet that comprise of thinai, varagu, saamai, kuthiraivalli, and kambu. Interestingly, the sisters have tapped the international market in 30 countries including the USA, England, Dubai, and Singapore.

Over the years, the siblings have set up 11 millet factories in Perambalur, Ariyalur, and Dindigul. As of today, their firm has emerged as one of India’s biggest millet exporters by exporting 2,700 tonnes of millet in 2023 and their annual turnover is a staggering Rs 136 crores.

Edited by Padmashree Pande

Effective weed management is therefore of prime importance, both in terms of productivity as well as for farmers’ incomes. However, the predominant method of manual weed removal is time-consuming, labour-intensive, and expensive. According to an ICAR-DWR report, weed management accounts for 20 to 25 percent of the total cultivation costs.

“I grow 20 types of vegetables on my farm and need to remove weeds every two weeks. Doing this by hand is expensive and hard work, especially with so many different vegetables, which leads to lots of weeds,” says Prashant T R, a farmer from Madurai.

The other methods of weed removal involve the use of weedicides or herbicides, which are chemicals sprayed on the field to eliminate weeds. Though this is effective, it has a long-term negative impact on the environment and the health of farmers.

Learning about this problem prompted Rahul Arepaka, an engineering student at Mahindra University in Hyderabad, to develop a solution. He built an AI-powered laser-weeding implement called ‘Rakshak’ through his company, Harvested Robotics.

“A farmer spends almost Rs 15,000 for weeding, which has to be done at least three to four times during an entire season. So the total cost sums up to almost Rs 60,000. The other option is using chemicals, but I wanted to build a solution that is good for the farmer as well as the planet,” Rahul tells The Better India.

Precision laser technology to kill weeds

Rahul — who is now in the final year of computer science engineering — participated in many robotics competitions along with his friends, including the World Robotics Olympiad. “We were building farming robots and realised that weeds are a huge problem. During internships at companies like FarmBot, we developed laser-based weed elimination solutions as proof of concept. Through this experience, I identified a gap in the Indian market for a laser weeder,” says Rahul.

Instead of using chemicals or hiring manual labour, Rahul decided to build laser technology for weed management. What started as a brainstorming session in December 2022 evolved into a concrete vision within a few months. Through his university’s incubation programme, he received an initial funding of Rs 5 lakh.

Teaming up with three friends, also final-year engineering students from different disciplines like mechanical and electronics, they embarked on developing a laser technology to combat weeds in June 2023. Over the past 8 months, they have received a total investment of Rs 18 lakh from the university’s incubation centre to further develop this platform.

Rakshak is a tractor-mounted laser weeder built using robotic platforms that utilise precision laser technology for weed eradication, which is paired with individual weed recognition through deep learning algorithms.

While there are some players globally who have built similar solutions, what differentiates Harvested Robotics is the power source of the laser, explains Rahul. “To burn weeds in India, you have to use at least 200 watts of laser source to burn it quickly. The global players use a 1,200-watt laser, which costs them $40,000 just for the laser — a restrictive cost. These lasers also have a very high maintenance cost,” adds the 22-year-old.

To solve this problem, instead of relying on one big power source, Rahul and the team used a bunch of smaller laser sources, which they combined to get the same result. “We have used five different laser sources to get 200 watts on the ground. This way, we were able to significantly reduce the cost, while ensuring even power distribution,” he explains.

How it works

Rakshak eliminates weeds down to their roots. It autonomously identifies weeds using cameras and artificial intelligence, utilising blue laser technology for detection.

“As you drive the tractor, the machine uses computer vision and AI to detect what’s a weed and what’s not. Using precision technology and accuracy, the lasers burn them down. This also reduces the chances of regrowth of weeds,” he adds.

The entire system is powered by the tractor battery itself and doesn’t need any external source for charging. “It doesn’t depend on the horsepower of the tractor. All tractors have a three-point linkage where our implement gets attached. It is powered through the PTO (power take-off) or trolley trailer socket,” he explains, adding that this robotic implement works on almost any tractor, across sizes.

He adds that this method is also a zero-chemical solution.

“We are not using chemicals and not disturbing the soil. It preserves the soil and maintains the crop’s integrity as tilling methods are not used. We concentrate the laser on the stem point of the weed, with a focus on destroying the water cells inside the plant, so that the water-absorbing capacity is lost and the plant dies. The leaves eventually fall out and will become manure for other crops,” adds Rahul.

While weeds tend to grow again in other methods of weed management, this is more sustainable, he claims.

“Laser weeder machines in the US cost a million dollars. Our solution is the most affordable in the world. It will also reduce the number of weeding cycles and time. Such technology is not available in India and we have also applied for a patent,” he says, adding that the other available machines use carbon dioxide-based technology, are huge, and have a high maintenance cost.

“Other solutions use invisible laser technology while we use blue laser light which penetrates faster through chlorophyll,” he adds.

Rahul and his team built the implement over eight months and have conducted trials in farms across India. Harvested Robotics is part of the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, and they are also working with Mahindra & Mahindra to test their product. They are gearing up to launch their product in the market in the next few months, and it is expected to be priced at Rs 10 lakh.

For more information, you can contact Rahul at rahul@harvestedlabs.com.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

Enveloped in the calming melodies of these songs, my father would care for his little green paradise on the terrace. He would call this the “best use of a terrace” and tending to his garden “a Sunday well-spent”.

Here’s a compilation of five such passionate homemakers and gardeners who have made the most of their balconies and terraces. They have cultivated a diverse array of produce — ranging from mangoes to strawberries, and from broccoli to turmeric.

1. Bangaru Jhansi, Visakhapatnam

Bangaru Jhansi (28) has transformed her terrace into a verdant jungle spanning 800 square feet. Bursting with a diverse array of ornamental and medicinal plants, verdant leafy vegetables, blooming flowers, and towering fruit trees, her terrace garden has emerged as a hub for sustainable farming.

The green oasis boasts over 600 plants — including watermelon, drumsticks, spring onions, star-fruits, three kinds of mangoes, yellow and red-coloured jackfruits, sweet lime, two kinds of oranges, Barbados cherries, strawberries, blueberries, dragon fruit, etc.

Last year, she was honoured with the prestigious Dr IV Subba Rao Rythu Nestham award by the former vice president, M Venkaiah Naidu, for her remarkable terrace garden.

Expert tip: Sharing the perfect potting mix to grow organic veggies at home, Bangaru shares that the perfect potting composition comprises 30 percent vermicompost/kitchen waste compost/cow dung, 30 percent soil, 30 percent cocopeat, and 10 percent neem cake.

2. Pinnaka Padma, Hyderabad

At 59 years old, Pinnaka Padma faced a predicament. With frequent relocations across different cities alongside her husband, she never had the opportunity to nurture a garden. Against all odds, she has transformed her residence in the heart of Hyderabad into a thriving mini-jungle, flourishing with over 1,000 plants, meticulously nurtured in 600 pots.

The diversity is astounding, encompassing vegetables, fruits, and flowers alike — including mangoes, Indian gooseberries, aloe vera, fenugreek, tomatoes, curry leaves, turmeric, cucumber, and broccoli.

The award-winning gardener also spends time recording videos for her YouTube channel ‘Patnam Lo Palleturu’, which boasts over four lakh followers.

Expert tip: Sharing one of her many concoctions to keep plants healthy, Pinnaka says, “Mix 150 ml of coconut oil with neem oil, cooking oil, mustard oil, and eggs. This mixture serves as an excellent liquid fertiliser that can be sprayed on the plants, providing essential proteins for their growth.”

3. Aman Sharma, Delhi

Aman was just a teenager when he embarked on transforming his 1,500 sqft terrace into an urban jungle in Delhi. Growing up with a deep passion for birdwatching and wildlife, he was driven to create a safe haven to attract birds and butterflies.

Now in his twenties, Aman shares, “Whenever I go out, I always keep an eye out for finding a cutting or sapling of a plant. Besides, I have travelled across Delhi, visiting forests to collect plant cuttings. Currently, I have more than 500 plants on my terrace which attract hundreds of birds and butterflies.”

Expert tip: Sharing tips on how to attract butterflies and birds to your urban jungle, Aman shares, “Plant the necessary host plants: powderpuff, milkweed, lemon tree and curry — plants where butterflies lay eggs that turn into caterpillars that eventually turn into butterflies.”

4. Sunita Prasad, Bihar

Vertical gardening is commonly perceived as an expensive farming method. However, Sunita Prasad (47), a homemaker from Bihar, is challenging this notion. She ingeniously utilised two five-foot PVC pipes and bamboo to cultivate vegetables and fruits — showcasing the affordability and efficiency of vertical gardening.

She was driven by the aim to provide her family with chemical-free produce. With a modest investment of Rs 1,000, this homemaker now reaps the rewards of up to 5 kg of organic vegetables and fruits weekly — including brinjal, okra, cabbage, and strawberries.

Expert tip: Bashing all the claims about vertical farming being an expensive affair, Sunita Prasad shares a fool-proof and cheap way of setting up your own, “Take a five-foot pipe, and cut as many parts according to the number of saplings/seeds you have. Fill ¾ th part of the pipe with soil and plant the seed/sapling. Add a mixture of vermicompost or any other organic fertiliser to the soil.” 

5. Ravneet Kaur, Ludhiana

It all began when Ravneet Kaur embarked on growing wheatgrass to aid her ailing father. Subsequently, she delved into experimenting with cultivating various vegetables and fruits, aiming to provide her family with a chemical-free diet. As her family rallied to support her efforts, her terrace blossomed with 200 plants across its 2,000 sq ft expanse.

Ravneet meticulously adjusts her crops according to the weather, nurturing cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, radish, and carrots in winter, and transitioning to cucumber, bitter gourd, lady’s finger, pumpkin, squash, tomatoes, and melons in summer.

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A post shared by Ravneet Kaur (@haryali_by_cherie)

Ravneet also transformed into an Instagram influencer by sharing her expertise, inspiring over 1.8 lakh followers to delve into gardening.

Expert tip: “As much as possible, plant things that are indigenous to the place you live in,” says Ravneet. Look for desi seeds from your local nurseries and communities. You will find these plants growing better, she shares.

(Edited by Pranita Bhat)

Similarly, our gardens, which may have flourished during winter, need attention to adapt to the sudden change. If you have a home garden, it’s time to prepare it to endure the intense sun and high temperatures. With careful planning and nurturing, you can cultivate a lush oasis of greenery and vibrant colours that flourishes even in the hottest months.

The Better India has compiled a list of tips and tricks to make your garden summer-ready!

1. Understand the climate

The first step towards making your garden healthy and summer-ready is to understand the climatic conditions in your area to decide what kind of care your green fellows need. India experiences long summer days, with variations across regions — some regions have more humid conditions, while others endure dry heat.

Instagram influencer Shaily, who has more than 66,000 followers, advises you to prune your summer plants such as jasmine, hibiscus, aprajita, curry plant etc.

2. Pick the right plants

Once you have identified the climate and temperature trends of your area, you can start choosing the right set of plants for your garden.

Select plants that are well-adapted to the hot and humid conditions of Indian summers. Look for species that thrive in full sun and are drought-tolerant — such as bougainvillaea, hibiscus, periwinkle, and portulaca. Native plants are often the best choice, as they have evolved to withstand the challenges of the local climate.

3.  Mulch for moisture retention

Apply a thick layer of organic mulch — such as shredded leaves, straw, or coconut husk — around your plants to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Mulching also helps regulate soil temperature, keeping plant roots cool and protected from the heat of the sun. Be sure to replenish mulch as needed throughout the summer season.

In an interview with The Times Of India, botanist Aarti Mukhani highlighted the importance of mulching to prepare your plants for summer. She said, “It is most important for your garden’s health. Mulching not only helps protect plants from heat, but also helps control weed.”

4. Let shade be your plant’s best friend!

While you may consider yourself one of your plants’ closest friends, their true ally is shelter from the blazing sun. Providing adequate protection from direct sunlight will promote healthier growth.

Gardening blogger Harith Tharang advises, “Old sheets, old window screens, or narrow panels of wood lattice can all effectively cover and cool the plants in your garden. However, make sure that the cover is kept at least several inches above the plants. If using a cloth cover, staple each end to stakes placed on either side of the garden.” 

Be mindful of the changing position of the sun throughout the day and adjust shade structures as needed.

5. Upgrade the soil

Upgrading your soil for the summer season is crucial to ensure that your plants have the nutrients, moisture retention, and drainage they need to thrive in the heat.

A gardening website indiagardening.com suggests, “During early summers, amend the garden soil to enhance the water retaining capability as well as aeration. Use organic matter or compost as it improves water retention and is also beneficial for microbes and worms in the soil.”

6. Don’t forget to prune

Timely pruning your garden can go a long way. Remove dead or diseased foliage, and prune back overgrown branches to improve air circulation and prevent fungal diseases. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and remove any weeds that may compete with your plants for water and nutrients.

7. Water, then water some more!

In the scorching heat of the sun, ensuring your plants receive the appropriate amount of water is crucial. Opt for deep watering less often to promote deep root growth and enhance drought tolerance.

As per an HT article, “The best way to gauge that is to water your plants in the morning. If the soil is dry again by evening, you know your plants need to be watered twice a day.” The health of your plants also depends on what time you water your plants. “To avoid water evaporation, water your plants either in the morning or post-sunset,” it further noted.

However, it’s important to avoid over-watering your plants. To prevent this, check if the soil beneath the surface is still damp. If so, wait for some time before watering the plant again.

8. Keep those bugs away

As the temperature rises, pests become more active and become a threat to our garden. Monitor plants regularly for signs of damage or infestation, and take prompt action to address any issues.

Consider using natural or organic pest control methods — such as neem oil or insecticidal soap — to minimise harm to beneficial insects and wildlife. As per an article by The Telegraph, you can use a spray made with garlic to fight the insects. “Garlic naturally repels insects. Several garlic cloves should be chopped up and combined with water to make garlic spray. Strain the mixture after it has steeped for the night, then spray it over your plants.”

9. Snip the dead branches

Cutting or trimming parts of a plant — such as dead or diseased branches, leaves, or flowers — is an essential maintenance task in gardening. It can help promote plant health, encourage growth, and maintain the desired shape and appearance of plants during the summer.

10. Enjoy your green retreat

Now that you’ve taken all these steps for your plants, it’s time to reap the rewards of your efforts. Your small garden can serve as a sanctuary from the summer heat. Consider adding outdoor seating and decorative lighting to create a cosy outdoor space where you can unwind and relax.

Additionally, placing a pot of water to attract birds and squirrels can provide much-needed relief from the heat for these creatures. You can use old cooking pots or plastic containers to create this water station, even if you’re on a budget.

(Edited by Pranita Bhat)

For him, pearl farming has emerged as a potential economically viable opportunity at a time when he had lost all ways of earning a livelihood.

Starting with an initial investment of Rs 45,000, the former teacher now generates an income of Rs 20 lakh per batch with pearl farming. Today, he has established a market base not only in India but also internationally in the UAE and Thailand.

Among a handful of farmers who turned to oyster pearl farming in Rajasthan, this move earned him widespread recognition from people, including Vasundhara Raje and Ashok Gehlot. The Better India sat down with him to learn how he reaped huge profits with the novel farming technique.

The first failure

After his graduation in the arts field, Vinod pursued a diploma in computer science in 1999. Thereafter, he started working as a computer tutor in an institute and eventually opened his own academy.

“Back then, the computer was very new to people and they were interested in learning the new device. I would get students across all age groups. However, I was forced to shut down the institute after five years as I was not getting many students at the village level,” says Vinod.

Without any sustainable work, he would do odd jobs to earn a living. It was only in 2017 that he understood what he was meant to do. “By that time, I was looking for ways where I could start a business with less capital and space. One day, one of my friends suggested I try my hands at oyster pearl farming,” he shares.

“I did not want to get into traditional farming as I had seen my family do that only for chaumasa (four months of monsoon) and then switching to survive on daily wage jobs,” he adds.

To get a clear understanding of oyster pearl farming, Vinod went to Odisha – about 1,700 km from his village in Sikar district. After undertaking training from ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), he returned to his village with 500 oysters and high hopes.

Vinod dug a 10×5 ft pond inside his home and released all the oysters in it. Sadly, he lost 453 oysters within a month. 

“I failed miserably. I overlooked the fact that we have a very different and hot environment here in Rajasthan. Even our water quality is different from the coastal state of Odisha. I also made a few mistakes in preparing the pond, and also while giving supplements, checking the pH and ammonia levels, and performing surgeries to extract pearls from the oysters,” he adds.

Earning thrice the inputs

Vinod rectified these mistakes in the second batch. He bought another 1,000 oysters and released them in the pond. 

“This time, I regularly checked the pH and the temperature in the pond. Ideally, the pH should be 7.5 [basic] and the temperature should be maintained between 25 and 30 degrees. During summer, the temperature shoots to 50 degrees in our region. To maintain an ideal temperature, I installed a green shade and kept rotating water for 3-4 hours in a day,” he explains.

As he had hoped, the success rate this time was 70 percent. “With this, I made a profit of Rs 50,000 and recovered the investment amounts,” he smiles.

Over the years, Vinod used the profits to expand pearl farming in four ponds spread over an area of two bigha [1.25 acre]. In the last batch, he managed to extract 10,000 pearls. Priced at Rs 500 each pearl, he earned an income of Rs 20 lakh, which was thrice the investment amount.

“This success didn’t come easy. At a time when I had failed miserably, my family doubted my capabilities and I had to face negative comments as I had forcefully established a pond inside our home and exhausted a huge sum. But this did not prove to be a setback. I focused on using this failure as my motivation and to prove myself,” he says.

“Eventually, many officers from the agriculture department and universities started visiting my farm and I was being called at agritech fairs across the state. I have received recognition from former chief ministers and an appreciation letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This has given me immense motivation to continue the work at this age. I am glad that I have managed to earn an identity by doing something unique sitting in my village,” adds the 45-year-old.

Vinod informs that he wishes to establish a training institute for farmers interested in learning pearl farming. “But I will be able to do so only when I get the government’s authorisation. A farmer needs loans when starting something new. For this, they need to show certification. I lack that authority. Not everyone can go to Odisha to learn pearl farming. I request the state government to help me in this regard as I myself have seen unemployment days and I wish that I provide job opportunities to the unemployed with this work,” he adds.

(Edited by Padmashree Pande; All photos: Vinod Bharti)

But just when things were looking bleak, he got to know about a new fertiliser ‘Navyakosh’ that was making waves in the farming community in Uttar Pradesh. 

Sahu immediately got in touch with its creator Akshay Shrivastav from Kushinagar. He wanted to understand if the fertiliser lived up to what it promised — increasing yield by 20 percent while cutting the cost by 50 percent. 

Akshay assured him it did. 

To gain Sahu’s trust, Akshay told him he would be shipping him one tonne of the product (20 bags of fertiliser) for free. “You can try it to believe it,” he told Sahu, who was thrilled. 

In the months that followed, not only did this “miracle” product help Sahu’s paddy field tremendously, but it also increased productivity in the neighbouring fields where it was used. In total, 15 farmers were witness to the wonders of the product. 

The difference in the health of the crop was visible. And passersby were quick to notice. Sahu would tell everyone who enquired that a fertiliser was responsible for this drastic transformation. And soon, many hopped onto the bandwagon of wanting to purchase the product, compelling Sahu to start an outlet where he procured and sold LCB Fertilisers. 

“Today, his outlet selling the Navyakosh fertiliser is a hit!” Akshay shares with The Better India. “He purchases it from us for Rs 600 per 50 kg and sells it for Rs 800.” 

We sat down with him to understand the business model and how his journey began.

How it all started

For the 25-year-old chemical engineer, being able to build a brand that is helping farmers is a dream come true. Belonging to a farming family who lived off the land, Akshay is no stranger to the woes of the community. 

He recalls watching with a breaking heart as unexpected rains would often wash off their next month’s food. The two bighas of land (less than one acre) where the family grew wheat, mustard and sugarcane, were their pride. “I have watched my parents struggling to survive on agriculture. I have seen my father try everything to increase productivity; from chemical fertilisers, organic fertilisers, cow dung, you name it and he has used it.”

He recalls how they were often chided for devoting so much of their energies to the field. 

“But our livelihood is farming. If our field didn’t do well, what would we eat? We had to focus on our field!” he argues. So, years later, when he was tasked with a project in the third year of his college, Akshay did not have to ponder much on what this would be. The idea had been ready since he was a little boy. 

The battle between chemical and organic 

Intent on creating a solution for farmers to increase their yield, Akshay explored the options that lay before him — either work on improving the seed quality or work on improving the fertiliser quality. 

He chose the second for its potential. 

“Everyone knows there are two kinds of fertilisers that exist. One is a chemical fertiliser, and the other is organic. Something that I have never been able to understand is why people still use chemical fertilisers when they know it’s harmful effects. Also, why haven’t organic fertilisers become popular in spite of their benefits?” 

In the computer lab of his college, Akshay began looking for the answers. But the facts he stumbled across only added to his initial shock. A 2020 report by the BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health Journal suggested around 385 million people, particularly among farmers and agriculture workers, are poisoned by pesticides every year. It also accounts for 11,000 deaths per year. Among the fatalities, nearly 60 percent or 6,600 deaths per year, occur in India alone.

“People are dying due to chemical fertilisers. But why are farmers still using them?”

 The next few weeks saw the persistent engineer chase down his college professors with this question. But no one seemed to have the answers. Eventually, they agreed to help him research the internet for the alternatives that existed to chemicals. 

And that was when Akshay hit upon the idea of biofertilisers. Today, as he prides himself on helming his startup, he smiles at how he never intended for it to become a business. “LCB Fertilizers was just a college project,” he says. Today, the company has made a Rs 1.3 crore turnover.

Developing the miracle product 

It was during his internship years at the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, (IITBHU) that Akshay’s idea got scale. The technical internship in 2019 introduced him to facets of integrating tech into business and commercialising an idea for social impact. 

Following this, Akshay was selected for the Ministry of Agriculture’s RKVY-RAFTAAR Scheme, which focuses on the development of agriculture and allied sectors. While the idea of biofertilisers had taken root in his mind, he hadn’t yet delved into the manufacturing process. But whilst at IITBHU, he recalls a seminar that helped him with his eureka moment. 

“I observed that the processes of developing biofuel and biofertiliser were very similar. Both involve agricultural biomass being treated with microbes.” Thus began the journey of Akshay and his mentor testing different kinds of microbes across farming lands for their characteristics in a bid to see which would work best when added to fertilisers. 

Towards 2020, Akshay had managed to come up with a set of biofertilisers that were all performing well. That same year, he formally launched LCB Fertilizers Pvt Ltd. But just when things were looking up, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. 

“We had prepared microbe mixes in the laboratory and were in the process of testing the mixes on plants to check their efficiency. I had to return home with no idea of when I could get back to the lab. In the time that I was away, the microbe mixes had dried up and were now useless. I was back to square one — no lab, no money and no hope for what is next.” 

Disappointment at having been so close to the dream, and having to give up, clouded Akshay’s mind. During this time he was also offered a job, but a gut feeling told him he shouldn’t give up on his dream just yet. 

And so, the next day, with a Rs 10,000 investment, Akshay decided to turn his shed outside his home into his lab. “I purchased a pump from Amazon, a temperature sensor and I set up a bioreactor in my house. I had the know-how to prepare the fertiliser. I decided to do it at home.”

Through the weeks that followed, Akshay went around collecting old wood, and soil from different types of environments — from harsh climates, marshy areas to loamy soil and cow dung. The first batch of fertiliser he prepared weighed 3 kg. 

Akshay then proceeded to divide a 12 sq ft area outside the home into different portions. He planted seeds of carrots, spinach and radish in each portion but the choice of fertiliser was different — one batch was grown with a chemical fertiliser, one was grown with cow dung, one was grown with LCB fertiliser and the last with no fertiliser at all. 

And you can guess which one thrived! Once the lockdown eased in 2021, Akshay approached IIT Kanpur where he met Dr Amitabha Bandopadhyay who helped him access labs, office space, and more. 

In addition to this, a NIDHI Prayas Grant from the Department of Science and Technology, along with financial support of around Rs 8 lakh, also boosted the product’s development. Akshay was joined by Mukesh Singh, Shubhendra and Raj Kamal in his efforts.

What’s so special about this fertiliser? 

Elaborating on why crops seem to be loving the LCB fertiliser, Akshay says it is because it provides them with everything they were missing in other chemical and organic fertilisers.  

“Simply put, the fertiliser has four components. The first is a combination of microbes — nitrogen-fixing, potassium-mobilising, phosphorus-solubilising, and Trichoderma. This set helps the plant access the nutrients that it needs to grow well,” he says. 

The second component is agricultural biomass. This comprises seven types of biomass such as bagasse, cow dung, etc. The third component is the nanoparticles which increase the resistance of the microbes and help them survive in areas where it is hot. “It makes them thermophilic so that the microbes can survive at temperatures as high as 70 degrees celsius,” he says. 

“The fourth component is a polymer which holds 260 times its weight in water and helps plants in drought-prone regions,” Akshay adds. “The LCB fertiliser helps reduce the cost for a farmer (from Rs 6600 for one acre to Rs 4000 for an acre) while making the process hassle-free. Because of the polymer, farmers only have to irrigate the land once in 25 days in contrast to once in 15 days.”

Today, Akshay claims that over 35,000 farmers have benefitted from the product. As more and more farmers are adopting this new piece of wonder, Akshay says he feels it is a personal win. “I have grown up watching what farmers have to endure because of products that do not perform well. I’m happy that I can help,” he says.

Edited by Padmashree Pande

“I know that there is a certain perspective towards taking up farming. But I was very sure from the beginning of my career that I would end up in the agriculture industry,” says engineer-turned-agriprenuer, Nagendra Naidu Dharmavarapu, the founder of Farmties India Private Limited.

According to Nagendra, it is important to find one’s niche in farming to earn profits. He found his niche in Yellow Dates, a super food, which is earning him Rs 3.5 lakhs per acre.

Intrigued by the product and how he found his market, The Better India had a conversation with Nagendra where he recalls his initial days of brainstorming to make profits.

Back to his roots

Born into a family of farmers, Nagendra grew up in close proximity to the issues farmers faced on a daily basis.

“I was intimately familiar with these challenges and had grown up pondering potential solutions. In my mind, it was clear that I wanted to be an agripreneur,” he adds.

Even while Nagendra was in an engineering college, he would frequently return home and spend time on the farm.

“I had a strong affinity for the farms and was very determined that one day I would also transition into the agriculture space,” he says.

After completing his degree he pursued an MBA and started working in a startup. “I later moved on to companies like Apple, Tracxn, and I-PAC, understanding how quality control and supply chain works,” he says.

He even acquired a failing company and turned it around into a profit-making one in 2018. “However, I was always thinking of how I could enter the agri space. I needed a solid plan — a good and niche product, the right labour and a strong supply chain,” he says.

While he was enjoying his work, his true passion lay in farming. “It was a risk that I was taking as my jobs were very high paying. Leaving all that and moving into a familiar yet unknown space was a leap of faith for me,” he says.

By late 2018, Nagendra was already looking for a potential product that he could grow. “I did not have to look anywhere for farms as my family owned lands near Anantapur which is also in proximity to Bengaluru,” he says. “The only issue was water scarcity.”

This issue too was solved when a known motor company factory opened just a few kilometres away. “This brought water to the area and also became a tipping point for me. I was now sure that I wanted to utilise this piece of land,” he says.

Finding a market for yellow dates

Before moving into agriculture, Nagendra did a lot of groundwork visiting various villages.

“There were a lot of fruits such as papaya, coconut, and mangoes that would grow well in the climatic conditions but I did not want to enter that space. I was aware that the government gives a lot of subsidies to farmers to grow these. This makes it accessible to everyone who wants to get into the industry,” he says.

Nagendra was looking for a crop that was niche and with fewer players in the market. “I wanted a crop that requires at least 5 to 6 lakh rupees as investment per acre. This would eliminate the competition. Also, I wanted something that was very region-specific.” he says.

He narrowed his search down to avocados, dragon fruit or dates.

“Out of these, I realised that climatically fresh yellow dates would be new in India but would also grow very well. Dried dates are quite common but fresh dates are relatively unknown but extremely nutritious,” he says.

Since Nagendra was not sure how this variety of dates would grow in the climatic conditions, he started with just 20 acres.

“I had grown up seeing wild dates growing in the region but not yellow dates. While it could have been a huge miss, thankfully it wasn’t, and the climate suits perfectly to grow the plant,” he says.

“I had to import the Yellow Dates seeds from abroad as these are not available in India,” he says. However, one bite of the fruit was all it took to realise its immense consumer appeal and market potential in the country.

“The taste was addicting and I knew once the consumers find out about the fruit, it is going to be a success. I reached out to my friends from college and we raised some funds. In 2021, I had a great yield and we were selling in and around Anantpur,” he says.

With time he started to reach out to bigger players like stores selling organic foods, Swiggy, Big Basket, Zepto, Country Delight etc. “We also started to reach out to corporate offices of these marketplaces. The CEOs would taste it and fall in love with the fruit. This is how we found a market for it,” he says.

What started with just 20 acres of farming land is now an empire of more than 1,400 acres of cultivation.

“The profit margin is 37 percent and we make nearly Rs 3.5 lakhs per acre so far,” he says.

“Our main focus is maintaining the quality of the dates. We segregate them according to the quality and send the best ones out. I am fully aware that it is the quality and availability of the fruit that has created a good market for us, and I want to give my best to retain it,” he adds.

If you wish to try this superfood, you can reach out to Nagendra at 91642 96999.

(Edited by Padmashree Pande; All Picture Credits: Nagendra)

Reflecting on his childhood, Chethan fondly remembered his cherished moments spent in the paddy fields. The tranquility and enchantment of those fields were unparalleled, providing him with a sense of peace he never found elsewhere.

“This became my main inspiration to leave everything behind and build a green paradise,” he shares.

In 2017, Chethan decided to quit his job and move to his ancestral home in Bellare, 75 km away from Mangaluru city. His family did not react the way he expected, “My father was not okay with my decision and my mother was definitely not okay with it! My friends were confused about where we would sit and party every weekend. Everybody had their own set of concerns,” he laughs.

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While he faced a lot of retaliation, he still decided to take a leap of faith and start farming. To set up his farm, he used all his savings of Rs 10 lakh.

He prepared his 10-acre ancestral land, dug a new borewell, and initially planted 550 rambutan plants, 50 mangosteen plants, and 100 tender coconut plants, along with vegetables such as ladyfinger, cucumber, long beans, radish, and green leaves. He named his farm — Manjanna Shetty Family Farms.

Presently the farm has over 2,500 areca nut trees, 800 pepper vines, 50 nutmeg trees, 300 coconut trees, 650 rambutan trees, over 100 mangosteen trees, and 50 avocado plants. He earns a profit of Rs 15 lakh per year by selling 5,200 kg of produce.

“I am a man who likes to be in nature, especially when it rains. Now, we do not have to pay to be in a resort; we are in a resort every day,” he smiles.

(Edited by Pranita Bhat)

Upon entering her garden in Thrissur, Kerala, you’ll be welcomed by a vibrant display of blooming flowers. However, the standout feature of the garden is her water lily pots containing exotic-coloured lilies. As one of India’s few water lily hybridisers, Viji’s garden proudly showcases a hybrid variety she cultivated called Nymphaea Sree.

“Gardening started as a leisure activity but transformed into my passion. I was inquisitive about how lily plants are grown and which variety survives. Now, I earn more than Rs 1 lakh a month by selling lilies during a good season,” she says.

Viji shares the secrets behind her healthy and green garden, and how you too can grow water lilies at home.

Journey to her magic garden

Raised with an affinity for plants and greenery, Viji has been fond of gardening for most of her life. “It must have been decades since I have been tending to a garden. It is my favourite thing to do,” she says.

Before becoming a full-time gardener, she was an accountant. “It sounds like two different worlds, but for me, gardening was always a part of who I was. When my first child was born, my husband and I lived on our own. So one of us had to quit our job to raise the children. That’s when I decided to leave my job,” she adds.

But after putting down her papers, Viji’s mind was not at ease. “I had always wanted to create and leave back something of my own in the world. But, I did not have the direction,” she says.

In 2008, with the birth of her newborn, the young mother started to spend a lot of time in her garden. “Tending the baby and the garden gave me solace,” she says.

Viji’s gardening journey started with growing bougainvillaeas, orchids and roses. She adds that she had a lot of flowers in her garden, and she even shared its seeds with other people. “I went on to Facebook and found a lot of people interested in buying different plants. I also found many growing water plants. I decided to try my hand at that too,” she shares.

In 2018, Viji bought her first water plant. “While it bred flowers, I did not know how to protect the plant from dormancy, and I was also unsure how to re-pot them,” she says. So she turned to the internet and joined various social media groups of planters and gardeners.

As a member of the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society, she says, “It felt as though I had discovered my people. Members of Facebook groups from different countries across the oceans have stayed in touch with me ever since. They would offer guidance through video calls, advising me on whether my actions were right or wrong.”

Recalling the early days when she started growing water flowers, she says, “I bought hardy water lilies, which was a mistake. The kind was not able to survive in the weather of Kerala, and all the plants died. But the whole process motivated me to try again as I was now curious and wanted to learn how they grow.”

Viji not only learned the right way of growing lilies, she mastered it. Presently, she grows more than 100 varieties of lilies in her home garden. But that was also not enough for her; she wanted to hybridise her own variety! This, she thought, was a great way to fulfil her dream of contributing something creative to the world.

“With the help of the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society and my fellow water lily planters on Facebook, I was able to hybridise my own variety. It is vibrant orange in colour and has the perfect number of petals. Nymphaea Sree meets the criteria of the experts, and hence the recognition,” she says.

Viji also learnt about the market demand for lilies. “Initially, I did not know that lily plants fetch very good prices in the market. Later I started to sell my lilies through Facebook to people across the world,” she says.

During a successful season, Viji mentions that she can earn up to Rs 1 lakh per month by selling lilies. “I was sitting at home taking care of my children, and I had a source of income — perfect for a homemaker!” she remarks.

How to grow lilies at home?

1. Choose the right type of water lilies

“It is crucial to choose the right variety of water lilies based on the local conditions and your specific environment. For instance, in Kerala, tropical varieties are preferred, while in areas like the western side, hardy varieties can also thrive,” shares Viji.

“It’s important to note that water lilies require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily, which may pose challenges in colder regions,” she adds.

2. Choose the best pot

The dimension of the pot depends on the purpose of your planting the seeds. “If you want to bloom them for personal purposes, then big pots with a lot of space for flowers to grow would be perfect. The plants do not go dormant easily and bloom for a long time. However, if you are planting for commercial purposes, then smaller pots would be ideal for you as they’re easier to sell,” she advises.

Lilies can bloom in pots as small as 6 inches and as large as 18 inches.

3. Know their sunlight requirement

Viji says that lilies love sunlight and they need sunlight. “Make sure they get at least six hours of sunlight every day. This is one of the reasons why many lily plants become dormant. Place your pots in a sunny place and see your lilies bloom,” she says.

4. Use natural fertilisers

Besides providing the plants with sunlight and good soil, Viji recommends feeding them with natural fertilisers. “Vermicompost can do wonders for your lilies. You can also use cow dung to give more nutrients to the soil. While you might be tempted to use chemical fertilisers, there is no need. These locally sourced, natural ingredients can go a long way,” she says.

5. Find your gardening friends

“This advice is for all the new gardeners,” she says. “Do not hesitate to connect with people and ask for help. The first time I tried my hand at growing water plants, it was a complete disaster. If I had not gone to Facebook groups and asked for help, I would not be here.”

She adds, “There is a chance that your first attempt might lead to dead plants or they might go dormant. There might be some losses but asking for help will always come as a relief to you.”

(Edited by Pranita Bhat; All pictures credit: Viji)

When Kanthalloor Grama Panchayat President P T Mohandas was campaigning for elections in 2020, he saw huge sacks lying in several households. On inquiry, he found that each of the tribal households there had almost 500 to 1,000 kg of finger millet (ragi) lying unused. Reason — they didn’t know how to sell it and used this superfood solely for self-consumption.

Something had to be done, thought Mohandas.

While he began seeking ways to sell the surplus ragi and uplift the villagers’ livelihoods, Lenovo was also exploring ways to integrate technology for farmers’ welfare and promote the cultivation of millets in Kanthalloor.

Why?

Kanthalloor was once home to over 18 varieties of millet, according to farmers. But over the past 20 years, as people shifted towards consuming more rice and wheat, millet consumption gradually reduced and so did its cultivation. The village lost its diverse variety of millet and the number came down from 18 to just two.

Lenovo embarked on a mission to revive millet cultivation in the Idukki district and help farmers flourish through the assistance of technology. Through its ‘Work for Humankind’ initiative, the volunteers have helped reinstate some lost millets, bringing the millet variety to six.

In addition, it has set up a digital centre, worked on the branding and marketing of the millets, and set up a processing unit — all to help Kanthalloor’s farmers restore its generational millet glory.

As a result, over the past year, about 1,800 kg of six types of millet — including finger millet, barnyard millet, little millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, and kodo millet — have been cultivated by 25 farmers on 15 acres of land in the village. This harvest has also been processed and packaged, and will be sold through the various channels. The farmers hail this initiative and hope that it will be a harbinger of a better tomorrow.

A human-centric innovation

Kanthalloor, a village surrounded by the Western Ghats in Kerala’s Idukki district, used to be a hub for millets, cultivating nearly 18 varieties until three decades ago. However, its proximity to the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary poses a challenge for farmers due to animals like boars and elephants damaging their millet crops.

As consumerism grew and the sale of rice increased, the demand for millets declined. This too affected the tribal community living in the forest, lacking access to a proper market for their produce.

In light of 2023 being the ‘International Year of the Millet’, Lenovo aimed to revive this traditional superfood in Kanthalloor, as shared by Pratima Harite, Head of Asia Pacific CSR & Philanthropy at Lenovo Foundation.

With an idea to mobilise the community using technology, Lenovo first surveyed 227 households in the grama panchayat. They found that over 60 percent of households cultivated millet only in a small portion of their land i.e. below 20 cents. This was not the case earlier, according to Mohandas, who states that over 60 percent of the land was used to cultivate millets a few decades ago.

“We wanted to help these farmers go back to their roots and start cultivating millets again, this time empowered with the help of technology, training and marketing. We believe that smart technology solutions have the power to transform communities and revive lost traditions. This technology would also help the younger generation take the information forward in their families,” Pratima tells The Better India.

Lenovo, through its ‘Work for Humankind’ initiative has partnered with Dream India Network — a non-profit organisation working on the ground — as the implementation partner; the Grama Panchayat for eco-tourism and farmer engagement; IHRD College for Applied Sciences, Kanthalloor, for setting up their technology centre; and Samudra Network and Agri app as their digital integration partner.

The first activity that Lenovo undertook with the help of Dream India Network, was to choose 25 farmers — 16 of whom are women — from five wards and convince them to sow millets in a portion of their land. They were given good-quality seeds and taught different ways to revive the crop.

“These farmers were already growing ragi for self-consumption. We asked them to try growing any of the other five varieties in 50 cents of their unused land by instilling confidence that we would market it. Since the land was already used for millet cultivation earlier, there would be no problem. Furthermore, millets grow in low-fertility soils and don’t even need too much water. They just need timely rain to get a good harvest,” explains Dr Saju Parackal, CEO, Dream India Network.

Using tech to revive traditions

Lenovo then got on to set up the ‘Lenovo Digital Centre for Kanthalloor Millets’ at IHRD College of Applied Science. This hub, equipped with Lenovo’s devices stores data and facilitates information sharing. It organises activities engaging young people, supports farmers in exchanging insights, and shares information on Government programmes like crop insurance, diversification schemes, and subsidies.

IHRD College students volunteer alongside Lenovo volunteers oversee the Tech Centre. Additionally, Lenovo provided farmers with Motorola mobile phones containing agricultural apps linked to the Samudra Network and Agri App to monitor their crops.

Next, a processing centre was established to process, brand and sell the harvested millets. It is managed by a self-help group of six women from Kudumbashree unit from Kanthalloor. The millets are now known as ‘Kanthalloor millets’ and are available in over 50 homestays in the village, with plans to sell them online soon.

This initiative has offered a stable income for these women, who previously worked as contract labourers without consistent jobs.

“We wanted to create direct market linkages for the farmers while cutting down middlemen. Currently, the farmers sell loose produce at local stores and are not aware of the avenues where they can sell. So we have created this brand [Kanthalloor Millets] and shown them ways to sell to become self-reliant,” says Pratima, adding that the millet will also be part of the mid-day meal programmes at the anganwadis.

This year, Kanthalloor received the ‘Best Rural Tourism Village Gold Award’ from the Union Government. With more than 250 homestays, the village attracts many visitors on weekends. Millet kiosks will be set up at each homestay, serving as both sales points and seed banks for Kanthalloor Millets.

Dr Parackal says they are creating linkages with exporters to sell millets once the yield increases and are also working with the Kerala Government’s agriculture department to widen the processing unit.

Radhakrishnan, a farmer who is part of the programme and former president of Devikulam block panchayat, expressed happiness at the initiative. “This is our traditional food; we have started consuming unhealthy food only over the past 30 years. It came to a situation where we didn’t even have good-quality seeds to sow. Lenovo helped us source good quality seeds, which have helped us get a good harvest. We are hopeful of an even better yield in the coming months,” he says.

The initial harvest produced more than 1,800 kg, as reported by the company. Encouraged by this success, they plan to involve 25 additional farmers, each with an acre, expanding millet cultivation to cover 75 acres of land.

Lenovo volunteers helped gather data and analyse the impact of solutions, helping farmers access the necessary apps, and building awareness for market linkages. They are also providing digital access to information on Government programmes and millet cultivation methods to the farmers.

Meanwhile, Mohandas informs that he is boosting the production of millet by giving subsidies to 124 farmers from next year. Kannamma Gopalan, one of the 25 farmers who saw a good yield, hopes that this is the beginning of a path towards progress for the villagers.

“This might push the youngsters to take an interest in farming. It’s also a major step towards progress for us,” she says.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

Interestingly, Mahesh Asabe, an innovative farmer from the dry Akola village of the district, has made agriculture a profit-making sector in the dry region. He has led the way with dragon fruit cultivation and is now earning Rs 10 lakh per acre.

“Traditionally, we have been growing pomegranates, custard apples, and grapes. With climate change, it has been difficult to cultivate these crops,” Mahesh tells The Better India.

“Today, we experience unseasonal rains and hailstorms. Sometimes, we get rain during the harvesting period of grapes. This washes away our year’s worth of hard work. Additionally, there has been an unprecedented increase in the cost of fertilisers over the years. It collectively made farming unprofitable,” adds the 27-year-old.

We sat down with the young farmer to understand how he reaped profits after switching to dragon fruit cultivation.

A dicey experiment

Since his childhood, Mahesh dreamt of becoming a farmer. To shape his dreams into reality, he went on to study agricultural engineering and then completed his master’s in food processing and engineering from Udaipur, Rajasthan, in 2020.

It was during his graduation years that the engineer read about dragon fruit farming in a magazine. “As it belongs to the cactus family, dragon fruit requires less water and nutrient requirements. It has a life expectancy of 20-25 years and gives multiple harvests in a year,” he explains. 

“It has a high benefit-to-cost ratio, can survive the high summer heat and can be cultivated in any kind of harsh land,” he adds.

“I understood that it was the future crop of farming and we could earn handsomely with dragon fruits even in dry regions like ours,” Mahesh says.

So, in 2012, he went to Bangladesh to procure dragon fruit saplings. He bought 9,000 saplings at the rate of Rs 110 each and planted them on three acres of land.

With high hopes, he had invested the family income of up to Rs 17 lakh to prepare the farmland and plant the new crop that was still unknown to a large number of farmers in the region.

What happened next devastated him.

Turning perils into opportunities

After a year of planting the crop, Mahesh did not get even a single fruit out of the 9,000 saplings. “I was very young and I was questioned about my decision to cultivate dragon fruits. When we got zero returns in the first year, I started feeling depressed. We didn’t even have any other business to survive on,” he shares.

Mahesh realised that the saplings he procured were not mature. “Ideally, the mother saplings should have been two years old. We got fooled with the produce. So, it took us two whole years to get returns from the crop,” he adds.

One of the other challenges before Mahesh was a lack of awareness from customers about this fruit, which heavily impacted the crop’s demand. “Nobody knew what dragon fruit was. After we managed to get some produce, we took it to the market. People doubted that this would even make any sale,” he says.

To overcome these challenges, Mahesh opened a YouTube channel to make farmers aware about the perks of dragon fruit farming which in turn led to a rise in consumption of the fruit. Over time, he gained good viewership and started attracting farmers to his field.

The progressive farmer has become an example for several other farmers in the region. He has also opened the doors of his ‘Rukmini Farms’ to serve as demonstration fields for others who wish to grow dragon fruits. 

His farm has been visited by at least 35,000 farmers from across Maharashtra. Of these, he has trained and helped 500 switch to dragon fruit cultivation.

Today, Mahesh has developed a good customer base in the nearby Sangli and Kolhapur markets where he manages to sell his seasonal produce of at least 200 tonnes, earning an income of Rs 2 crores from his 20-acre dragon fruit farm.

This June, he also aims to launch his processing unit to sell Value-Added Products (VAP) including dragon fruit juice, squash, jam, and chocolates. “With our team of 500 farmers, I aim to enter into the export business with our top quality produce along with the VAPs in the processing industry,” he adds.

For his outstanding work in the field of agriculture, Mahesh was bestowed with several awards including the prestigious National Innovative Agri Youth Award 2021 by the Krishibhushan Maharashtra FPO Startup Federation. 

He was also given the Krishak Samman Award by the Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, and the Krishithon Innovative Young Farmer award for innovative fruit farming and multi-fruit crop pattern by Krishithon – India’s premier agriculture trade fair in Nashik.

Looking back at his success, he shares, “Today’s generation looks at agriculture as a loss-making sector. With my example, I want to showcase that agriculture can be turned into a good business opportunity.”

“We need the younger generation in farming so that they can turn agriculture profitable by adopting new technologies over conventional methods because of their wit and skills. It was because of my education that I used social media and visited many countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Israel to learn how to deal with the challenges in farming and progress. This would not have been expected from the older generations,” he adds.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Mahesh Asabe.

Watching this sight unfold in this apartment set-up is strange when one is accustomed to seeing it in the sprawling fields in the Pampore district of Kashmir — India’s only saffron-producing centre whose natural highlands and loamy soil are great hosts to the crop.

The district’s love affair with the spice started in the 5th century BC, and today, over 20,000 households are engaged in saffron farming here. Touted as ‘the new silver’ because of the lucrative prices it fetches in the global market, the spice is eyed by all — from smugglers to royals, often blurring geopolitical lines as it travels across the world.

Enjoyed in summer drinks and biryanis and set at the feet of gods in temples and gurudwaras, it suffices to say that saffron finds love in laymen and deities alike. Poems and songs of the 16th-century poet Habba Khatoon, known as the ‘Nightingale of Kashmir’, glorified the red threads of saffron.

Each culture, it seems, finds favour in its unique flavour. And now, a Vadodara couple has managed to decode the mystery of how to grow it at home.

A saffron haven in Gujarat

A research specialist and a stock market professional respectively, Aastha and Vaibhav’s professional expertise is tangential to gardening. But the duo is all up for experimenting. “In 2022, we got interested in technological farming. It’s lucrative and caught our attention,” explains Vaibhav.

The early months of the year were fraught with learning about hydroponics, aquaponics and aeroponics. “That’s actually when we stumbled upon saffron and how it can be grown through aeroponics.”

The crop’s premium nature would make for good economics, the couple figured. Vaibhav’s exploits in the gardening domain went on for months before he believed he was ready to take the plunge. “Go big or go home” was the philosophy the couple adopted, as they recall their very first order, a bold decision to purchase 400 kg saffron seeds from Kashmir.

The magnitude of the task at hand dawned on Vaibhav the moment he saw the delivery at his doorstep. “My first thought was that if something goes wrong; it’s going to be a disaster.”

But months later as they had their very first harvest, they were all smiles. Here’s the journey to that point.

Steps to growing a pricey spice

Step 1: Setup your space

Once the order was placed, the couple busied themselves with preparing a 10 x 10 ft room in their home for the seeds to flower. But while home growers take care of this, they often overlook the next obvious step, says Vaibhav. “Even I made this mistake,” he adds, “I completely forgot to set up a space where I could put the seeds once I had harvested the first batch of flowers.”

Since the seeds require to be placed in the soil after the flowers have been plucked, he advises setting up an area where you can ensure this.

Step 2: Check the seeds

A long journey from Kashmir to Gujarat is tiring for the seeds. Dormant during travel, they tend to attract moisture, which gets collected in their outer layers. “Once the seeds arrive, you need to ensure they are well aerated to get rid of the moisture or fungus will set in,” cautions Vaibhav.

Sorting out the seeds is an ordeal. They need to be checked by hand and smelled to catch any rot that has set in. “Even one seed with fungus can affect the whole batch,” he warns.

Step 3: Divide the batch

Sorting through the seeds leaves you with the good ones and the bad. You discard the bad ones and proceed with silvering the good ones. “In this step, the tail-like portion at the top of the seed is cut off,” says Vaibhav.

He adds that these seeds are then divided into two batches. “One batch is put into soil trays and the other in wooden trays on slotted angle racks. Both the setups are kept in a room where the temperature is stringently controlled.”

The aim is to mimic the climes of the Valley, as the seeds only flower at a specific temperature. Elaborating on how they managed to achieve this, Vaibhav says “The temperature in the room has to be decreased gradually just as if winter is coming to Kashmir. We’re essentially trying to make the seeds feel at home. So, we start at 25 degrees Celsius and gradually drop the temperature to five degrees through the next four months until harvest.”

Step 4: Pluck the flowers

The purple bloom conveys the harvest is ready. Each flower comprises petals, the stamen and the stigma. “Each of these parts has a different use. The petals are used in the cosmetic industry, the yellow stamen is used in the textile industry for dyeing, and the stigma is the red saffron.”

Step 5: Place the seeds back into the soil

“Once the flowers have been plucked out, all the seeds are placed back into the soil so they can flower again,” says Vaibhav, adding that the cycle that began on 15 August was completed on 1 November 2023. 

“Ensure that you water the seeds every 7 to 10 days, and not exceed this,” he informs. Once it’s August, the flowers will be harvested again. “Thus, you see, each bulb has a lifetime of a decade and growing saffron is a one-time investment.”

Why history loves this ‘red gold’

If there is one spice that is history’s favourite, it has to be saffron. Legends tell of how Cleopatra bathed with it and Alexander the Great used it to heal battle wounds. Price is no bar it seems as some traders in Kashmir get a handsome Rs 2 lakh per kg according to an article in The Economic Times.

The article sheds light on how “the world’s most expensive spice” is not every country’s cup of tea. Iran produces 95 percent of the world’s saffron and Kashmir a great margin too. The spice’s demand for a certain climate means not every country is favourable for growth.

The fact that it takes one lakh flowers to produce one kg of saffron (and the entire process must be done by hand) adds to its expense. And farmers in Kashmir have mastered the art.

It is said that out of a total of 5,707 hectares of land under saffron cultivation in Kashmir, more than 90 percent is in the Pampore tehsil of Pulwama district in South Kashmir. In 2020, the Valley rejoiced as the GI tag was given to Kashmiri saffron making it illegal for someone outside the valley to make and sell a similar product under the ‘Kashmiri saffron’ name.

The saffron grown in the Valley is of three types — ‘Lachha Saffron’ is the variety where stigmas just separated from the flowers are dried without further processing; ‘Mongra Saffron’ is the variety where stigmas are detached from the flower, dried in the sun, and processed traditionally; and ‘Guchhi Saffron’ which also does not involve the stigmas being processed. Instead, they are dried and joined in a bundle tied with a cloth thread.

The one that the Patels are growing is the second variety.

“Our first harvest was an experiment,” Vaibhav emphasises. But lucrative all the same. Each gram of the red threads fetched the couple Rs 700. As for the road ahead, they are confident they can expand sales implementing the learnings of the previous harvest.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

Trigger warning: Mentions of domestic violence

In 2022, PRADAN — the non-profit that works to empower rural communities — organised a workshop to help women transform their lives with agriculture.

Seeing all rural women flock to the village chaupal to attend the agricultural entrepreneurship meeting, Jharkhand’s Rukmani Devi could not resist. Unable to understand the ongoing meeting, she watched the lead converse with enthusiastic women, but from a distance.

Later, with the help of sign language, Rukmani’s neighbour explained to her how the organisation talked about boosting household income by cultivating multiple crops in the region, which has been grappling with water scarcity.

Impressed with the idea, Rukmani was thrilled to farm on her unused farmland.

Before this, the 49-year-old would toil day and night ploughing, weeding other’s land, and harvesting their crops. Today, she has become a proud cultivator and the sole breadwinner of her family.

From an abusive father to an alcoholic husband

Born to an impoverished family of daily wagers in the Gumla district, Rukmani was raised along with eight siblings. Like her sister, she could not hear or speak since her birth.

“This is also a reason why our father disliked us. Often, he would make us work more, unlike our other able-bodied siblings. If we didn’t work as per his wish, he would beat us,” she conveys in sign language.

Other than being taunted for her disability, Rukmani had a harsh childhood. She never went to school and spent her entire day doing household chores.

“My father would crush stones and rocks for a living. It was irregular work, so he would often be home sitting idle. Somedays, we would eat rice with madua (millet), pluck tamarind from the forest or earn a jackfruit by working for an entire day at someone’s farm. It was not easier to arrange even a one-time meal,” she adds.

Besides, being born with a disability also meant difficulty finding a suitable match. Over the years, she became a ‘burden’ to her family. When she turned 20, her father got her married off to a man who was 20 years older than her.

“I was married to a person who was twice my age who was already married. This marriage did not bring me any happiness. My husband was an alcoholic and would come drunk daily. He would hit me and then throw me out of his home. I would spend most of my days in neighbours’ homes,” she conveys.

Without any work, Rukmani’s husband would exhaust her daily wages and sell household utensils if denied money. He stepped over the line when he leased the family’s old mahua tree – their only prized possession.

Her husband’s alcohol addiction took a toll on his health. In 2014, he died after contracting tuberculosis, leaving behind three daughters and a son to look after. “My situation started getting better post his death,” she conveys.

Rukmani then raised her four children with a monthly widow pension of Rs 1,000. Despite owning a two-acre land, she would toil in others’ fields. “I would work all day to get one jackfruit. As a mother, my only concern was to feed my children and pray for their better future, away from miseries,” she says in sign language.

Embodying resilience and determination

After learning to farm from PRADAN’s team, Rukmani decided to cultivate peas and potatoes. For this, she procured seeds from women cooperatives at subsidised prices and sowed in 30 decimals of her land [1 acre equals 100 decimals].

In 2022, she also sought help from PRADAN to irrigate her fields.

“We had introduced a lift irrigation project in water-scarce gram panchayats of Jharkhand. As part of this project, we laid pipes in fields and connected them with the nearest river to supply adequate water for irrigation using solar energy,” Satyam Sharma, who works as an executive with PRADAN tells The Better India.

With the non-profit’s assistance and regular monitoring, Rukmani was able to harvest at least four jute sacks of peas and potatoes, earning an income of Rs 4,000. “That year, we did not have to buy potatoes as we kept them for our own consumption and sold the rest of the produce of peas,” she conveys.

The family used the income to renovate their small mud kitchen and shed for livestock.

Roughly 1.5 years since then, Rukmani has expanded cultivation on two acres of land, cultivating crops like peas, chana, beans, potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, and mustard, earning a seasonal profit of at least Rs 15,000.

“Earlier, we only had enough means to manage only one or two square meals. Today, we have a shelter, a home that we call our own, and our own clothes that are not worn out. I do not have to go to others’ field and homes to get food for my kids. I grow them on my own, in my own field. This is a luxury for a poor family like ours,” conveys Rukmani.

Defying all odds, Rukmani has today reached her highest potential and left behind an extraordinary example for other village women to follow.

Her neighbour Savita Devi tells The Better India, “Rukmani didi can’t speak or hear. Often, I explain things to her with gestures. I have seen her struggle over the years. Despite the hardships of living with an alcoholic husband and with a disability, didi has progressed and never looked back. She is an inspiration to able-bodied people like me,” she remarks.

Edited by Pranita Bhat.

Hailing from an agricultural family from a small tribal village in Odisha’s Koraput district, a young Raimati was inspired by Padma Shri awardee Kamala Pujari. The 70-year-old farmer taught Raimati traditional cultivation techniques like initiating pollination in crops and conservation of various kinds of native grains.

“Now, I do not remember any of the teachings from school, I only know how to conserve and grow millets that I learnt on the field,” Raimati smiles.

Though she was married off at the young age of 16, she did not give up her dream of collecting and preserving millet varieties despite having to participate in household chores. Over the years, she adopted better technology and scientific farming methods to improve the yield and quality of millet farming.

Later, with Kamala’s help, she associated with a Chennai-based non-profit called MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), where she learned the skill of modern conservation, helping more women gain employment in rural areas. She has trained around 2,500 farmers in millet farming so far.

For Raimati, millet cultivation transformed her life. She now leads a self-help group of women farmers and farmer producer companies to process millets into value-added products like pakoras and laddus to sell at the local market.

Additionally, she played a key role in establishing a farm school in her village by donating her ancestral family land.

Recently, she got an opportunity to showcase her active participation in revitalising traditional rice and millet varieties at the 2023 G20 Summit held in New Delhi, for which she was personally appreciated by the President of India, Draupadi Murmu.

“The national-level recognition has not only brought me immense respect from my in-laws but also from global leaders. It motivates me to conserve more varieties and make my state proud,” says Raimati.

Loved Raimati’s work? Watch this short video to know more:

Edited by Pranita Bhat

Studying deeper, he understood how numerous bamboo tribes differ from each other – while some species have large and straight culms, some are smaller and more flexible. Some have thick walls and stiff hair on the nodes, while some boast different leaf textures that might go unnoticed to the untrained eye.

“Almost all bamboos have different leaves, shoots, and structures. I was so fascinated by them that I decided to collect them one by one,” the 53-year-old tells The Better India.

Beyond his paintings, Johnson travelled far and wide to conserve bamboo varieties. Today, he is a proud owner of the 17-acre plantation that boasts 10,000 plants including a rare collection of 142 species collected from different parts of the country.

His collections include the commercially used fast-growing Guadua angustifolia variety, Dendrocalamus brandissi which grows more than two feet in a day; Melocanna baccifera that is used for making medicinal products; and ornamental species like the Golden Bamboo (Schizostachyum brachycladum), and Buddha Belly.

In conversation with The Better India, Johnson speaks about why generations today must be as obsessed with bamboo for a sustainable future.

From painting to planting rare varieties

In 1992, Johnson graduated from Calicut with a Bachelor’s of Science. He came back to his hometown to look after his father who had Parkinson’s disease. Immediately, he had to take up the responsibility of their family’s pepper spice shop.

In 2010, he discovered a newfound passion for conserving bamboo. Soon after, he found himself traversing through bamboo forests in the Northeastern region of the country. “Northeast has a very good collection of bamboo. Here, you see bamboo everywhere and almost in every household,” he explains.

Johnson started collecting bamboo species from across the Northeast and other parts of the country including Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim, Arunachal, Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.

Taking the small shoots of bamboo, he has set up his own dense forest of 10,000 plants that include rare varieties like Bambusa affinis, Bambusa Assamica, Bambusa Vulgaris, Tulda Variegated, and Phyllostachys Bamboosoides.

Thanks to its favourable warm and tropical climate, Johnson was able to set up a large Bambusetum by planting a wide species of rare bamboo in Pulpally. In the house itself, he has planted 80 odd species in pots.

Conserving the most versatile plant

However, collecting bamboo has been more than a passion for Johnson.

Over the past few decades, the residents along the Kerala-Karnataka border of Wayanad district, especially in villages on the northeastern tip of the Deccan Plateau including Pulpally, Mullankolly, and Poothadi have been facing desertification owing to a sharp decline in rainfall, loss of organic matter in soil, unscientific land use, conversion of wetlands and shortage in the canopy. 

Johnson believes farming with Bamboo could be an ideal and effective method for a sustainable model to check the desertification tendencies of the region.

“Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plant species. It is also a low-cost method to absorb a huge amount of carbon. It produces about 35 percent more oxygen than any other plant creating an oxygen park in nature for future generations. It can boost the moisture content and the organic carbon in the soil,” he mentions.

Other than its low-cost carbon sequestration property, Johnson says, “Bamboo is going to be the next timber in the world because of its versatile usage. It is mainly used in construction like flooring and scaffolding, furniture making, as edible food, biofuel, fabrics, cloth, and paper-making. It is also medicinally useful, and has religious and ornamental value.”

“Despite this, not many are interested in its conservation. People do not recognise the value of bamboo. It can be easily replicated across geographies. Today, if you plant one shoot, you will have 10 new plants a year later. So, bamboo can be easily cultivated,” he adds.

Today, as he traverses through the tall dense jungle of bamboo, he reflects on a popular saying, the bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.

“I have spent months in the bamboo forest that I have created. I sleep in its shade. Whenever I travel through the bamboo plants, I feel the cool breeze on my face even in summer. I have had peaceful nights of sleep in the middle of this forest,” he says.

“But cultivating these bamboos has made me realise that ultimately, every bamboo bends down to survive strong winds and remains still and tall. If people understand this and do not hold a rigid character all the time, the world could become a better place to live,” he adds.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Jhonson Varghese.

“I was so glad to meet Venkaiah Naidu sir. He congratulated me for my work. It was such a surprising and proud moment for me; I cannot describe it in words,” Bangaru tells The Better India.

“After receiving the award, I feel more dutiful towards encouraging others to take up terrace gardening. I wish that every Indian household should grow their own food for consumption,” she adds.

The 28-year-old has set up a lush green jungle on her terrace spread across an area of 800 square feet. With a wide variety of ornamental and medicinal plants, green leafy vegetables, flowers, and large fruit trees like oranges and mangoes, her terrace garden has become a centre for sustainable farming — drawing the attention of notable dignitaries including the Mayor of Vishakhapatnam Hari Venkata Kumari.

In a conversation with The Better India, Bangaru shares what makes her roof garden design unique.

Building a green oasis with terrace gardening

Born and brought up in Visakhapatnam, the BCom graduate worked as a manager for three years before her marriage in 2021.

“When I came to my husband’s home, he did not have any plants at all. I took my hobby of gardening from my parent’s home to my in-laws’. So, after a month of my marriage, I started planting a variety of trees,” smiles Bangaru, who gradually turned their terrace into a blooming green oasis with 600 garden plants.

Since childhood, she was inspired by her grandmother to grow her own food. “I used to learn a lot of gardening techniques from my grandmother. Other than this, I would study a book by Cho Han-kyu, a South Korean farmer who promotes natural farming. This helped me set up a healthy garden,” she says.

“Several farmers are forced to use chemical fertilisers like urea and pesticides to boost crop yield. This always pushed me to grow healthy fruits and vegetables organically and lead a healthy lifestyle,” shares Bangaru.

“Also, there is a vast difference between the quality of our produce and what we get in the market. Our vegetables and fruits have distinctive aromas and are sweeter compared to the market ones which are usually tasteless,” she adds.

Today, the urban gardener grows at least 85 varieties of plants and tall fruit trees — including brinjals, okra, tomatoes, lettuce, mint, watermelon, drumsticks, spring onions, star-fruits, three kinds of mangoes, yellow and red coloured jackfruits, sweet lime, two kinds of oranges, Barbados cherries, strawberries, blueberries, mulberries, custard apple, amla, papaya, grapes, sugarcane, apple, dragon fruits, litchies, guavas, and much more.

Bangaru shares that she dedicates at least three hours a day to looking after her terrace garden. Over the years, she has carefully nurtured tall fruit trees and vegetables by crafting unique fertilisers, composting techniques, and pesticides.

She shares a few secret techniques that she applies in her rooftop garden.

Terrace gardening tips to grow a thriving green oasis

Prune the grafted trees: Bangaru suggests pruning the plants before the onset of their favourable season.

“This prepares the plants for good growth and improved air circulation. Also, by pruning, we remove vulnerable parts of the plant and minimise the risk of pest damage,” she adds.

Prepare the potting mix: Bangaru shares that the perfect potting composition comprises 30 percent vermicompost/kitchen waste compost/cow dung, 30 percent soil, 30 percent cocopeat, and 10 percent neem cake.

“I transfer the potting mix into a large container or pot and then plant the saplings. This potting mix contains only a handful of soil so it does not add burden to the terrace weight,” she adds.

When to add biofertilisers: After plantation, Bangaru suggests adding biofertilisers and liquid fertilisers in the pots after three months. She shares the composition of one of her trichoderma-enriched biofertilisers.

“Take 100 kg of cow dung, 10 kg of neem powder, and two kg of trichoderma viride. Mix the ingredients and sprinkle some water over it. Cover it with a cotton cloth and keep them under shade. After seven days, white-coloured good bacteria will have formed. Then, directly mix the compost with cow dung and add to the soil,” she explains.

Add liquid fertiliser to boost yield: Bangaru says that she uses a unique fish amino acid biofertiliser that promotes healthy growth and development of plants by regulating phototropism and photosynthesis, and stimulating carbon and nitrogen metabolism.

As the name suggests, the fertiliser is made using fish!

“Take 1 kg of sea fish and 1 kg of jaggery. Mix it in a terracota pot or plastic container with the help of a stick. Then, cover it with a cotton cloth and keep it under shade,” she explains.

“Every morning and evening, stir it in a clockwise direction. The fertiliser will be ready after 15 days. Take 10 ml of fish amino acid and dilute it in five litres of water, and then, spray it on the leaves and under soil roots of the plants,” she suggests.

Bangaru also suggests giving fruit-fermented juices to grow plants similar to how it is given to pregnant women; plants also crave citrus fruits before flowering and fruiting!

How to remove pests: The urban gardener suggests spraying neem oil to get rid of insects like mealybugs.

“Firstly, remove the pests manually. Later on, spray neem oil every week. If you still spot the pests on the plant, spray a mixture of chillies and garlic paste mixed in rice water. This is sure to work wonders,” she shares.

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All photos: Bangaru Jhansi.

Interestingly, a shift to a new crop has brought positive outcomes for one of the forward-thinking farmers in the village. Last September, Ramesh Bhiva Bangar turned to cultivating strawberries — a fruit that he had never tasted until he cultivated some on his farm!

Within a couple of months, he went from earning Rs 4,000 to Rs 2 lakh per season. His success has become exemplary for hundreds of farmers and agricultural officers who flock to his farm every day.

In conversation with The Better India, the tribal farmer reveals how he harvested phenomenal profits.

My father feared I might end my life

Born and brought up in the tribal-dominated Kopra village of Maharashtra, Ramesh could only study till Class 10. After completing his schooling in 2006, he joined a local school as a peon. After working in the school for two years, he took up odd jobs like driving a pickup vehicle before turning to his family work of farming.

The family owns 22 acres of land but utilises only two to three acres for cultivation owing to a lack of irrigation resources. So after cultivating paddy in Kharif season, Ramesh would be forced to move out to nearby villages for daily jobs that would earn him Rs 350 a day.

“I wanted to boost our household income without leaving my village. Also, I did not want to slog like my father and grandfather, knowing that my hard work would not yield good profits,” he shares.

But Ramesh did not know a way around it until he met his maternal uncle last year. “He suggested I opt for a new kind of crop like strawberry given that my hilly village has Mahabaleshwar-like weather, which is suitable for growing strawberries,” adds the 35-year-old farmer.

In a bid to prepare the field for a new crop, he borrowed Rs 50,000 from his uncle and bought 4,800 saplings that cost him Rs 10 each. He returned to the village and started ploughing the field.

“My father was very doubtful of my decision. He was worried that I would fail to cultivate this new crop. And if I failed, then how would I repay the loan amount? He feared that I might turn to taking my life like other farmers in the drought-prone regions,” he says.

But without losing any hope, Ramesh prepared the beds, planted all 4,800 saplings in 10 guntha land [40 gunthas make 1 acre], and applied straw mulch over small strawberry plants to retain the soil moisture.

Every tenth day as he irrigated his crop, local people mocked him. “I did not take any training from anyone. So, whenever I would tell people that I was cultivating strawberries, they would mock me and label me mad and crazy,” he says.

Meanwhile, instead of relying on any chemical fertilisers, he used cow dung, buttermilk, and curd that, he says, act as good fertilisers and fungicides.

More than a month went by, but there was no fruit. “Everyone doubted me, but I hoped to see at least one fruit in my field,” he says.

Tasting strawberries and success for the first time

Ramesh finally laid eyes on the first strawberry on his farm after 45 days (November-end).

“My joy knew no bounds. I offered the first fruit to my son. He was so happy that he ran to his friends, proudly flaunting the strawberry while telling them how his papa had grown a new kind of fruit. No matter how much I earn, that happiness was priceless for me. Cultivating strawberries became a proud moment of my life,” he shares with pride.

“And this was also the first time in my life that I tasted strawberries. Earlier, I could not afford to buy this exotic fruit on my own,” he adds.

Every day, Ramesh harvests at least 20 kg of the fruit and sells it to the local market. Priced between Rs 30 and Rs 50, he manages to earn Rs 3,000 a day. Today, he has also found buyers from nearby villages in Junnar and the Pune district.

“The first day, when I took my produce to the market, people looked at me strangely and threw several questions at me. As I come from a small tribal village and I was new in the market, nobody knew me,” he says.

“But seeing me succeed in the past couple of months, they now come to me and inquire about my technique and how I achieved success. Now, when I visit the market, they vacate space for me and call me seth ji [a wealthy merchant]. But this does not fascinate me,” he shares.

“Strawberries have helped me establish an identity for myself and an opportunity to make my family proud. This is all that matters,” adds Ramesh, who now aims to expand strawberry cultivation to four times the present farmland.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Ramesh Bhiva Bangar.

Beyond the delicious fungi and beautiful landscapes, the place is also becoming a breeding ground for innovation. While most of the youth shy away from farming — considering it low in profits — Gaurav Sabharwal is changing the narrative. 

“I know that many people are of the opinion that farming is not profitable but it depends on what you are growing. While most of the people in the city are into mushroom farming, I decided to do something new to make it more profitable,” he tells The Better India. 

The 36-year-old is growing saffron using aeroponics in his 300 sq ft setup in Solan. With a controlled environment and chemical-free environment, he was able to grow 500 gm of the ‘red gold’ and sell it at a remarkable Rs 500 per gram. 

Want to know how he grew Saffron that can only be grown in Kashmir? Here is his story –

‘Adversity leads to innovation’

Born and raised in Solan, Gaurav aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“I come from a small place and had humble dreams. After completing my graduation, I decided to join my father in running the family business,” he recalls.

With simple dreams of expanding his father’s shoe business, Gaurav found contentment in following the path his father had paved.

“It was four years ago when things changed with my father passing away. There was a debt on our family that we had to pay, and our shoe business was not making much profit,” he says.

Struck with grief and burdened with the new responsibility of fulfilling the loan, Gaurav worked diligently to make his family business thrive.

“Call it fate, but the business wasn’t yielding much profit, and I felt the pressure to make a change. That’s when I began exploring avenues for more lucrative ventures. One thing I was clear about – I wanted to run a business,” he states.

Continuing, he explains, “I could see numerous mushroom planters in Solan who were earning substantial incomes. However, with the market saturated with producers, prices were steadily decreasing. I realised I needed to do something different.”

Looking for options online is when he found out about the precious ‘red gold’ – saffron. 

“Everyone knows how expensive saffron is and how profitable it can be. However, I always assumed that it can only be grown in Kashmir,” he says, adding that he started researching on the internet if there were ways of growing it in Himachal. 

“The internet has all the answers and that is how I found out about the technique of using a controlled environment for growing different types of crops,” he says. 

He found a few instances where people grew saffron using aeroponics. Aeroponics is a way of growing plants without soil. Instead of planting them in the ground, the plants hang in the air, and their roots are misted with a nutrient-rich spray. 

“Aeroponics can help plants grow faster, use less water, and be more resistant to certain diseases compared to traditional soil-based methods. It’s like giving plants a shower of nutrients to help them thrive,” he says. 

With his heart set on growing saffron, he set on a journey of learning aeroponics from scratch. 

Making profits and teaching others 

“I did the first thing that most people would do — go on the internet and read up about aeroponics. I found a bunch of people growing saffron using the technique, and I decided to contact them, reaching out for their help,” he says.

It was during the research that he found out the amount of money he would need to set up his farm lab.

“I did not have that kind of investment, so I sought help from the government. I got a loan of Rs 10 lakh and even got a rebate under PM Modi’s startup scheme,” he says.

With the right investment in hand, Gaurav was ready to try his hand at growing saffron in Solan.

“The greatest factor to consider was that the temperature needed to grow saffron was only in Kashmir in India. So I had to mimic that here in Solan. I used the lab whose temperature can be controlled,” he says.

“After mimicking the environment and planting the seeds, it was important for me to keep a close eye on the buds. I was not aware that they can catch fungus and was taken aback when my first crop did catch it,” he says. 

“I was able to get rid of it by drying the affected plants and separating them from the healthy ones,” he adds. 

After nearly 8 months of hard labour and planning, Gaurav was able to grow 500 grams of saffron in his aeroponics farm. 

“The produce, although not a lot, was a good sign. I was very tense because this was a leap of faith for me. Earlier, I had no intentions of doing anything and seeing those buds flower was a great feeling,” he says. 

Once ready with his produce, he was able to sell it at Rs 500 per gram. “The market rate was Rs 300 but those are not pure and are usually chemically grown. I had them tested and mine produce was sold for more than the market price,” he gleamingly shares. 

Speculating that his investment will soon get returns, Gaurav says, “The best thing about using this technique is that it does not require me to follow the seasons. This makes the produce available to you throughout the year.” 

The new technique was also very well received by the people around him. “A lot of people in my city have shown interest in learning how to use aeroponics. I have already taught it to five people and I get inquiries every day,” he says. 

Selling his produce under the name of Shoolini Saffron, he says, “I am planning to expand the production more and reach more customers.” 

If you wish to buy the saffron or learn how to use aeroponics, you can reach Gaurav at 98166 11119.

Edited by Padmashree Pande

The 32-year-old farmer has adopted an integrated farming system to cultivate climbers in the sheds and practice pisciculture in farm ponds simultaneously.

Nearly eight years back, Hirod joined his father, Shiva Shankar, who had traditionally been cultivating paddy. Like other Indian farmers, they would often relentlessly toil day and night for meagre returns.

However, Hirod adopted an innovative approach to make agriculture profitable.

In 2019, the Ratanpur village resident dug up four different ponds on his 10-acre farm with the help of the watershed development and soil conservation unit of the agricultural department.

In order to utilise the space efficiently, he first planted big trees such as bananas, guavas, and coconuts around the pond. At the same time, he ​​built a trellis system over the pond to grow climbers, which also eliminated the need for watering the vegetables.

Trellis systems provide a vertical cane support so that the chosen plants are kept off the ground. This improves exposure to sunlight, air movement, and easier spraying access throughout the canopy. Using a trellis system also makes planting easier to manage and harvest. This system is often used in vineyards.

“We had already been growing bitter gourds on the bamboo trellis, so I got the idea to construct a trellis system over the pond. Initially, I planted 120 plants of bottle gourds and harvested 1,800 pieces last September. This earned me Rs 35,000 of extra income,” Hirod tells The Better India.

An electrician by vocation, he has also built a boat for himself to harvest the vegetables, and profits.

Read the story in Hindi here.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Hirod Patel.

To tap into a stable income, he went on to complete his higher studies in commerce and subsequently joined RA Podar Institute of Management to pursue a career in finance. However, Shanker dropped out of the college right after the completion of his first semester in 2012.

“Although I took the admission, back in my mind, I would always think about new business ideas. My heart belonged to farming. So, I wanted to explore a way to amalgamate farming and business,” the MBA dropout tells The Better India.

A couple of years later, Shanker fulfilled his dream by launching his company ‘Jeevan Mushroom’ where he sells spawns of a wide range of mushrooms including button, oyster, lion’s mane, paddy straw, shiitake, ganoderma, portobello, and more.

Today, he has established a huge market base not only in India but also abroad where he exports his produce to neighbouring countries including Bhutan and Nepal, and the UAE. Currently, his monthly revenue stands at Rs 13 lakh.

Mushrooming ideas

For Shanker, the decision to quit MBA was not easy. “People doubted my abilities and stressed that it was time for me to concentrate on shaping my career instead of running a business at this age. People from my caste are expected to become IAS officers. I was never interested in that. And to make it worse, I quit my college after the first semester mocking the expectations of the villagers,” he laughs.

Anyway, after dropping out of college, Shanker tried his hands at cultivating mushrooms. “This product was new at that time and was popular in hotels. I knew that this business would boom in the future,” he says.

So in 2015, Shanker went to the ICAR-Directorate of Mushroom Research in Solan to understand the nitty-gritty of cultivating mushrooms. Coming back, he vacated a small room of his house and set up the base for cultivating mushrooms.

“In a few months, I observed that Rajasthan did not have a single unit that manufactured mushroom spawns. People were dependent on states like Himachal, Haryana, and Delhi to source the seeds. I saw this as a perfect opportunity that would help me stand out in the crowd,” he adds.

For this, Shanker sourced the mother culture from ICAR, Solan and set up a temporary ‘jugaad’ (make-do lab) in the garage of his house to cultivate spawns on a trial basis. Meanwhile, he also managed to get a loan of Rs 9 lakhs under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana. With the loan amount and financial support from family and friends, he worked on establishing a dedicated lab spread across an area of 9,000 sq-ft.

In the lab, he introduced advanced pieces of machinery like seed germination chambers, vertical autoclaves, and a laminar airflow cabinet to provide a sterile working environment for better productivity.

In 2017, after five years of research and development, Shanker officially launched his company which he runs along with his wife, Kanchan Meena. With the help of social media, he started getting orders for mushroom spawns in bulk.

Today, Shanker produces up to 80 tonnes of mushroom spawns in his lab. Priced between Rs 90-115 per kg, his spawns have a huge demand in other states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Assam.

Why he became successful

Today, mushroom cultivation has gained popularity among small-scale farmers for its low input costs, relatively high yield, and return on investment. But, Shanker opines, not many people are able to extract as much profit owing to a lack of scientific approach.

“The reason why we became successful is because I always stressed on the quality of spawns that is usually compromised in this business,” he says.

He further explains in detail, “Like other crops of wheat and vegetables, we do not have a seed for mushrooms. It is a fungus which is manufactured in hygienic conditions in a lab. We require a tissue culture and mother spawn to multiply this fungus and get more spawns for commercialisation.”

“But farmers take a shortcut and keep multiplying spawns using the commercial spawns, instead of preparing a different tissue culture and mother spawn. This reduces the quality of the spawns and makes them vulnerable to diseases. While they may not observe the effect immediately, it is observed by farmers only when they get a low yield,” he adds.

Although Shanker earns a decent profit today, it is not all roses all the time. “Along with profits, we also incur losses sometimes. Last year, we faced losses worth Rs 27 lakh. I was receiving complaints of low yield. When I checked the machinery, I found out there was a thin hair size leakage that contaminated the spawns,” he says.

“Sometimes, I get discouraged by such situations and I feel like quitting. But then I look back at my journey and I feel overwhelmed to have come so far. I have a commerce background and the first time I saw a test tube was during my training. Such small achievements motivate me to strive for the success of my company. That’s why now I do not keep a plan B,” he smiles.

Shanker has also been conferred with Progressive & Innovative Farmer awards by the Rajasthan government in 2019 and Innovative Agricultural Startup by the Startup India in 2020.

Edited by Padmasshree Pande. All images: Shanker Meena.

Our destinies are confined within cramped apartments and their four walls, making our indoor houseplants as close to nature as we can get. While many of us desire a green haven nearby, balconies and terraces are our only options.

Though they may appear small, for many these spaces transform into more than just escapes from the urban cacophony – they evolve into tiny Edens, brimming with life and possibility.

59-year-old Pinnaka Padma found herself in a similar situation. Moving houses and cities with her husband, she never had the chance to have a garden.

Yet, defying all odds, she has turned her home in the heart of Hyderabad into a bustling mini-jungle, teeming with over 1,000 plants.

“I’ve always felt a connection with the greens,” she shares with The Better India. “And I yearned for my own garden. All my plants are nurtured naturally, with organic fertilisers.”

A lover of greenery from childhood

Padma’s daily routine begins with an early morning rise and household chores. “Since it is winter, my plants need more care, so a significant portion of my time these days is devoted to tending to them,” she says.

She also spends time recording videos for her YouTube channel, which boasts over 4 lakh followers. “I share what I know. With my love for gardening over the years, I have acquired a wealth of knowledge, and I want to share it with my fellow gardeners,” she adds.

So when did her passion for gardening begin?

“I come from a farming family in Telangana, and I grew up near farms and farmers. I was always in love with nature and would often accompany my family to the farms, learning the tricks and trades,” she says.

Padma was known to have a magic touch in her family, as whatever plant she grew would produce good yields. “I would share my yields with my family and friends and would find immense joy in doing so,” she says.

She moved to Hyderabad after getting married to her husband in 1990.

“We purchased our present home in 1990. I was excited to plant trees in my house. Although located in the city, it did not have a lot of space to do so. However, in 1995, we moved to Bengaluru due to my husband’s job and then to Dubai,” she explains.

Moving around so much, Padma did not get a chance to settle down and have a blooming garden, but that did not deter her. “My kids, too, had an interest in gardening, and wherever I moved, I would plant bonsai and small pot plants for them,” she shares.

It was not until 2014 that she stopped moving, finally calling Hyderabad a home again. 

“This time we were sure to live here longer and I was very excited. I wanted to utilise every space in my house to plant as many plants as possible,” she exclaims. 

Her modest terrace garden stands as a green oasis right in the heart of Hyderabad. The space boasts over 1,000 plants, carefully nurtured in 600 pots. The variety is impressive, ranging from vegetables to fruits to flowers. “We have mangoes, amla, aloe vera, methi, tomatoes, curry leaves, turmeric, cucumber, and broccoli,” she proudly shares.

All natural, organic and green

Having cultivated plants for many years, Padma has not only developed a green haven on her terrace but has also mastered the art of creating compost, fertilisers, and pesticides using natural ingredients.

“I am a proponent of natural farming. I believe that everything a plant needs, whether it’s nutrients or minerals, can be provided naturally. There’s no need for chemical fertilisers,” she emphasises.

Over the past decade, Padma has crafted her own fertilisers, composting techniques, and pesticides through extensive research on the internet and YouTube. “I enjoyed experimenting and blending various ingredients to understand what best nourishes and promotes plant growth,” she shares.

One of her renowned concoctions involves a blend of eggs and neem oil. “Mix 150 ml of coconut oil with neem oil, cooking oil, mustard oil, and eggs. This mixture serves as an excellent liquid fertiliser that can be sprayed on the plants, providing essential proteins for their growth,” she explains.

In addition to this, she produces vermicompost using kitchen waste. “I utilise my kitchen waste and collect some from restaurants and hotels to make the compost. I mix the waste with jaggery powder and soak it in water for three days,” she details, emphasising that the resulting compost is akin to ‘black gold’ for the plants.

The water from the soaking process is also repurposed to create a pesticide. “I mix it with neem oil and spray it, serving as an effective pesticide for the plants,” she adds.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pinnaka Padma (@patnamlopalleturu)

Padma goes even further with cultivating her own beneficial bacteria for the plants. “Mix cow dung with soil and jaggery water. Cover it with newspaper and place a jute bag over it. Keep adding clean water whenever it dries. In a few days, you’ll notice earthworms thriving in the soil. In my village, these earthworms are called the ‘friends of the farmer’,” she explains.

Following the establishment of her mini terrace jungle, Padma started gaining popularity among her neighbours. “They would bring their children to the garden, showcasing different plants. It filled me with pride. Many neighbours began approaching me to teach them how to cultivate their mini jungle,” she recounts.

Agreeing to their pleas, she would share hours teaching them. “But I could not stand for so long and some of my friends suggested starting a YouTube channel. This way I could reach more people and everyone could have their own gardens,” she says. 

In 2019, she started her YouTube channel Patnam Lo Palleturu by Pinnaka Padma and has over 4 Lakh subscribers. “My videos are well-liked by many people and they keep getting viewed. So, it is part of my routine to make a video whenever I learn something new,” she shares. 

Padma shares that she successfully grew microgreens in the US while she was visiting her children and hosted a microgreens dinner. 

Besides this, many platforms have applauded her spirit and awarded her. “I received an award from Social Woods for innovation in urban farming and another one from Hyderabad Greater Municipal Panchayat Raj in 2019,” she says. 

Looking back on her journey, Padma says, “There is nothing you cannot do if you have the passion and love to do it. I find joy in sharing and planting. Whenever I distribute my produce among friends and family, it gives me a sense of accomplishment,” she expresses.

Edited by Padmashree Pande

“This tower occupies as much space as a person takes while standing. And in this small space, I am growing several plants like ladyfingers and lettuce. I harvest lettuce for my salad every single day! Next, I am planning to grow bell peppers,” Abhishek tells The Better India.

“This vertical tower is also low on maintenance. I just have to add nutrients once in 7 to 10 days. I am so happy with this product that I am planning to purchase two more such towers,” adds the software engineer.

Aeroponics is a subset of the soil-less hydroponic method. In this method, the roots of the plants are suspended in the air and irrigated with a nutrient-dense mist. Taking this concept into consideration, Lucknow-based Prakhar Agarwal and Tanay Tiwari developed a unique vertical tower to grow veggies in small spaces, suitable for small apartment balconies in large cities.

In conversation with The Better India, Prakhar explains how the aeroponic tower can revolutionise farming in cities.

Meant for balconies

Prakhar, a computer science graduate by education, was always passionate about growing his own vegetables. Other than ornamental plants, he wanted to grow veggies on his balcony but without opting for a tedious soil-based system.

“This is when I came across the soilless hydroponic and aeroponic systems. While hydroponics requires a horizontal system using PVC pipes that end up taking up a lot of space, I wanted a small setup suitable for a balcony,” says the 25-year-old.

When the school friends Prakhar and Tanay were researching more on the aeroponic system, an incident compelled them to fuel the process. “Once, I drank sugarcane juice from a street vendor and fell sick. It was so bad that I was sick for nearly four months. I knew it was high time that we grow our own food at home,” he says.

In 2020, Prakhar started working on designing an aeroponic tower along with Tanay, and together, they launched ‘Macrogardens’ – an IIT Kanpur incubated startup.

“As we wanted to optimise space, we wanted to develop something vertical unlike a horizontal PVC pipe hydroponic setup,” he says adding that finally, after working on at least 20 designs, the friends came up with an aeroponic tower that was suitable for balconies in small apartments.

Helps grow 30 times more food

Using food-grade plastic, Prakhar and Tanay developed an aeroponic tower with 32 modules. “Apartments, especially in cities like Bangalore and Delhi, do not have enough space for gardening. It allows you to keep very few plants. But with aeroponic towers, anyone can grow 30 times more produce at a 20 percent faster rate compared to a soil-based setup,” he says.

Giving an example, the engineer explains, “One would require a space of four square feet to grow two cauliflowers. But one can grow 64 cauliflowers in the same area using aeroponic towers. We have given 32 pods in one tower that allows the growth of two saplings in each pod.”

“Also, usually people worry about their plants withering away when they have to leave for vacation or on a work trip. They are dependent on their neighbours to water their plants. But our system resolves that issue as well,” he adds.

Prakhar informs that their aeroponic tower automatically sprays water on plants using a motor and a water tank that can store 65 litres of water. “With this, plants can survive for 20 to 30 days without any maintenance. And the power costs only Rs 35 to Rs 40 for a month,” he adds.

Additionally, he claims that the aeroponic tower saves up to 95 percent water compared to a soil-based system where water is lost to transpiration, evaporation, and a large surface area.

Interestingly, the aeroponic system — meant for urban residents and small-landholding farmers — allows one to grow a variety of vegetables from green leafy spinach and lettuce to tomatoes, lady fingers, cucumbers, and even tubers like radish and potatoes.

Making cultivating food easy

The aeroponic tower is priced at Rs 6,500. Along with it, Prakhar also offers seeds, cocopeat as media, and 17 kinds of nutrient mix comprising nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and trace elements like manganese, molybdenum, and zinc.

“The only thing that users need to keep in mind is adding the nutrient to the water supply every 12 to 15 days in summer and every 25 days in winter. With our system, you also do not need to keep checking TDS and pH levels in the water. Our main purpose is to show people the ease of growing food at home,” he says.

With this, Prakhar aims to see a behavioural change among urban residents. “Food cooked using freshly harvested produce is better in its texture and flavour. Whenever I harvest kakdi (cucumber), my mother finds it juicy and soft. But generally, by the time vegetables from outside reach our plate, they lose their freshness and nutrients.”

“A large number of people want to grow their food, but with a rising population and decreasing farmland, aeroponics seems to be the future of farming. I wish for every city dweller to grow their own pesticide-free food with this system,” he adds.

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All photos: Prakhar Agarwal.

Posted as deputy commissioner (DC) between February 2022 and August 2023 in a district   predominantly inhabited by the indigenous Adivasi communities and marked by decades of Naxalite insurgency, he introduced some game-changing interventions.

Primarily, Sushant brought about a transformation in local agricultural practices by helping thousands of farmers, particularly women, transition from water-guzzling paddy to a more sustainable model of ragi cultivation. He empowered them to leverage that transition into a self-sustaining business opportunity by helping them sell ragi-based products in and out of the state. Given its health benefits, he also employed ragi to address severe anaemia and malnutrition.

Before his arrival, farmers in the district did not cultivate this ‘super grain’. Today, there are approximately 30,000 farmers in the district growing this millet on more than 30,000 acres and largely selling their harvest locally, according to the district’s agriculture department.

Some of these farmers are also part of a successful women-driven Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) called the ‘Baghima-Palkot Farmer Producer Company Ltd’ selling a variety of ragi-based products.

Speaking to The Better India, Bhagwati Devi, a 40-year-old ragi farmer and member of this FPO, says, “Our organisation [the] Baghima-Palkot Farmer Producer Company, currently makes a variety of items out of ragi including laddoo, cookies, mixture, khajuria, nimki, bhujia, chips and flour. Thanks to the intervention of DC Sushant, we sell some of these items to the local administration, particularly for their ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme), and various local markets too. At the Millet Cafe in Gumla, we also serve samosa, pakoda, etc.”

An official closely associated with the FPO claims, “Since May 2023, we have earned approximately Rs 15 lakh through retail sales and Rs 28 lakh through selling food items to the local administration. Our company has generated a total revenue of around Rs 43 lakh.”

For his efforts, Sushant was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in the “holistic development through aspirational district programme — overall progress with special focus on saturation approach” category in April 2023.

What’s more, this initiative was also presented at the Harvard Business School earlier this year by Avinash Kumar, a Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow at the Government of India’s Ministry of Skill Development. Speaking to the National Press earlier this year, Avinash claimed that the institute has also commenced a case study on the ‘Gumla model’ and it will be circulated among other business schools and used in training modules for bureaucrats.

Lay of the land

Located in the southern part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, about 100 km away from Ranchi, Gumla district is marked by a highly undulating and rugged terrain consisting of flat-topped hills. What Sushant found here was a poverty-stricken populace predominantly dependent on rain-fed agriculture. He noted that due to the lack of irrigation facilities, infrastructure, scientific inputs and marketing, the majority of the families engaged in agriculture don’t earn enough to provide basic necessities to their families.

“About 85% of the population has agriculture as the primary source of livelihood, among whom 90% are small and marginal farmers. They predominantly engage in paddy cultivation even though the soil conditions don’t really support it. What we found was acidic soil with a mix of red (soil) and laterite (soil). The topography is marked by gentle and steep slopes resulting in a lot of surface run-off (unconfined flow of water over the ground surface) and soil erosion,” he says.

“This is part of the legacy of the Green Revolution where an emphasis was made on growing wheat and paddy. As a result, what we saw in terms of food habits were locals consuming rice-intensive diets. In the mornings, for example, people would eat paani bhaat, a local delicacy containing leftover rice soaked in water overnight with a dash of salt. There was a shortage of protein and no scope for roughage or vegetables in their diets,” he adds.

Finding the solution in ragi

Ragi, known locally as mandua, is consumed in Jharkhand “in different food preparations such as porridge, chapati, cake, cookies, kurha, and sweetmeat,” according to this 2020 paper published in the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences.

“In addition to these, boiled and malted germinated grains are used as a food supplement to infants and pregnant women as it does not form acids and are easy to digest,” the paper adds.

Going further, ragi is also “a drought-tolerant and highly nutritional crop which has an economic value and productivity in the range of major cereals.” Given its popularity locally, nutritional value and suitability to local weather conditions, ragi seemed like a good choice to replace paddy.

As Bhagwati explains, “In the past, we used to cultivate ragi but we eventually left it behind and the crops we did end up growing we would sell rather than consume it at home. Once DC Sir re-introduced ragi, he explained the benefits of cultivating and consuming it.”

On a policy level, former district programme officer (DPO) Sujit Bari recalls how in early April 2022, the DC organised a meeting with the district agricultural department, Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) and the social welfare department. At this meeting, Sujit recalls the DC emphasising how Gumla was suffering from severe malnutrition and anaemia.

During this meeting, Sujit also recalls how the DC also directed officials in these three departments to find approximately 5,000 farmers, particularly women, who were interested in cultivating ragi, and motivate them into actually making that transition.

“We went to each block delivering his message through self-help groups (SHGs) associated with JSLPS. Following this outreach, about 5,500 women farmers volunteered to grow ragi. Although these farmers had some understanding of cultivating ragi, they weren’t familiar with some of the newer technical methods. Before sowing began, we trained them in these new techniques with assistance from a private agency and the government-run Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). At this time, we distributed high-quality ragi seeds, organised live demonstrations in each Block and provided on-field training on correct harvesting processes,” recalls Sujit.

Meanwhile, Sushant recalls that it wasn’t difficult for them to address the public on the benefits of growing and consuming ragi given the real health benefits associated with it.

“But changing long-standing habits is a difficult exercise. Among other things, we would convey messages like how ragi contains high calcium content which allows children to play with more energy. Given how sports is one medium to escape the troubles of poverty, it would be in their best interest to let their children consume ragi,” says Sushant.

To give farmers the confidence to make that transition away from paddy to ragi, he lists the steps that were taken.

1) Assurances from the collectorate that their ragi harvest will be bought at a good price and that it will be processed and distributed to children and women in their communities.

2) Decision to distribute seeds for free: This addresses a key part of the farmer’s input costs. In March 2022, the administration placed orders for 20,000 kg of quality ragi seeds based on soil suitability from the Birsa Agricultural University in Ranchi and the National Seed Corporation (NSC). “Upon receiving the seeds, we distributed them to the farmers free of cost,” says Sushant.

3) Distributing the seeds on time: “As we were training them on the process of growing ragi, we distributed the seeds too on 15 April. Our sowing season began in June,” says Sushant.

4) “Our farmers were growing weary of the overdependence on limited irrigation infrastructure, rainfall and unpredictability of cultivating paddy. They wanted to be free of these concerns from growing paddy and needed the confidence to make that transition away,” he adds.

5) Lastly, the district administration’s decision to empower women farmers in the community “who had the passion to fearlessly do something new,” notes Sushant.

In just a matter of weeks, before the Kharif sowing season began in 2022/23, Sushant recalls how they had about 5,500 farmers who volunteered to grow ragi in their fields. Meanwhile, the administration also worked towards developing drip irrigation and solar lift systems, and renovating ponds to improve the state of irrigation infrastructure in Gumla.

“As the farmers reached the halfway mark of the production stage (‘baali thootne laga’ or when the grain begins to break out of the husk), we organised regular field visits to explain to farmers that this is a finer seed variety and that unlike conventional ragi crops you will not get big grains. Without the emergence of big grains, farmers often feel they’ve suffered a loss in terms of volume of production or that the grain has not been harvested properly. Instead, we explained the properties of this finer variety of ragi grain they were harvesting,” explains Sushant.

“Going further, we explained to them the kind of pests that may attack their crops and how to stop them. In terms of value, we also gave assurances on the MSP (minimum support price) they would receive for these crops from the government and that they can sell these ragi grains for nearly double the price if they’re officially deemed to be organic. During these field visits, we also raised awareness about the types of organic insecticides (neem-based), pesticides and fertilisers they can source from state-run cooperatives at subsidised rates,” he adds.

During their first field visit before the harvest, officials told farmers to transport their harvest to their respective cluster-level federations (CLFs) in the area. Each CLF has about 100 members minimum comprising different village organisations (VOs) and neighbourhood self-help groups (SHGs). Local communities are well represented in these CLFs and their reach is extensive.

Once these grains are cut, farmers often spread them on the road for the de-husking (separating the husk from the grain) process. Vehicles are often employed to run over these husks and break them, following which the grains emerge. But obtaining grains in this manner has a negative impact on their market value because of the presence of dust and small stones.

“We assured the farmers that they should sell their harvest to us provided they can keep them free of impurities like dust. We assure them of a market for their produce. With State and Central government-run funds, we established platforms in each village to teach farmers how to spread the husked grains on the floor, dry them and separate the grain from it,” he says.

“As per the district agriculture department, we increased net acreage under ragi by 219% in 2022/23. We also saw a 270% growth in ragi production in 2022/23 compared to the year before. In 2023/24, we don’t have the data available and don’t want to speculate. But the total land cultivated under ragi in 2023/24 has crossed 30,000 acres — a 10-time expansion in the area covered under this crop — according to our estimates,” he adds.

Empowering women

In Gumla, as farmers shifted from growing paddy to cultivating ragi, the district administration formed a women-led group named Baghima-Palkot Farmer Producer Company Ltd. This group, consisting of about 500 women, was tasked with buying ragi from local farmers, ensuring its quality, and purchasing good ragi seeds for the following season.

These 500 women were also among the 5,500 farmers who initially volunteered to grow ragi. “Each of these farmers invested Rs 1,500 of their own money to raise capital for the FPO,” notes Sujit Bari, the former DPO in Gumla district.

More importantly, the administration gave the FPO seed money to procure these ragi crops at a good price from these 5,500 farmers. After arriving at this price, these CLFs procured the ragi harvest from the farmers.

“Farmers in Jharkhand would receive a minimum support price (MSP) of anywhere between Rs 16 and Rs 17 per kg for their paddy (rice) harvest. Meanwhile, they could get anywhere between Rs 34 to Rs 35 per kg for ragi which gives them additional income. We didn’t advise them to completely give up paddy cultivation. Instead, we convinced them to cultivate ragi in the upland areas while continuing to cultivate paddy in the lowland areas,” notes Sujit.

Meanwhile, this FPO delegated the process of procuring this harvest from the first set of 5,500-odd farmers to 18 local cluster-level federations and the SHGs operating under them.

Creating value out of ragi

Now, the question was what would the FPO do with all this harvest? At the local APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) mandi, there was a godown which was defunct.

“The district administration gave the FPO a grant of Rs 50 lakh to establish a processing unit at this godown measuring 10,000 square feet. The godown was divided into essentially four parts — maintaining, processing, packaging and delivering ragi-based stock products. Moreover, this godown was given to the FPO free of cost with no rent to be paid. To power this processing unit, we installed solar panels,” says Sujit.

“At this godown, we installed a small machine that would demonstrate to these women how to grind the grain into flour (atta-chakki machine). In addition, we also installed a larger mechanised plant which could generate one metric tonne of ragi flour per day. We further provided training to the members of this FPO on running this mechanised processing plant to process flour, the process of packaging that ragi flour, etc,” explains Sushant.

“To market this flour, we engaged the CLFs under which local SHGs operate. Each CLF invested Rs 50,000, bought the ragi flour coming out of the processing plant and marketed them in their respective areas. Grocery shops in Gumla and other districts were also encouraged to buy this flour and market it in their respective areas. If the response to the ragi flour was good, they could get more,” notes Sujit.

However, the district administration knew that selling ragi flour wasn’t going to be enough. To add value, they trained the FPO members running the processing centre to make ragi laddoos and other snacks and distributed them to the local Anganwadi centres.

Days after the FPO started making ragi laddoos, there was a big mela (festival) at the Gandhi Maidan in neighbouring Simdega in November 2022. The FPO had already started selling packaged ragi flour but ragi laddoos were already starting to gain traction.

“Within hours, their entire stock was sold out. This gave them real confidence,” says Sushant.

“For greater exposure, we also took them to a Millet Conclave in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. At the conclave, they sold Rs 50,000 worth of laddoos in just one day. With the success of laddoos, we decided to develop more products out of ragi. Following this event, DC Sir proposed the opening of a ‘Millet Cafe’ in Gumla. Here you can find cookies, samosa and peetha made of ragi, besides a live kitchen where you can get baked items made of ragi,” notes Sujit.

In the meantime, more women-led CLFs reached out to the district administration talking about how they too were capable of making such products. Their advice to these women was to work as collaborators and not competitors. They collaborated with FPO to make other snack items like ragi-based thekua, nimki, and bhujia. “We brought these entities together and they converged into one entity. Today, they produce these snacks on a bigger scale,” says Sushant.  

“In the second year of this initiative, we advised these women not to mass launch these products in the national market given the intense competition. They need time to grow. We advised them to focus on rural markets and help facilitate change in food habits which would in turn cement demand for their products in these parts,” he adds.

Making this a self-sustainable business

The district administration treated 2022–23 as a demonstration year.

“Farmers didn’t suffer monetarily, growing ragi required fewer agricultural inputs and all their stock was more or less bought out. What’s more, they didn’t have to travel long distances to sell their produce. All their produce was essentially bought in-house. In 2023–24, around 30,000 farmers came to us with their desire to grow ragi. We reached out to Karnataka University and paid them Rs 20 lakh just to buy premium quality ragi seeds for the next season,” says Sushant.

After the first round of seed funding, the district administration told the FPO that there wouldn’t be another to buy this year’s harvest. “Following the initial injection of seed money into the FPO last season, today these women are buying produce straight from the farmers, managing their book of accounts, preparing for the following season, and are even creating individual savings for themselves. This is a successful financial and sustainable model as well,” claims Sushant.

Battling malnutrition and anaemia with ragi

Every month, the district administration began organising intensive screening for severe and moderate malnutrition and anaemia in children and pregnant and lactating mothers. As a result, they developed real-time data for malnutrition and anaemia in the district.

“Once we identified the children and women at risk, we distributed ragi laddoos, snacks and other nutritious items to them on an immediate basis at the Anganwadi centres and their homes. Women who had just given birth were given these ragi laddoos and other assorted ragi-based snacks to take home and develop the habit of consuming these food items,” he says.

“At the Anganwadi centres, we also distributed items like ragi ka halwa. We are also the only district in India where 70% of the total tuberculosis (TB) patients were screened, identified and given Poshan (food) Kits to improve their immunity. We added ragi elements to these Poshan Kits,” he says.

Going further, Sushant claims that over 400 model Anganwadi centres were set up equipped with digital haemoglobin metres, innovative blue MTC (Malnutrition Treatment Card), height growth charts, and follow-up cards.

“Each school has also been given a weight chart and we have printed a height metre in these educational institutions. What’s more, we have tasked administrators there to maintain an updated profile of the students enrolled there. For their midday meals, we have even added items like drumstick leaves in their daal,” he explains.

“In addition, we have identified 52 types of local leafy vegetables. And depending on what’s available in a given panchayat, we have painted them on the walls of their respective Panchayat Bhavan and listed out their benefits. In the fight against malnutrition, we have taken small yet critical steps, which will have a real impact in five or ten years down the line,” he adds.

Bhagwati Devi, a 40-year-old ragi farmer and member of the FPO recalls, “In the short time he was posted here, DC Sir has done great work for the community. We have left behind the old ways of farming. Today, we are seeing the real benefits of cultivating ragi.”

“Beyond farming, however, we are now running a business where we can sell the products made from the ragi we grow. Today, there are 40 women working with me, who were stuck at home, unemployed and would do odd jobs before we started this company (FPO). The work we are doing today has given us self-respect. Not only do I grow ragi on my land but also work at the processing plant making products out of this ragi and selling them locally. Ragi has now become an integral part of our identity, not just in our district, but elsewhere too,” she adds.

But Sushant is quick to point out that all these initiatives, particularly the one centred around ragi, were a team effort characterised by consistency in effort and clarity of purpose.

“This is possible if we can all work together with the necessary rigour, dedication and discipline,” he says. It was little surprise that he became the first ever IAS officer from the state to win the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration.

(Edited by Pranita Bhat; Images courtesy District Administration, Gumla)

Here is a list of seven such farmers whose innovative solutions are changing the face of agriculture in the country.

1. Tree scooter revolution

Ganapathi Bhat, a farmer from Mangaluru has innovated an easy-to-use ’tree scooter’ to harvest areca palms. This has helped farmers reduce dependence on labourers and harvest 300 areca palms in a day, which is thrice the amount harvested using traditional methods.

Bhat was facing problems with areca nut harvests due to an unreliable labour workforce and improper maintenance of areca nut trees. This also led to a loss of income. To solve this issue, he came up with the tree scooter, which helps farmers climb up an areca nut tree in a matter of seconds.

The machine works with a harness, seat, and seat belt, and operates using a small motor and a set of wheels to grasp the trunk without using their hands. Bhat states that the machine saves about Rs 24,000 per week in labour costs. He has sold hundreds of devices so far.

2. Desert farming innovation

Haresh Thacker’s farm in Kutch blooms with fruit orchards of dragon fruit, mangoes, pomegranates and several hundred vegetables. The enterprising third-generation farmer sells his produce under the name Ashapura Agro Fruits.

Spending all his free time on the farm since he was 14, Haresh worked with a vision of building a farming empire in the dry, arid Gujarat region. Since he couldn’t change the climate, he found innovative ways to grow fruits and vegetables hitherto unheard of in the farms of Kutch.

Currently, he uses a Vietnam-based farming technique to grow dragon fruit and a high-density fruit tree planting method to grow mangoes, which usually need up to 100 litres of water per day. He chose the dragon fruit as it requires less water and can thrive in arid areas, besides being a low-calorie fruit. Through relentless experimentation, he now grows the dragon fruits in 50 acres.

Harsh also grows off-season strawberries and broccoli using the fan and pad technology to control the climate. He also uses an automated drip irrigation system and practises organic farming.

3. Preserving agricultural heritage

Mahan Chandra Borah, a rice farmer, wanted to educate people, especially the younger generation, about India’s rich diversity in rice and other crops. Shocked by the extinction of many indigenous varieties, he started ‘Annapurna Rice Library’ to protect the vanishing legacy of his forefathers.

When he started farming, he researched and grew different indigenous varieties of rice in his field in Assam’s Jorhat. Since he couldn’t do a PhD, due to financial constraints, he spent all his time researching and looking for papers on seed saving and rice varieties going extinct.

First, he set up a rice farming library at home, before setting up Annapurna, which has over 500 types of seeds preserved and grown organically. Farmers can visit the library and take any seeds they want. He runs it all on his own funds and conducts awareness classes in schools.

If you found his work interesting, Mahan is currently seeking funds and volunteers for his library. You can reach him at 91270 69446.

4. Sustainable post-harvest preservation

Vaibhav Tidke, a farmer’s son was moved by the post-harvest loss of fruits and vegetables, which he says is close to 60 million tonnes.

The engineer developed a solar dryer using a patented food drying technology to extend the shelf life of produce without adding chemicals and preservatives. Not only for fruits and vegetables, this dryer can also be used for meats, seafood and spices, and has been installed in more than 1,200 places in India.

The solar dryer consumes less energy than regular dryers and refrigeration devices, and keeps carbon footprint to a minimum. He sells this product along with others through his venture, Science4Society (S4S) Technologies.

5. Shelf life enhancement

Haryana-based Sumer Singh started farming in 1999, using chemical fertilisers. When his family’s and land’s health deteriorated, he made the switch to organic farming, almost eight years ago.

Now, he not only grows vegetables, pulses, chickpeas and millets on his 14-acre farm but also motivates other farmers to do the same.

Singh started working on increasing the shelf life of his produce through innovative methods. For instance, he uses stubble for mulching on the land where he grows onions, which keeps the soil moist for longer, harvesting 80 quintals of onion from one acre.

He hangs the onions in bundles like one hangs bananas instead of storing them in stacks, which restricts spoilage. This also keeps them safe for three to four months. Similar innovations are followed for each crop to increase their shelf-life naturally.

6. Biofertiliser for enhanced yield

Akshay Shrivastav saw his father, a farmer in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, face a lot of issues, including poor yield and bad soil quality, due to excessive use of chemical fertilisers.

He took up chemical engineering to find a solution to improve agricultural yield. The 24-year-old then created a biofertiliser that, according to him, can help increase agricultural productivity by 35 percent, helping over 3,000 farmers across India.

The biofertiliser has 60 types of microbes which can enhance nutrients in the soil. He also developed a granule that increases crop yield and reduces irrigation needs by more than 30 percent.

He started selling this biofertiliser under the brand name ‘Navyakosh’ through his startup ‘LCB Fertilisers’ in March 2021.

7. Innovation in irrigation

Due to a lack of proper irrigation techniques, farmers waste gallons of water in paddy fields. Malesh T from Mandya, Karnataka, watched his grandfather and other farmers use more water than required, leading to flooded farms and fungal diseases.

To help such farmers measure the water requirement of crops sitting at home, he launched an agri-tech platform ‘CultYvate’. The technology helps them understand when to provide irrigation so the crop is not submerged in water all the time.

He says that he is cutting down 40 percent of water use in farms through his platform and increasing their yield. “Our technology helps farmers analyse the dynamic climatic conditions and plan their farm cultivation,” says Malesh.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

“We went to learn how farmers in Israel grow grapes and jamfal (guava) but what took my interest were these bunches of strawberries that were growing in water tanks,” the 40-year-old tells The Better India.

He informs that Israel is known for adopting soil-less hydroponics farming — an ideal for farmers with limited land resources and water availability.

Arvind was so fascinated by soil-less farming that he decided to adopt the practice in his village Riyavan in Ratlam, which is well known for cultivating traditional crops like garlic and soybean.

Without any formal training, Arvind along with his brother Ravindra started cultivating crops hydroponically. Today, the siblings have also established a hi-tech nursery that earns them up to Rs 10 lakh annually.

The Dhakad brothers claim they are the first ones to venture into hydroponics farming in Madhya Pradesh. We reached out to them to understand how they achieved this feat.

Growing eight times the produce with limited space, water

Born into an agricultural family, Arvind graduated in commerce whereas Ravindra pursued higher education in life sciences. After working for three years in an agrochemical company in Karnataka, Arvind quit his job to come back to his village and become a farmer like his forefathers.

Conventionally, the family had been growing crops like garlic, wheat, mustard, soybean, grapes, guava, and strawberries on their 10-acre farmland.

Earlier, Arvind used to grow strawberries on land. For this, he had to plough the land using tractors, prepare beds, and then after mulching and adding drip lines, he would sow about 8,000 saplings in one bigha of land.

While on the Israel trip, the farmer learned that he could get eight times the production from the same space with the hydroponics method.

So after coming back, Arvind was enthusiastic about adopting the new method of farming. But when he sought help from the agriculture department, he was disheartened. “Back then, nobody in the region knew about hydroponics. I had no one who could guide me,” he recalls.

But without losing hope, Arvind decided to set up a hydroponic unit. For starters, he bought a few 110 mm PVC pipes and cut them on his own. “I did not know how to cut the pipe in the first place. I did not know how to arrange them in grids, how to drill holes in pipes to make holders for net pots, and how to add nutrient mix in the water tank,” he adds.

With faint memories from the Israel trip, he managed to assemble the pipes. He then planted saplings in cocopeat in net pods, added water-soluble nutrients in the water reservoir, and turned on the water supply. “It was a success! All my 500 saplings survived,” says Arvind with pride.

Since then, there has been no looking back.

Today, Arvind grows a wide range of seasonal vegetables, fruits, and flowers — including tomatoes, spinach, coriander, chillies, capsicum, broccoli, lettuce, parsley, kale, strawberries, and 10 varieties of anjeer (fig) in his 8,000 sq ft hydroponics setup.

Establishing a hi-tech nursery

After starting his ‘smart’ hydroponics farming, the brothers included grow bags, introduced techniques such as the NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) system, aquaponics towers to grow tubers, and grafting big fruit trees like grapes, jamun, and guavas in their hi-tech nursery.

Talking about this nursery, Arvind says, “Usually, people sow seedlings of crops like tomatoes and chillies in soil. We grow it inside a tray using cocopeat and nutrients. By using this method, we manage to grow saplings within 20 to 25 days, compared to the usual 45 days.”

“We grow tubers using the aeroponics method where tubers like potatoes are grown by spraying water on their roots,” he adds.

Additionally, he prepares a unique insecticide using five varieties of leaves that are usually disliked by animals like cows, buffaloes, and goats. “Leaves that are not eaten by cows and goats make an ideal insecticide,” says Arvind.

“We prepare a mixture using the leaves of papaya, neem, dhatura (thorn apple), karanj (Indian beech), arandi (ricinus), and sitaphal (custard apple). We leave them to rot in water for 15 to 20 days. The leaves decompose and release a smell that shoos away the insects, and therefore, acts as a good pest repellent,” he shares.

Trained 7,000 enthusiasts from India & abroad

More than commercialising the produce, Arvind focussed on training city residents through demonstrations. “We get many queries from people across the country and abroad. Our main objective is to help people in the city grow their own chemical-free vegetables in small spaces, be it their terrace or balconies,” he says.

Every month, the brothers organise a paid two-day workshop to train farming enthusiasts. 

Indore-based Sameer Mishra, who runs a logistics company Alphabet Services, always wanted to grow vegetables organically for his family and community. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he met Arvind and set up a 4,000 sq ft hydroponics farm to grow vegetables like kale, strawberries, lettuce, bell peppers, and 15 types of exotic tomatoes.

“Arvind has taught me various kinds of hydroponics systems, the NFT techniques, the Dutch bucket, and the wick system. He explained everything in detail during the training. He even has all kinds of models in his nursery that helped me clearly understand how the system works,” he tells The Better India.

So far, they have helped at least 7,000 people from Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, and neighbouring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka, learn the hydroponics method of cultivation.

“Our workshops are even attended by businessmen who have turnovers in crores. It is surprising for us that people who earn crores want to learn to farm. This gives us immense contentment. Certainly, we must be doing good work,” he adds.

But their vision is even bigger, says Arvind. “Today, shoes are sold in showrooms while crops — an everyday necessity — are sold at throwaway prices on the roadside. Our vision is to turn agriculture profitable using technology so that new generations do not feel ashamed in taking up farming.”

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Arvind Dhakad.

The tribal farmer was invited to commemorate the ‘International Year of Millets’, which is aimed at reviving interest in millets that have been edged out by grains like wheat and rice over the years.

Hailing from a small tribal village in the Koraput district, Raimati showcased her active participation in revitalising traditional rice and millet varieties at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi on 9 September, 2023.

“I got an opportunity to speak to people from across the globe about our village and our contributions in conserving millets. They called me the ‘Queen of Millet’,” Raimati tells The Better India with pride. “So many people surrounded me to take pictures. It was a one-of-a-kind experience for me.”

Draped in an ethnic saree and having her hair styled with flowers, she made several heads turn at the G20, including that of the President of India, Draupadi Murmu. “Personally, she appreciated my work and wished me good luck. It was such a great moment. I never dreamt that I could ever meet the President,” she adds.

A pioneer in native seed conservation, so far, Raimati has preserved 72 traditional paddy varieties and at least 30 varieties of millets — including Kundra bati mandia, jasra, juana, and jamkoli.

Interestingly, one of her millet varieties ‘Kundra bati mandia’ will officially be released by the Odisha government next year.

Cultivating millets scientifically

Born and raised in an agricultural family, Raimati could only study till Class 7. She has been interested in cultivating crops since childhood. “Now, I do not remember any of the teachings from school, I only know how to conserve and grow millets that I learnt on the field,” she smiles.

Growing up, Raimati was inspired by Kamala Pujari. The 70-year-old farmer from her district was conferred the Padma Shri Award for conserving hundreds of varieties of paddy seeds throughout her life.

“As a child, I used to tag along with her to the fields. She would teach me traditional cultivation techniques like initiating pollination in crops and conservation of various kinds of native grains,” recalls Raimati.

Raimati got married at the age of 16 and moved to Nuaguda village in Kundra block. But she did not lose her interest in farming. Amid the household chores, she managed to pursue her passion for collecting and preserving millets.

Today, she cultivates millets on four acres of farmland. Over the years, she has adopted better technology and scientific farming methods to improve the yield and quality of millet farming.

With the help of Padma Shri Kamala Pujari, she associated with a Chennai-based non-profit called MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) that aims to develop and promote strategies for economic growth that directly target increased employment of impoverished women in rural areas.

Since 2000, the foundation has helped Raimati adopt the scientific methods of conservation including the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), line transplanting method for paddy cultivation, Seed Multiplication Index (SMI), line transplanting method for finger millets, making bio inputs to promote organic farming.

To take the work forward, Raimati has now trained 2,500 other farmers in her block to adopt millet farming techniques.

‘Millet Queen’ of Odisha

Raimati points out that millets form an integral part of their everyday meals.

“We make chapatis and snacks like dosa from mandia (finger millet). Every day, we prepare a porridge using millet and consume it during breakfast, lunch, as well as dinner. We can survive a day without rice but not without millet. It is like an energy booster and gives me strength to work in the field,” she adds.

At the G20 Summit, Raimati also spoke about these culinary cuisines made from millet.

For Raimati, millet cultivation transformed her life. She now leads a self-help group of women farmers and farmer producer companies to process millets into value-added products like pakoras and laddus to sell at the local market and tiffin centres in the Kundra block.

Furthermore, Raimati has also played a key role in establishing a farm school in her village by donating her ancestral family land. Since 2012, she has been actively training people to practise millet farming in a scientific manner and earn a better income with value addition.

For her work, Raimati has been entitled ‘Millet Queen’ at the state level this year. She has been awarded the Best Farmer Award by the ICAR – IISWC, Sunabeda in 2016, and the Best Farmer Award in the Traditional Food Festival conferred by TATA Steel, Nuamundi in 2018.

“The national-level recognition has not only brought me immense respect from my in-laws but also from global leaders. It motivates me to conserve more varieties and make my state proud,” says Raimati.

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All photos: MSSRF.

Hailing from a small village Begur, Divakar recalls, “Our village lost its existence with an unprecedented expansion of Bangalore city. With this, farming became unprofitable for us. My father was forced to buy land around 100 km away from the city to continue farming. He never let us visit the land as he wanted us to move to Bangalore for better education.”

Divakar, who went on to become a project scientist with ISRO, remained completely disconnected from his farming roots until 2009 when his father suffered a stroke that left him paralysed. That is when Diwakar chose to move to his village.

“In the first year I spent with my father, I understood that I did not wish to lead the city life. During the same time, I happened to read a book called ‘One Straw Revolution’ by a Japanese farmer Masanobu Fukuoka. On the fourth day of reading the book, I gathered the courage to go to the farm that my father kept hidden from us,” says the 46-year-old.

Soon after, Divakar turned to farming and never looked back. His journey led him to transition from cultivating local crops to growing dates, a desert crop, in Karnataka! He currently earns Rs 6 lakh per acre.

Finding his life’s calling

After completing his higher education in social work, Divakar worked with several non-profit organisations and was a visiting faculty at Tumkuru University. In 2008, he got an opportunity to work as a project scientist for a social development project with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) in Bengaluru.

After his father’s stroke, he quit his job and city life to move to his village and become a farmer. “More than anyone, my in-laws were very upset about my decision. They had got their daughter married to a person who was a professor and worked with ISRO. They were disappointed with me. But I had understood my life’s calling,” he says.

Initially, Divakar cultivated crops like ragi (millets), tur dal (pigeon pea), and corns like local farmers. For this, he invested about Rs 22,000 and earned Rs 33,000 — a profit of Rs 11,000 — extremely less earnings compared to the previous works.

“This is when my mother reminded me why my father did not desire a farming profession for me. She reminded me of the responsibilities of my newborn daughter and said I had established an identity for myself in the city but I seemed to lose it all because of farming. This bothered me for a long time,” he says.

In a bid to stand out in the farming crowd, Divakar wanted to grow a unique crop. So, he turned to cultivating dates — a crop grown in the hot desert of countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.

Cultivating a desert crop in Karnataka

Before taking up date cultivation, Divakar remembered meeting a date farmer at the Krishi Mela organised in Bengaluru. “This farmer from Tamil Nadu was distributing leaflets on how to grow dates in India. Back then, I had mocked him asking how a desert fruit could grow in this part of the country?”

It took Divakar six months to trace the farmer. He went to Tamil Nadu to learn the nitty-gritty of date farming. “This farmer had been successfully growing dates there. As the climatic conditions of our villages were somewhat similar, I decided to cultivate dates too,” he says.

“It is a misconception that one could grow dates only in desert conditions. All that a date tree needs is a lot of moisture and ample sunlight. One requires 40-45 degrees ideal temperature but our region gets a maximum of 38 degrees temperature in summer,” he adds.

Anyway, Divakar went ahead and bought 150 saplings for Rs 3,000 each. It cost him a hefty initial investment of Rs 4.5 lakh. “Given that the saplings were expensive and I had to grow them without desert conditions invited a lot of questions. People laughed at me and asked if I intended to create a desert on my farm,” recalls Divakar.

To grow dates, the farmer dug 2×2 feet pits in his farm and added river sand. He nourished it with neem and castor cake, vermicompost, and panchgavya before planting the saplings.

While other farmers kept on with their traditional crops, Divakar did not get any yield. “Nobody believed me whenever I told them these were date trees. I was also called a fool and asked several questions. I had no answers to them,” he says.

It was only after four and a half years that Divakar saw the first flowering; his joy knew no bounds. Initially, he was able to extract 800 kg of dates from his 2.5-acre farm. Today, he gets up to five tonnes of produce. Priced at Rs 375 per kg, he is able to generate Rs 6 lakh income in an acre of date farm.

Along with getting a bountiful harvest, cultivating dates earned him immense recognition.

“After I showed people that we could grow dates in a region like Karnataka, I was reached out by many journalists. When one of my interviews was aired on television, my father-in-law visited my farm. To my knowledge, I am the first date farmer in the state and the first farmer to cultivate dates organically in South India,” says Divakar.

Although a matter of great pride for Divakar, the journey to switch to farming was never an easy choice. “Switching from a job at ISRO, teaching at a university, and living in a city like Bangalore to suddenly becoming a farmer in a village didn’t make sense financially,” he says.

Divakar had understood that farming could fulfil all his needs but not all his wants as there’s no end to it. “For about four yields, I was unable to balance my investment and earnings. It is only in the last three years that I can sustain my family and my farm with 2.5 acres of date cultivation,” he says.

Meanwhile, pointing toward today’s generation, Divakar says, “People these days find it exciting to quit current jobs and take up farming. Many people come to me and enquire about investment and profit. Farming comes with its own set of challenges and without any guaranteed success irrespective of best practices one adopts. Farming is not a real-estate business that you will get double the investment in a brief period.”

“For me, inner peace was more important than monetary terms. I am grateful to lead a slow and simple life as I had imagined after my father’s paralysis,” he adds.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Divakar Channappa.

Fondly called the ‘Banana Man’, Vinod Sahadevan Nair (63) from Parassala, Thiruvananthapuram, was not a farmer when he started his career.

After completing his BSc in Physics, Vinod worked for a while and later started a web designing firm in Kochi. It was after his mother’s death that he decided to come back home and become a farmer to expand his family farms.

Vinod wanted to create a unique farm and started collecting varieties of bananas, not commonly seen in Kerala.

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He travelled to different states — such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Manipur — to source uncommon varieties of plantains. He even approached various horticulture departments, research institutes and universities to get hold of as many varieties as he could.

“Every kind of banana has a certain cultural element attached to it as well. For example, ‘Manoranjitham’, a variety of Kanyakumari emanates a beautiful fragrance. So in the olden days, people would hang them in their homes during auspicious occasions, marriages and festivals,” Vinod explains.

Presently, his farms have 500 varieties of bananas — including international varieties like the lady’s finger banana, red banana and blue java. He journeyed to countries like Malaysia, Africa, Australia, Hawaii, and Honduras, returning with numerous rare coastal climate plantains.

Vinod sells his produce at the wholesale market and earns up to Rs 1 lakh per month. And to spread awareness about different varieties of bananas, he has started a Facebook group where he offers these varieties free of charge.

(Edited by Pranita Bhat)

The man was Santosh Mishra, an alumnus of the same college.

Having graduated in rural development in 1988, he wanted to pursue a masters. But without money for further studies, he turned to cultivating mushrooms. That day, he was questioned about his abilities.

“At the college, I was known for my academic excellence, singing, and sports. When people saw me selling mushrooms on the street, they objected and asked what I was doing. That day, people mocked me but I decided that one day, they would recognise me for this work and I would make the state proud with it,” Santosh, now 56, tells The Better India.

Today, Santosh is a proud mushroom farmer who has won several accolades for his work like receiving a state award in 2005, a national-level award from the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 2011, the Global Agriculture Award at the Gujarat Summit in 2013, and the Odisha Citizen Award in 2019.

First harvest: Three pieces of mushrooms

Raised along with four siblings by a primary school teacher, Santosh had to quit his dreams of higher education due to financial constraints. For a brief period, he worked as a manager where he says he was forced to bring tea for his juniors and sweep the floors.

An upset Santosh remembered a scientist who visited his village and showcased the profitable cultivation of mushrooms. So, he decided to take up mushroom cultivation thereafter.

In 1989, Santosh attended a mushroom farming training programme at the Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar. With Rs 36 in his pocket, he bought four bottles of mushroom spawn and began his entrepreneurial journey. “Over monetary investment, my key investment was mental courage,” says the Dandamukundapur resident of Puri district.

Sadly, he could only get three pieces of mushrooms in contrast to the promised 4 kg produce. “I was disheartened but I focused on understanding the mistake. I understood that as I did not sterilise either the soil or my hands before preparing the mushroom bed, I got a very poor yield. Sterilisation comprises the main component of mushroom cultivation. With trial and error, now I get up to 7 kgs from one bed,” he adds.

Today, Santosh has set up a spawn production-cum-training centre in his village. Every day, he is able to produce 2,000 bottles of spawn. His produce is not only sold across Odisha but also in West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Puducherry. With this, he earns at least Rs 10 lakh annually.

Santosh shares that he is setting up a Rs 2 crore processing plant to process mushrooms into value-added products like pickles, biscuits, papad, soup powder, and even noodles!

Cultivating uncommon & colourful mushrooms

Unlike the common button variety of mushroom, Santosh cultivates spawns of two varieties: oyster mushroom and paddy straw mushroom. 

Explaining the advantage over button variety, he says, “Compared to button mushrooms, we grow paddy variety as it costs us Rs 100 to cultivate 1 kg of paddy variety. Whereas there are additional expenses in button mushrooms that require central air conditioning, humidifiers, and a large space.”

“Other than this, we have favourable climatic conditions to cultivate paddy variety. This variety requires a temperature of 23-30 degrees and 90 percent humidity. We directly grow it in the open under coconut trees unlike button mushrooms that require shade. Also, it takes only 15 days to grow,” he adds.

Interestingly, Santosh grows mushrooms in a wide range of colours, not just white! 

“In 2000, I collected pink, blue, white, and grey coloured spawns from a research institute in Solan. These are also edible and are priced at the same rate. We get a lot of visitors to tour inside our colourful mushroom baagh (garden),” he says with pride.

Fighting the annual disasters

Before reaping profits, Santosh has borne numerous hardships, one of them being natural calamities. “It is not unknown that every year, Odisha is hit by cyclones. This brings us a huge financial cost. The 1999 super cyclone had turned my mushroom production centre into debris. By 2019, we were able to manage a monthly income of Rs 30,000. But the Fani cyclone (considered the worst tropical cyclone post the 1999 super cyclone) destroyed my centre. I have witnessed eight cyclones devastate all my hard work. After every cyclone, we have to kick off the work again from scratch. I had to even mortgage my wife’s jewellery to restart work,” he adds.

From the initial centre built using coconut leaves, a tin shed, and a thatched roof, Santosh has now established a 3,000 sq ft concrete cyclone-resistant structure comprising a training hall, incubation chamber, and by-product processing unit.

Meanwhile, Santosh says, he has also trained about 10,000 women from low socio-economic backgrounds under the Odisha government’s Mission Shakti for free. Other than women, a large number of working professionals and college students from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh reach out to him for training.

Talking about the impact of his work, Santosh says, “There has not been a single day in my life that I did not dedicate myself to the service of others and make my state proud with my work. At least in the last moments of my life, I will be extremely gratified to know that.”

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Santosh Mishra

Despite these noteworthy statistics, banana cultivation remains an unprofitable business for a large number of farmers.

“Whenever we tried selling our produce, we always incurred losses. We often wondered why banana farming is not profitable. The only reason we could think of was its shelf life,” Ashok Gade (65) tells The Better India.

“Once sown, we can harvest bananas only after a year. The harvesting period is about 28 days. It costs us about Rs 150 to produce one jhaad [roughly 15 kg bunch] of bananas whereas we earn only Rs 1,000 for a quintal [100 kg] of the produce — almost the same as the cost of cultivation. We have even sold bananas for Rs 1.25 per kg. As the region produces bananas in bulk, we get low prices amid huge supply. The market prices also keep fluctuating,” he adds.

The farmer also points out that since bananas are a perishable commodity, they cannot stock the produce. “Farmers need to sell bananas as soon as possible. And if the produce starts ripening, we are forced to sell at throwaway prices. Often we watch our hard-grown produce rot in the field,” says Ashok.

So, instead of selling banana fruits directly in the unstable market, Ashok and his wife Kusum came up with an idea to increase the shelf life of the produce by processing the banana fruits into potential value-added products. Today, the couple manufactures banana products like banana chips, jam, candies, papad, chivda (flattened banana), and laddu.

Interestingly, the couple has also innovated biscuits out of bananas. And in April this year, the Central Government granted them a patent for their banana biscuits.

Quit law to become a farmer

Born into an agricultural family in Yawal taluka, Ashok studied law in Jalgaon. After graduating with an LLB, he practised law for about five years. However, he had to quit his practice in 1990 after his father passed away.

“For generations, we have been cultivating bananas. After my father’s death, the entire responsibility of managing the farm came upon me. I had to quit law despite my interest in it,” says Ashok, who owns an agricultural land of 12.5 acres.

Amid high input costs and low profitability, the progressive farmer decided to process bananas into value-added products like banana flour, jam, and laddus. “I did not learn this technique from anywhere, so we continued to experiment with bananas. Eventually, during the processing, we innovated biscuits out of bananas. We used banana, ghee, and sugar to make these biscuits,” says the 65-year-old without revealing their secret processing method!

For the last three years, Ashok and his wife have been manufacturing and selling these banana biscuits locally. Recently, they received a patent from the Central Government for the same. This patent allows them the right to stop others from copying their invention without their permission.

“We wanted to keep our invention secured as it is our baudhik sampada (intellectual property). After we earned the patent, the demand for our product increased and we also earned recognition,” he says.

How value-addition helps farmers

Priced at Rs 400–500 per kg in the wholesale and retail market respectively, these banana biscuits have fetched the couple up to four times profits.

Today, the couple sells between 60 and 100 kg of banana biscuits in a week and earns an annual revenue of Rs 25 lakh through online marketplaces like Facebook and offline exhibitions.

Their banana biscuits have found buyers not only in Maharashtra but also in West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka, and Delhi. “This patent will also allow us to expand our market to other countries as well,” says Ashok.

One of their regular customers, Nilimi Divakar tells The Better India, “The biscuits that we get in the market contain maida (refined wheat flour) which is not good for health. We wanted to switch to healthier alternatives. That’s when we found out about these banana biscuits. As bananas are rich in calcium, I offer these biscuits to my kids. Other than the health benefits, these biscuits are also good in taste.”

Other than the rising demand due to the patent, Ashok is glad to have been able to benefit farmers like him. “We are getting more orders and to be able to fulfill the demand, I have collaborated with 50 other banana farmers in the village,” he adds.

The couple has also established a manufacturing unit ‘Sankalp Enterprises’ spread across an area of 1,000 sq feet. “We purchased machinery from Indore and Kolhapur and invested about Rs 30 to 40 lakhs in setting up the unit. Because of the rising demand, we have completely switched over to processing the bananas. We do not sell raw bananas anymore,” smiles Ashok.

Source:

How Jalgaon, ‘Banana City of India’, is fast becoming the ‘Banana Republic’: Published by Financial Express on 18 June 2018.

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All photos: Ashok Gade.

Growing input costs and unfair market prices have severely affected the output and yield of the major crops of the region — like soybean, sugarcane, sorghum, and millet. The compounding debts put Maharashtra farmers under a huge economic burden.

Sadly, the recurring droughts force farmers to sometimes end their lives. The government’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data revealed that a total of 10,881 persons involved in the farming sector died by suicide in 2021. With 37.3 percent, Maharashtra accounted for the highest number of farmer deaths.

Interestingly, a bunch of impoverished farmers have turned to cultivating oyster pearls in the water-starved Marathwada to overcome the challenges posed by recurring droughts and low crop yields.

One such farmer is Sanjay Narsing Pawar.

Along with nine other small-scale farmers, Sanjay harvested 8,000 pearls in an acre of pond, earning them Rs 40 lakh. We sat down with him to understand the nitty-gritty of oyster pearl farming.

Harvesting pearls in water-scarce land

After pursuing a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT), Sanjay works part-time as a lab assistant. But farming comes naturally to him as for generations, his family has been cultivating traditional crops. However, agriculture hardly reaped the family any profits.

“This year, we did not get rain at all. We did sow soybeans and other crops, but we did not get any output. It has become difficult to even earn back the input costs,” he tells The Better India.

A couple of years back, the 45-year-old even established a water bank in an acre of land for irrigation purposes. In 2020, he turned to fish farming to utilise the water bank but the initiative was dead in the water.

“Fish farming did not prove profitable for us as it required a lot of input costs. If we sold a fish for Rs 100, we would incur expenses of Rs 80. We were only left with Rs 20 profit. It was very little,” he adds.

In 2021, Sanjay came across a news report that mentioned the profitability of oyster pearl farming. Motivated to try his hands in cultivating oysters, he bought 25,000 oysters to cultivate in his water bank. For this, he also roped in other farmer friends.

With a collective investment of Rs 20 lakh, the group started oyster farming. And in a year, they were able to generate an income of Rs 40 lakh by selling 8,000 pearls.

Seeing their success, about 40 farmers have joined Sanjay and his cooperative ‘Bless All Pearl Farmer Producer Company’. Together, they have planted 50,000 oysters and collaborated with companies like GKP Pearl Farm of Solapur and Namo Pearl Farm in Chandrapur to sell their produce.

The cooperative is set to harvest its second batch in the upcoming December month.

Six tips for beginners

Although the group was able to generate a handsome profit in their very first attempt, the success rate, Sanjay says, was not as estimated.

In 2022, the progressive farmer travelled to Bhubaneswar — 1,400 km from his village — to get formal training in oyster pearl farming. He attended a seven-day training at the Central Institute for Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) in Odisha.

“There, I was taught how to source raw material, how to nucleate oysters, the kind of pearl designs that are in demand, what food to offer oysters, the surgical procedure of pearls, how to keep oysters in antibiotics, and what is its lifecycle,” he says.

Explaining how pearls are cultivated, Sanjay says, “First, we source good quality oysters. Then, we perform minor surgery to implant plain or designed pearls [an artificial nucleus] into the tissue of a pearl oyster. The oyster is closed and is kept on antibiotics inside a smaller water tank for two to three days and then shifted to a bigger pond.”

“The oyster then secretes nacre [a form of calcium carbonate] around the nucleus. The pearls get readied to be harvested in 12 to 14 months,” he adds.

Sanjay shares tips on how to start oyster pearl farming for beginners:

How to identify good oysters: Sanjay says that it is much easier to cultivate oysters and earn a decent income provided you cultivate good quality oysters.

“Source good quality oysters to get A-grade quality pearls. The size of the oyster should be between 2.5 to 3 inches. Its outer cover should be golden in colour,” he says.

Know the market: Sanjay highlights that usually ‘designer debris’ or ‘irritants’ in the shape of Hindu deities Ganesha, Rama, Shiva, the Ashoka Chakra, 786 (holy number in Islam), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, etc are implanted in the oyster.

“The final pearls come out in the shape of these symbols,” he explains. Sanjay adds, “You should be informed about the market demand. If you implant the nucleus of Ganesh ji, and go to sell in a Ram temple, then it would not be profitable.”

Master the easier surgery: Sanjay says that there are several types of surgical procedures in pearl cultures — like gonadal implantation, mantle tissue implantation, and mantle cavity insertion.

“I suggest that farmers learn mantle tissue surgery as it is easier to perform and the chances of oysters are higher as compared to other kinds,” he says.

Prepare the pond: Sanjay informs that it is important to provide a river-like ecosystem for oysters.

“Oysters should not feel alienated and that they are outside a river. They must have a river-like environment to thrive. To ensure this, you must introduce algae inside the pond. Algae is the major food source of an oyster,” he adds.

Check the pH: Sanjay points out that farmers should ensure a pH of eight inside the water tank. “If pH is more than eight (alkaline), oysters will not survive. You should also check pH levels weekly. If the pH is higher, keep changing the water.”

“If you have a 20×20 square feet pond with 10 feet depth, it would have the capacity to store one lakh litre water. So, you should replace at least 10,000 litres of water in every batch,” he adds.

Maintain the temperature: Given its geography, Sanjay says that Osmanabad has a fluctuating temperature between 20 and 40 degrees throughout the year.

“In oyster pearl farming, we must ensure a temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. It should not exceed 35 degrees. We have externally used aerators to regulate the temperature inside the water bank. It also boosts fresh algae growth and provides new micronutrients,” he says.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Sanjay Pawar

An epitome of exquisite beauty and pleasant aroma, wild orchids are known for their botanical speciality (symbiosis), and medicinal and horticultural significance.

The hilly regions across India are home to a diverse variety of orchids that bloom throughout the year. The Western Ghats is a major gene pool for nearly extinct indigenous wild orchids. But over the past few decades, wild orchids have been facing the danger of depletion.

A 2017 report by the Kerala Forest Research Institute points out that these exotic ornamental plants are under the threat of extinction mainly due to habitat alteration, destruction derived from a change in land use, and large-scale extraction of wild plants for trade.

These changes are caused by human interventions — such as agricultural development, industrial development, road construction, mining, tourism and recreation, and timber extraction.

Moreover, about 36 plant species have been red-listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Among these, paphiopedilum druryi (critically endangered) and vanda spathulata (vulnerable) are the two threatened species found in Kerala.

Wayanad resident Sabu has devoted himself to conserving wild orchids. So far, the innovative farmer has conserved 60 varieties of wild orchids — such as vanda testacea, cymbidium aloifolium, luisia zeylanica, eria mysorensis, and foxtail orchid from the Western Ghats.

Why conserve orchids?

In 2016, after completing higher studies in healthcare management, Sabu started working with the Dr Moopens Medical College in Wayanad. Irrespective of the profession, he was motivated to follow his passion for the environment.

It was this passion that took him to nurseries several times. When he came across a few orchids at the nursery, he was in awe of the breathtaking beauty of the flowers. “These are very tiny but attractive flowers available in a diverse range of colours and forms,” the 38-year-old tells The Better India.

Coming home, he started researching about orchids and immersed himself in the study of plant species and their delicate ecosystems.

“That is when I found out that the nearby Western Ghats are home to several rare species of wild orchids. They are effective in controlling the climate and play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity, as they often serve as indicators of ecosystem health. These flowers do not thrive in polluted air,” he says.

“Orchids provide habitat and food for a wide range of species, including pollinators like bees and butterflies. But people are hardly concerned about these plants. Many of its species are disappearing from our land. I wanted to conserve these plants so that they protect the environment and biodiversity. The environment is where all life originates and where everything we need for our survival comes from. We need to start respecting and protecting it,” he adds.

So, for more than the past six years, Sabu has taken conservation action as his hobby. Whenever he gets a chance, he sets out in the forest to collect and conserve wild orchids.

Giving back to Mother Earth

Without any experience in agricultural studies, Sabu started his own initiative. He follows the approach of collection, conservation, and augmentation.

Firstly, he collects wild orchids that grow on tree trunks, rocks, and rock fissures. After understanding the environment required to grow them, he nurtures and propagates them at his home. Thereafter, he replants the plant species to its native environment — near the mother plant — without harming the environment.

Not only this, Sabu observes the growth of the plant and documents it in his diary.

But protecting these wild orchids, Sabu says, is an uphill task. “It is very difficult to collect and replant these orchids in forests as these need to be planted near streams, rocky areas, and tree trunks. I have to ensure that these tiny plants do not get washed away during disasters or heavy rain,” he says.

To address this problem, Sabu plants these delicate blooms on the trunk of coffee plantations. “I grow orchids on coffee trunks as these plants do not grow on trees with thick foliage. It is easier to fix the plant roots of orchids on the soft trunk of coffee plants. Coffee plantations allow a good amount of diffused sunlight to stream in on them every day. Here, orchids are protected by direct harsh sunlight and heavy rain,” he adds.

As of now, he has replanted around 200 saplings of wild orchids in the Western Ghats and has cultivated around 120 native varieties of wild orchids at his home, of these 60 are from Western Ghats. He has also planted 4,000 plants of commercial orchids at home in three poly houses spread across 750 square metres.

Sabu also claims to have discovered a hybrid orchid species, which he named ‘Benita’ after his daughter.

His home in Wayanad has also become a paradise for more than 5,000 PhD students and botanists from 20 institutions who regularly visit his home to study wild orchids. “Usually, these students find wild orchids in their textbooks. I want them to practically see these rare varieties,” he says.

For his work, Sabu was selected as the third-best farmer by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 2021 and was honoured with the Udhyana Shrestha Award from the Wayanad Agriculture Department in 2022. This year, he received the Best Farmer Award from the Horticulture Department of Wayanad.

Sabu says, “I do not have any selfish motive behind this initiative. Unlike others, I do not sell wild orchids to make money. I do it as part of conservation efforts. Conserving these wild orchids is paramount as future generations should also be able to cherish and enjoy the legacy in the same way I do.”

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All photos: V U Sabu.

The lush greenery around me has made every other colour pale in comparison. Distant from the hustle and bustle of the city, the rejuvenating dhara (stream) feels like it has cleansed my soul.

While I have the privilege of being born to a pahadan (a woman born in or from the mountains), not all of us have the opportunity to experience this serene and organic lifestyle. It is for this reason that The Better India has compiled a list of farm stays across India where you can relax and embrace an organic and sustainable way of life. 

1. The Lilac Farm, Karnataka

Located in Somashettyhalli in Bengaluru, this farm stay is perfect if you are looking for a quick escape from the city’s traffic. The place, run by mother-daughter duo, Anitha and Christina Ajith, once used to be a poultry farm. However, an autoimmune disease caught by Christina made the entire family rethink their lifestyle. 

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Within two months, her family switched to veganism. They decided to convert their farm into a vegan farm and practise organic farming. At the farm, besides enjoying the peace and quiet, you can indulge in herbal teas, fruit juices, vegan meals, stargazing, mud bathing, and learn about organic farming. 

Book your stay here. 

2. Dudhsagar Farm Stay, Goa

While Goa is well-known for its beaches and parties, there is a serene part of the state waiting for you to explore and enjoy it. Dudhsagar Farm Stay gets its name from the majestic natural wonder of Goa, the Dudhsagar Falls. About two decades ago, Ajit Malkarnekar and his wife, Doris, left their lives in Germany and came to Ajit’s birthplace near Mollem National Park looking for a slow, self-sufficient life close to nature.

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The duo built their sustainable farm stay on a barren land growing every tree on the plantation with love and care. The place offers 5 huts to stay in alongside a natural pool to cool off and numerous tours to take off the surrounding pepper and vegetable plantations, the Dudhsagar Waterfalls, and the Usgalimol rock carvings.

Book your stay here. 

3. Farm of Happiness, Maharashtra 

As the name hints, it is quite literally the “Farm of Happiness” if you enjoy chilling with cattle and practising organic farming. Located in a small village called Phungus, Maharashtra, the place is a green haven. In their late 30s, the founders, Sampada and Rahul Kulkarni, questioned if they were truly ‘happy’. Waiting to find their happy place, the couple moved to the village wanting to live a sustainable life and build a nature resort. 

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Once you have feasted on the wholesome organically grown meal at the resort, you can dive right into the simple living activities of the farm. You can indulge in various farm activities like washing the cattle or can even prepare a piece of land for cultivation, weeding, sowing, ploughing, harvesting etc. 

Book your stay here. 

4. The Joy Jungle, Gujarat 

Sitting in the magnificent Gir Forest, The Joy Jungle is the brainchild of 25-year-old Siddharth Kubavat. The farm stay is the result of his search for a purpose in his life. Preparing to go to IIT as per his parents’ wish, he often found himself lost in life. This was before he did a natural farming course after completing his school. 

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This inspired him so much that he decided to make a living out of it. So, in 2020, he purchased farmland in the Gir Forest. Today, at his farm, he hosts people eager to learn about organic farming and nature. You will grow the food that you eat on Siddharth’s farm alongside getting various lessons on sustainable living. 

Book your stay by reaching him at 8000598859. 

5. Bon Farmhouse, Sikkim

If you love the mountains and yearn for an authentic pahadi farm experience, then Bon Farmhouse is an ideal place to begin. Situated in the tranquil Kewzing Village of Sikkim, this place offers a genuine back-to-nature experience.

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The farm stay boasts a thriving livestock that provides the milk for your morning tea or coffee and the eggs for your breakfast, all truly natural! Additionally, you can immerse yourself in the organic farming experience on their land, where they cultivate a variety of products, including maize, buckwheat, finger millet, green peas, and wheat. 

Book your stay here.

6. Pico farm stay, Tamil Nadu

Run by a mother-daughter duo, Laxmi Ammal and Kasthuri Sivaraman, the farm stay is a labour of love for them. Always wanting to become entrepreneurs, the duo finally faced their fears and decided to take a leap of faith with Pico Farm Stay in Tamil Nadu’s Rettanai village.

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At this destination, visitors are offered a delightful culinary experience. The farm’s own produce, including fresh vegetables and fruits, is utilised to create delicious dishes while enjoying the stay’s mini-libraries, a multitude of trees, and a natural pond. 

Book your stay here.

7. Varanashi Organic Farm, Karnataka

An ancestral property run by father-son duo Ashwini Krishna Moorthy and their son, Partha Varanashi, the place is a perfect getaway located just a short drive east of Mangalore. The property is 200 years old and is 100 acres in size. During your stay on the farm, you will have the chance not only to witness the process of growing food organically but also you get to participate in activities such as planting seeds, harvesting, post-harvest processing of crops, etc. 

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The guests also have an option to live in tree houses. Interestingly, none of the trees were cut through during the construction process, allowing their roots to continue growing naturally. The farm also practices upcycling of farm waste, transforming it into compost, and features a biogas unit on the land.

Book your stay here.

8. MharoKhet, Rajasthan

While on a vacation in Japan, Rajnush Agarwal and his wife Vedika, conceived the idea of a fresh farm stay. Drawing inspiration from how they use fresh farm produce in their meals, the couple decided to replicate the same in India.

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Located on the outskirts of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, the place has over 80 varieties of naturally grown exotic and native herbs, fruits, and vegetables. As per a report, “The experience involves farm tours, culinary trails of seven-course pre-plated plant-forward meals, a flagship experience, and private dinings under a canopy of trees and a two-decade-old guava orchard.”

You can book your stay here. 

(Edited by Padmashree Pande)

The year 2018 marked a watershed moment for Bhagalpur district in Bihar. Katarni rice, a short-grained variety, known for its unique taste and aroma, along with the Jardalu mango native to the region, received the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the UN — a distinction that promised to breathe new life into the agricultural landscape of Bihar. While this recognition was an auspicious beginning, challenges persisted for small-scale farmers, who struggled to maximise their profits and access broader markets.

Around the same time, Manish Singh, a teacher by profession, hailing from a farming family in Sultangunj village in Bhagalpur, decided to take the plunge into agriculture. With a deep-rooted passion for farming and a vision to amplify the value of the produce, Manish embarked on a mission.

Despite having a GI tag, most farmers in the district were selling Katarni paddy at Rs 30 per kg. The challenge, Manish says, was that “farmers didn’t know the value of the rice. Since we are all small farmers, we were not able to get the right price or find the right people to sell our products to.” He knew collectivisation was the only way to ensure that farmers like himself are able to get the right value for their produce, Manish tells The Better India.

Manish led a group of farmers to form the Jardalu and Katarni Agro Producer Company Limited, a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), in April 2023. Their journey was made possible through the support of Bayer, working in collaboration with the Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) under the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Union government developed the concept of FPOs in the early 2000s to enable small and marginal farmers to improve their access to investments, technology, and markets. The power of collectivisation not only improved production efficiency but also paved the way for better pricing strategies and marketing avenues.

Helping farmers become self-reliant

“Bayer embarked on a mission to bolster FPOs five years ago. The formation of FPOs is very important to support small farmers. Individually, they have a low scale and cannot market or transport their products. When 400 to 500 farmers come together, they have an opportunity to collaborate. We help these FPOs on input as well as output,” explains Rajesh Singh, Lead – Model Farms and Collaboration, Bayer.

Bayer’s support strategy is two-fold. Their first focus is building capability, and the second is advancing agricultural output. On the input front, they provide FPOs with fertilisers, crop protection products, high-quality seeds, and cost-reduction initiatives. Simultaneously, they forge connections with large retail chains, facilitate international exports, link farmers to financial institutions, and explore avenues for value-added products that promise additional income.

Bayer nurtures and guides FPOs in 21 states which fulfil the requirements of the farmers through a consortium of agricultural companies. They eliminate the need for a middleman by aggregating demand and ensuring uptake of the produce while also providing agronomic inputs to increase yield.

Doubling farmer incomes

Within a month of its inception in 2023, the 200-farmer-strong FPO called Jardalu and Katarni Agro Producer Company Limited, achieved a remarkable feat by exporting 4 Metric Tonnes (MT) of Jardalu mangoes to Dubai and also creating linkages like supplying 3.5 MT to Lulu Mall in Lucknow. The FPO achieved this success without middlemen, leading to recognition and increased profitability.

Manish beams with pride, “For the first time, we were able to export our Jardalu mangoes and earn higher profits. Despite having a GI tag, we never got the benefits of it directly. These mangoes and Katarni rice only grow in Bhagalpur and Munger districts.” Paddy farmers in the region would earlier sell their produce in the domestic markets at Rs 30 per kg. The formation of the FPO under Bayer’s guidance has helped them fetch Rs 55 and above per kg for Katarni paddy, he explains.

This has spurred farmers in Bhagalpur to rekindle their love for Katarni rice, a variety that yields double the income in the same land compared to conventional rice. “As compared to 15 mann (600 kg) per acre yield of other rice varieties earlier, farmers are now producing 20 mann (800 kg) of Katarni rice,” says Manish.

Farmers learned the art of branding, packaging, and effective marketing through their association with the FPO. Manish thanks Bayer for playing a pivotal role in steering the farmers in the right direction, and helping them forge connections. The FPO now aims to sell 50 MT of chuda (flat rice), in addition to the rice, from January 2024.

The future holds exciting possibilities, including the production of ‘green poha‘ from Katarni rice, a venture into exports, and the imminent enrollment of 300 more farmers into the FPO.

Collectivisation: A roadmap for growth

Aligned with the government’s drive to collectivise farmers under producer organisations, Bayer has been nurturing and supporting more than 3000 FPOs across the country.

Rajesh Singh shares, “We want to help lakhs of farmers in the coming years. On average, each FPO has around 580 farmers. In the next six to seven years, it is estimated that almost 30 percent of the country’s small farmers will be under FPOs. This is needed to help farmers grow and these collectives make it easy for us to serve and connect with them.”

Bayer is working on improving farmers’ profits considerably in the next two years and providing them with tools to increase their produce. They are focusing on areas such as soil testing, nutrient management, disease and pest control, and the enhancement of horticultural crop output. The ripple effect of aggregation and marketing has already resulted in better pricing, and now, value-added products such as pulp, dehydrated fruits, and vegetables are on the horizon.

As a new dawn emerges over the fields of Bhagalpur, the story of Manish Singh and his fellow farmers serves as an inspiration. Their journey from modest beginnings to thriving Agri-entrepreneurs paints a vivid picture of empowerment, unity, and the potential hidden within the fields of Bihar.

Edited by Padmashree Pande and Pranita Bhat

What differentiates millets is the fact that they thrive in harsh growing conditions and are climate resilient. They require much less water than grains like rice and wheat. The FAO says that millets provide antioxidants, minerals, fibre, iron and protein, alongside being gluten-free with a low-glycaemic index. They are also economical for farmers as they require less water and fewer pesticides, becoming a boon to small farmers.

Millets are India’s traditional food grain, grown across the country. They were sidelined over the years, but now the focus is squarely back on how one can use these grains in their diet and farmers are switching back to growing them.

On the forefront of this change in the millets market in India are entrepreneurs who are bringing millets back to the spotlight through their innovations. They are delivering millets in new, interesting ways, through their millets business, helping thousands of farmers along the way.

Wondering how to start millets business in India?

Here are five Indians championing the humble grain through their millet startups:

1. Veer Shetty Biradar, SS Bhavani Foods 

Hailing from a family of farmers in Sangareddy district, Telangana, Veer Shetty Biradar’s life changed after a trip to Beed, Maharashtra, in 2006. He was moved by the hardships faced by people there, as the city faces water problems, being state’s worst drought-affected districts.

“I wanted to produce food for the future generations after coming back from Maharashtra,” says Veer, who is known as the millet man of Telangana.

So he started growing sugarcane, chickpea, red gram, jowar, bajra, foxtail millet and finger millet in his 13 acres of dry land and 5 acres of irrigated land. He started selling 60 value-added millet products by opening one of the millet brands in India ‘S S Bhavani Foods Pvt Ltd’ in Hyderabad. These products include snacks, sweets, rotis, and are made from sorghum, bajra, foxtail millet and finger millet.

He also runs an industrial kitchen and small restaurant to serve millet-based foods. He supplies good quality seeds at the doorsteps of more than 1,000 farmers through his NGO.  

2. Chittem Sudheer, Vasena Poli

After his masters in AgroEconomics, Chittem Sudheer travelled to interior Andhra Pradesh and observed tribal farmers who grew millets. He was blown away by the eco-friendly cultivation practices and the health benefits of the grains.

To create awareness and provide a good income for these farmers, Chittem started a millet idli stall called Vasena Poli (alternative idlis) in Visakhapatnam in September 2018. He serves idlis made from eight types of nutritious millets like jowar, bajra, kodo millet, foxtail millet and little millet. His chutneys are made using vegetables like bottle gourd, ginger and carrot, apart from the regular peanut chutney.

He sells more than 500 plates of hot idlis daily, starting at 6:30 am. He prices the idlis at Rs 50 for a plate of three pieces, while a single piece is at Rs 17.

What sets Chittem apart is his mission to help the tribal farmers. He purchases 700 kg of millets from tribal farmers from the villages of Srikakulam, Vijayanagar, and Visakhapatnam. He pays them Rs 70 per kg against the market price of Rs 30. 

3. Sharmila Jain Oswal, Gud Mom

Growing up in Poynad, a small agrarian village near Alibaug, Maharashtra, where millets were the staple, Sharmila Jain Oswal was well-acquainted with the importance of the grain and the challenges faced by farmers growing them. After a career as a lawyer in Canada, she returned to Pune in 2008 and established an NGO called the Green Energy Foundation to help farmers revive water sources. She also helps them to implement smart farming methods including growing water-efficient crops like millet. She also co-founded one of the millet brands in India called ‘Gud Mom’ with her son Shubham, which sells millet-based products. 

She has helped over 1.5 lakh farmers in five states since then through water management programmes, millet and vegetable cultivation, and capacity-building programmes, which has yielded a steady income for them. She urges farmers to grow millets in arid regions.

“Millets are climate-resilient, carbon-neutral and eco-friendly. They require bare minimum water, making them sustainable,” she says.

She has helped farmers diversify their crops and conserve water by teaching them how to cultivate millets, such as ragi, jowar, proso millet, and pearl millet, as well as vegetables, including exotic ones like zucchini.

‘Gud Mom’ sells millet noodles, pasta, cookies, crackers, herb sticks and more through their website, on Amazon, and via other retailers. Most of the grains and ready-to-eat items are priced between Rs 48 and Rs 150.

4. Raju Bhupati, Troo Good Millets

After working in the US in an IT company for several years, Raju Bhupati wanted to return to his motherland and work on providing better nutrition. Choosing to work on a food business, he chose millets, as they pack a punch of nutrition while being affordable.

He founded one of the millet brands in India, Troo Good, in 2018 — a millet snack company in Hyderabad that sells millet chikkis starting at Rs 5. They sell these chikkis, which contain ragi, jowar, bajra and peanuts, in schools across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. 

“Today, we are dealing with a major issue of malnutrition. I found that millets could be a panacea for solving the nutrition issue in the country,” Raju notes. 

Today, Troo Good sells around 2 million millet chikkis per day, and is on track to achieve a revenue of Rs 100 crore this year. They are currently working with the Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh state governments on multiple initiatives including child welfare, young mothers welfare and the mid-day meal scheme. 

They produce, hire, and sell locally, and follow a farm-to-fork approach, working with 15,000 farmers.

5. Saandeep Jogiparti and Kavitha Gopu, Laddu Box

Like Raju, Saandeep Jogiparti and Kavitha Gopu returned to Hyderabad after a stint in the US to start a millets business. Having a sweet tooth, Saandeep always liked to eat something sweet after his meal, but the caloric intake worried him. Many Indians would be able to relate to Saandeep’s quandary.

To make healthier alternatives that would satisfy the sweet cravings, the couple chose millets. They innovated the traditional laddu recipes and made them using millets, whole grains, ghee and jaggery. They launched a millet brand in India called ‘Laddu Box’ in 2019 and sell 11 varieties of laddus including ragi, foxtail millet, Kodo millet, and finger millets among others.

They also sell protein-rich laddus for fitness freaks, iron-rich ones to improve women’s health, and ragi-based laddus for children. They also introduced vegan options that are made with dates instead of jaggery and ghee.

Edited by Padmashree Pande

Have you ever nurtured a plant from scratch? Have you planted a tiny seed and watched it grow into a beautiful flower, fruit or vegetable? Have you savoured the fruits grown through your own efforts?

Sooraj Purushothaman realised this joy really young. He planted some tomatoes and cowpeas at the age of 13. They gave him a great yield which started his foray into organic farming.⁠ He calls growing vegetables a “way of life”.

“There’s nothing quite like the feeling of planting a tiny seed, nurturing it through the seasons, and finally reaping the fruits of your labour. And when those vegetables are ready to be harvested, there’s no better way to enjoy them than straight from the garden to the table,” he shared.

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Today, he grows over 50 vegetables and fruits, and helps other farmers reap a good harvest without the use of pesticides. He says that one must think of gardening as a journey, without worrying about the result. “It’s a way of appreciating the simple things in life.”

Let Sooraj inspire you to appreciate the efforts that go into growing vegetables, next time you sit down for a meal.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

“It felt like we have come to a hill station,” she recalls in a conversation with The Better India.

She also reminisces about helping her grandma pluck homegrown vegetables in small baskets. “My dadi grew so many vegetables at home. We would see green bitter gourds and bottle gourds hanging from its branches,” she adds.

However, back in the city, her father would purchase vegetables from the market, which lacked the taste and aroma of the produce from their hometown.

Nita further says, “I remember my mama ji would always complain about the food my mom offered to him. He would say that we do not cook tasty food. One day, he himself went to the market, bought vegetables and cooked curry. He too was not able to make the food tasty. Then he realised there is a difference between the vegetables in the city and the village.”

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In fact, now that Nita grows her own vegetables, she herself observes the difference. She says she took to gardening as she missed the open land of her grandma’s garden. So in 2001, along with her husband who worked with the Air Force, she moved to small service quarters.

It was difficult to plant trees here, but she began by growing some plants. She planted flowering plants in the front yard and set up a kitchen garden in the backyard where she grew vegetables like cauliflower, brinjal, and tomatoes.

After her husband’s retirement, the couple built their own house on a four kattha (nearly 3,000 sq ft) land.

For the past 10 years, Nita has been growing her own lush green urban jungle at home. Today, she grows 500 plants of diverse varieties — such as drumsticks, grapes, guava, litchi, corn, pineapple, dragon fruits, and seasonal vegetables such as tomatoes, cauliflower, okra, chillies, brinjals, pumpkin, and many more.

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How to make bio enzymes from kitchen waste?

What’s more, Nita utilises recycled plastic containers, coconut and egg shells, and PVC pipes to grow plants. She also makes organic fertilisers and fungicides from kitchen waste.

She makes bio enzymes from neem leaves, marigolds, orange peels, lemons, and bananas. “Three years ago, I saw a programme on DD Kisan that highlighted the importance of using bio enzymes. I realised these are easy to make and have numerous benefits like boosting plant growth and protecting plants from insects and fungus attacks. Enzymes act as both fertilisers and insecticides,” adds the homemaker.

Nita shares five easy tips on how to make bio enzymes from kitchen and garden waste at home.

Follow the 3:1:10 formula

The main ingredient needed to make bio enzymes can be neem, lemon peels, banana peels, etc. Apart from that you would need jaggery and water.

“Cut the main ingredients into small parts, then mix 300 grams of this with 100 grams of jaggery in 1,000 ml of water. Mix the contents well. Irrespective of the main ingredient, one should add contents in their respective ratio,” she says.

Nita adds that marigold enzyme enhances flowering growth, while orange and lemon peels aid the growth of plants like roses and lilies in acidic soil. Neem enzyme, on the other hand, serves as an insecticide or fungicide.

Store in plastic containers

Nita advises that the mixture should be kept in plastic bottles.

“Do not store the contents in a glass bottle as the mixture releases ample amounts of gases. If you keep it in a glass bottle, it will explode and might cause harm. Even when kept in plastic bottles, one needs to loosen the cap in a few days,” she says.

She notes, “Also, one must take a two-litre bottle to store one litre of mixture as it will allow some space for fermentation.”

Keep in the dark

Any fertiliser must be stored in a dark place, says Nita. “The good bacteria in the fertiliser will die if the containers are kept in sunlight.”

How to spray the enzymes?

Nita says it takes three months to ready the enzymes. It has the aroma of a vinegar. After the batch is ready, gardeners can mix 1-2 ml of enzyme in a litre of water. “If the insect attack is severe, then up to 5 ml of enzymes can be mixed in the water. Spray this mixture onto plants,” she says.

How to make the second batch?

Nita says that these enzymes can be stored for as many months as it has no expiry date. And to make the second batch process faster, one can add roughly 5 ml of enzyme to the new batch, so it will then be ready in one month!

Edited by Pranita Bhat

A mother of two and a university professor with an MBA, LLB, and a PhD under her belt, Aditi has been growing a lush urban jungle at her home while juggling a full-time job. The proud plant mom says, “My kids also started helping me with that, and I always felt gardening is an activity that can involve everybody in the house.”

Aditi grows everything from seasonal fruits to vegetables. She also runs a fast-growing YouTube channel ‘Flora Frenzyy’, where she teaches people how to grow their own gardens.

“No matter how young or old you are, no matter how much space you have, whether you have ground space or not, whether you live in a flat — gardening is for you,” she says.

Her YouTube channel has become a one-stop destination for gardening enthusiasts who wish either to grow ornamental plants, microgreens and indoor plants or need valuable gardening insights.

Watch this video to learn how Dr Aditi turned her house into a lush haven:

Edited by Pranita Bhat

“We had 150 bigha land but our family had to sell most of our property and all our savings on my father’s treatment. We were told that it was because of pesticide-laden vegetables that the risk of life-threatening diseases like cancer increased,” Rubi tells The Better India.

“After my father’s death, we struggled for even a penny. I am from a conservative society where women are not allowed to step out of homes to work. So, my mother raised her five children with whatever savings we were left with,” adds the 39-year-old.

Amid the financial hardships, the Dausa resident could not study after class 10. At the age of 20, she was married into an agricultural family where she found a sense of empowerment. Not only this, she helped her family convert nearly 26 acres of land into a profitable organic farm.

Saved 50% input costs & doubled the income

In 2006, Rubi narrates, a team from the local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) organised a workshop on various wheat varieties on her family’s farm. Out of curiosity, she asked the officials if there was an alternative to chemical-based farming.

“I always wondered why cases of diseases like cancer keep rising. The officials were very impressed that a woman in the crowd had asked such a question. They explained the importance of organic farming and how the food produced organically is nutritious not only for humans but also for soil health,” she adds.

Soon after, Rubi joined a three-day training course at KVK and learned how to switch to organic farming. This proved to be a turning point for her family’s income.

Traditionally, the family had been cultivating wheat and mustard crops by infusing chemical fertilisers and pesticides which took a toll on the soil fertility of their farm. Without complete knowledge, they kept on adding fertilisers, which only worsened the crop yield rather than doing any good.

Rubi explains, “The usage of chemical fertilisers and insecticides has degraded the porosity and aeration of our farm soil. As a result, it would get difficult for us to plough the soil. Whereas organic fertilisers increase the soil porosity which aids root development of the crop.”

Other than increasing soil health, organic farming allowed the family to save high input costs on chemicals. “In place of urea, DAP, and other chemical fertilisers, we only use cow dung and vermicompost. This has saved us 50 percent on input costs. Additionally, our profits have doubled as organic produce is sold at twice the price because of high demand,” she adds. Rubi is now able to generate an income of Rs 1 lakh per bigha.

But it was not this easy for Rubi to bring home the bacon. Coming from a conservative background, Rubi was questioned for her capabilities. “When I told my in-laws that I wished to experiment with organic farming on our land, they would mock me. My father-in-law questioned what can I achieve by doing this,” she recalls.

However, with her husband’s support, she managed to start her experiment with one bigha land. Sadly, she could not get a good yield for the initial 2-3 years. “In the first year, our yield was very low comparatively. From one bigha land, we would get 12 quintals of wheat with the application of chemicals but with the organic fertiliser, we managed to just get roughly eight quintals,” she says.

Determined irrespective of low profits, Rubi continued to farm organically and utilised composts like jeevamrut (a liquid organic fertiliser made from cow dung and urine), cow dung, and vermicompost. “I was aware that initially, we won’t get good produce as it takes time to heal the soil,” she adds.

After four years of toiling, Rubi started getting good produce that fetched her a double income. Today, she has been able to convert the entire 26-acre family farmland into a profitable organic farm.

Tutoring 15,000 farmers for free

Other than wheat and mustard, Rubi grows vegetables and fruits like amla (gooseberry), papaya, and lemon. For this, the couple has also set up a seed bank comprising 50 varieties of indigenous seeds of vegetables like okra, cowpeas, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, chillies, and more.

Rubi’s husband, Om Prakash, tells The Better India, “We have innovated a three-layer approach to grow vegetables that utilises extra space in the farm. We grow plants like lemon and karonda (blackcurrants) in the outermost layer. In the second layer, we grow shorter plants like aloe vera that are grown under the shade of these trees. In the third layer, we grow tall trees like papaya, bel (stone apple), and amla.”

“At one place, we have planted three kinds of plants. We did this so that farmers understood they could generate additional income from the same land. Kam lagat me adhik upaj, adhik upaj ka adhik munafa (More produce at less input costs which in turn gets more profits),” adds the 47-year-old.

Over the years, Rubi has also trained at least 15,000 farmers and agriculture students from across Rajasthan for free and helped them switch to organic farming. In order to help these farmers sell their organic produce, she also set up a farmer-producer organisation – Khatwa Kisan Jaivik Producer Company – that today has a network of about 15,000 farmers. The couple helps them sell the produce to officials in districts like Dausa, Jaipur, Madhopur, and Gangapur.

For her work towards promoting organic farming, Rubi was awarded by NABARD in 2008 and recently the Jaivik India Awards 2023 by the International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture.

More than Rubi, her husband is more proud of her work. Om Prakash says, “A family is empowered only when its women are. I take pride that my wife has not only made our family land profitable but also that of thousands of farmers.”

Meanwhile, Rubi feels confident that she has been able to build an identity for herself. “I had always wanted to work in an area where no one in my family gets sick because of chemical-laden food. But I always wondered what a 10th pass woman is capable of doing in today’s world. Organic farming has given me a purpose to contribute towards building a swasthya samaj (healthy society),” she says.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Om Prakash Pareek.

This 49-year-old dentist from Amritsar has more than 800 plants at his house and clinic, which he has lovingly grown over the past eight years. Despite his busy schedule at the clinic, he finds time to tend to his plants which he finds very cathartic.

“Gardening gives me mental satisfaction and is relaxing. I never get bored. Every morning, when I go upstairs, I find something new. I see parrots and sparrows chirping, and find some new flowers on my cactus. I find squirrels roaming around. My mother, father, wife and daughter help me water the plants and it’s a way for us to spend time together,” Dr Navdeep tells The Better India. 

The dentist’s passion for gardening was ignited by his father, who himself is a plant-lover.

“My father grew a small garden in our house. As a young child, I saw him spending a lot of time tending the garden. He just loved plants and that has rubbed off on me. We had so many beautiful flowers. About 10 years back, the garden had to be filled in to make space for my older brother’s car,” adds the doctor.

An oasis of calm in a busy city

When the garden made way for a car, Dr Navdeep saved all the soil, as it was very fertile. With this began his journey of gardening. 

“I stored the soil in big bags as I just didn’t have the heart to throw out such rich soil,” he adds.

On his daughter’s birthday eight years ago, he found a way to use this prized possession, by making return gifts. 

“I gifted my daughter’s friends plants and used this soil in the pots. Interestingly, my colleague gifted me my first plant, a dressina, on my birthday the same year. I kept it outside my clinic and that paved the way for my journey,” he adds. 

He then bought some three plants for his house. 

“I found the process of growing a plant very satisfying, and this became a passion. I started buying more plants. My father too participated in this, everytime I bought five plants, he would buy 10. It was a healthy competition,” he laughs.

What started with three plants has today led to his entire house being filled with around 500 plants, and 300 more at the clinic rooftop. Plants adorn the Khurana household right from the entrance, passage, verandah and terrace. He started following Youtube channels to learn more about gardening. He even started making manure himself.

“I purchased a Trustbin, a compost bin online which helps us compost at home. We compost all our wet waste and this has generated an enormous amount of manure. I also don’t use any pesticides, just neem oil. This keeps all the pests away. I check each plant for mealybugs daily, as around 8 years ago, they wasted two years of my produce,” says the 49-year-old. 

He says that Covid was the time which really gave him the time and impetus to garden freely.

“I did every experiment during the lockdown and it really paid off,” he says. 

His garden has 12 colours of roses, ficus, lilies, marigolds, petunias, different kinds of palm trees, vegetables like brinjal, radish, carrot, turnips and leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, coriander and more. He has also started growing ficus bonsais. 

He urges more people to garden by gifting plants. 

“He has created an oasis of greenery in Amritsar. His garden is really well-kept and he has a green touch. It’s really amazing that he has added so much greenery to a city which is seeing so much urbanisation. He is very generous and gifts everyone he meets plants, hoping to add more greenery in the world,” says Captain Shalinder Singh, Dr Navdeep’s friend. 

His patients are also pleasantly surprised by the greenery in the clinic. 

“Patients always ask me for tips on how to grow plants indoors. They wonder how my plants are not rotting. All my staff members have also started growing plants,” adds the Amritsar resident.

‘Make sure your soil is good’

Apart from making manure, he follows other sustainable practices to grow his plants. His first tip is to use less water.

“Don’t give too much water to plants. I use drip irrigation to ensure that water is saved as well as plants require only the amount of water they need,” he adds.

He also has a solar panel on his clinic rooftop which provides more than the 600 units of electricity required at their house. This has helped him save almost Rs 85,000 per year on electricity bills.

The most important thing he has learnt in the last eight years is that the soil should be very good. 

“When I started, I just used soil with pebbles in it. This led to my plants not growing well. Make sure your soil is good and that there are no mealybugs. They also killed my plants,” he adds.

Tips to have good soil:

1. Clean the soil well. There should be no pebbles. It should be powdery.
2. Use cow dung as it improves soil structure.
3. Mix cocopeat in the soil, it helps conserve water. 
4. Use neem leaves in the soil, it is a natural conditioner that boosts the quality of soil.
5. Use plant bone meal, an organic fertiliser to make your soil healthier. 

Dr Navdeep says that gardening has completely transformed his life by reducing stress.

“It’s a very purposeful way to spend your time. I used to be stressed a lot earlier. Now, tending to the plants before and after work – both at home and the clinic – has made life more enjoyable for me. Just waking up and seeing the plants in full bloom gives me immense happiness,” he says happily. 

Edited by Padmashree Pande.

In 2014, he did a dairy science course and thereafter worked in companies like Mother Dairy, Amul, and Nestle. A year later, he pursued a dairy automation course at Tel Aviv University in Israel.

After returning from Israel, he established a dairy farm ‘Gau Organics’ in his hometown with his brothers, Uttam Jyot and Gagandeep. Through this business, he sells milk and other dairy products — such as butter, organic jaggery, honey, cow dung cakes, manures, and more.

But what’s unique about this dairy farm is its sustainability practices.

Interestingly, Singh’s farm produces 70 percent of its own electricity using waste. When Singh realised that the electricity cost on the farm was way too high, he came up with a sustainable alternative to have a self-sustained facility.

For this, he installed two biogas plants of 40 KW in his 50-acre dairy farm. With this, he generates Rs 1.5–1.8 lakh-worth electricity every month. “Right now, we are producing 80 KW of power uninterrupted,” he says. To achieve this, they collect cow dung and urine and send it to the digester of these biogas plants. It is then converted into electricity.

But this isn’t the only way Gau Organics is thinking of a sustainable future. Apart from generating its own electricity, it also has rainwater harvesting and a 60 KW solar power plant.

Watch this video to learn how Amanpreet saves Rs 2 lakh on electricity bills:

Edited by Pranita Bhat

And her efforts bore fruit and how. Not only was she able to pay for her daughter’s education in good schools and colleges, but she also won awards for her innovative farming methods. 

Till her girls were young, Bindu was busy with them. But once they started going to school, the 42-year-old started going to the fields, foraying into the world of agriculture. With years of training and on field experience in hand, she started her own brand Pasumai in 2020 with 12 other women under her. 

Now she sells value-added products like vathals (sun-dried vegetables), idli podi (powder), lemon podi, coriander powder and more. Today, her brand sells more than 100 packets of these products per month, she proudly shares. 

So how did Bindu turn her life around? Read on ahead as she shares her story with The Better India.

Sealing a better future for her daughters

Let’s rewind time to 1998, when Bindu and her husband, Pitchai, got married. 

Pitchai’s family cultivated sugarcane on their five acre land in Bomminayakanpatti village in the Theni district in Tamil Nadu. But they were burning their fingers in keeping the farm running.

“Sugarcane is a labour and cost-intensive crop. We would incur a lot of expenses which we paid for by mortgaging our jewellery. We got about Rs 80,000 per year through this, which after cutting other expenses and labour costs, would not even be enough for our daughters’ school fees,” Bindu says.

According to Bindu, most farmers in and around their village and Theni, grow sugarcane and cotton. She decided to start growing different crops, with the hopes of them yielding more income.

“We used to grow paddy and sugarcane. I knew that I had to do something different on our farm, as farming is the only thing we know. I also wanted to increase our income for the sake of my daughters,” she explains. They first started growing corn and brinjal on their farm. 

As this was also the first time that Bindu really stepped out of the house and “saw the real world”, she came to know of self-help groups (SHGs) and joined one. This gave her an opportunity to see what others in this field were doing.  

“I was introduced to many women who were, in their own small ways, supporting their families. It was very inspiring to see that. Through this SHG, I also went for some programmes of the agriculture department of the state and learned of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK),” adds the farmer. 

The agriculture department distributed lentil and millet seeds and in 2019, Bindu started growing sorghum (jowar or cholam), pearl millet (bajra or kambu), and urad dal. Shortly after, she started organic farming. 

“I attended a KVK workshop where they told us how to farm without using pesticides. I made a pesticide composition at home by mixing ginger, garlic, and pepper. You just need to add 100 ml of this mixture to 15 litres of water. Not only does it keep insects away, but I’ve never seen shinier brinjals!” says Bindu.

In 2020, she started growing bananas, which take about 8-12 months for a yield. The enterprising farmer wasn’t going to wait for so long. She decided to grow some vegetables through inter-cropping, which would fetch a yield fast.

“I started growing toor dal, tomatoes, ladies finger through the method of intercropping. These crops could be taken out in four months, and provided us with a supplementary income,” explains Bindu.

Setting up a small enterprise

As the first experiment was a success, she then grew coriander seeds, bitter gourd, and other vegetables. 

However, as the yield increased, so did the wastage. Many of the vegetables were rotting away and had to be thrown when the prices were low. An attempt to save these vegetables brought out the businesswoman in Bindu. What do you do to save a rotting vegetable? Well, you make yummy vathals. 

“I underwent training on post-harvest processing and packaging of these dried vegetables and value-added products at KVK. I also learnt how to market them. I wanted to maximise our produce and make use of every product more judiciously. I got all the relevant food safety certificates and Udyam certificates (a mandatory registration for micro, small and medium enterprises),” adds Bindu, which led to her own venture, Pasumai.

She is able to sell her products locally, at KVKs and colleges.

She now wants to scale up her production and has taken a loan from the district industrial centre to purchase grinding machines. She has also bought a solar dryer which would make the drying process of the vegetables more efficient. 

Through her efforts, her older daughter has completed her masters in engineering and her younger daughter is pursuing a BSc nursing course. In just three years, she has set up a small enterprise, which she is scaling up, through her innovations.

“I just started this out of an interest in farming; that’s all I knew in life and I’m glad that it helped my original goal of giving my daughters a good education. I want to train more people now and bring them forward as well,” says Bindu. 

Edited by Padmashree Pande

Korba, in Chhatisgarh, is the third-largest city in the state, and home to many tribes and indigenous communities. An organisation, Dhristee, works to empower women through self-help groups (SHGs) by setting up micro-enterprises. Amidst the many challenges that it faces in the process is making the women more comfortable in order to share their worries and come together to run an enterprise.

One of these micro-enterprises that turned out to be profitable was the cultivation of mushrooms — the edible and fruiting fungi. The systematic and scientific cultivation of mushrooms on a commercial scale was proposed to the women. This model, however, had already been tested and was a failure.

Members of Dhristee poked and prodded a little to understand the reason behind the failure. So, with the consent of the women, it was decided to organise a workshop to gain more knowledge on this subject.

A training session was then arranged at Jindal Institute in Tamnar in Raigarh, 70 km from the residences of these women. Some of the women were ready and excited to see a new place, and a few saw this as an opportunity.

One such entrepreneurial woman was Urmila Yadav, who was a member of the SHG Aradhana Swayam Sahayata Samuh, from Belgadi Basti in Korba.

Urmila came for the workshop, leaving her home at 5 am and returning at 10 pm, and also persuaded another woman from her SHG to join her.

Mushrooms are available in different varieties — button, paddy, oyster, shiitake, milky, etc — some of which we can cultivate in India. Each of these varieties needs different settings to grow.

Temperature, humidity, and disinfection are all different factors which influence the process.

The spawns are available in bottles and have a certain maturing period. Once the spawns mature, they are not suitable for cultivation. So Dhristee taught the women to identify the maturity level of the seeds.

They layer wet straw bale mixed with disinfectants in a polythene bag, on which they sprinkle half-cooked wheat and seeds. They finally layer a bottle of spawns in a polythene bag. A maximum of four layers is advisable for high yield. The life cycle of a mushroom is anywhere between 16 to 23 days. The women keep the bags in the shade and sprinkle them with water at regular intervals.

A bag can yield up to 2.5 kg of mushrooms and a kg sells for anywhere between Rs 160 and Rs 200.

Dhristee also taught the women the idea of fixed costs, managing labour, and coming up with a break-even analysis for the process. The model considers anything other than the raw material cost as profit.

But the tricky part of working in a tribal belt is ensuring that the women know which types of fungi are edible and not poisonous, as there are many myths surrounding the various varieties of mushrooms in the region.

Back to our friend Urmila Yadav. After attending the training that day, she got in touch with the concerned trainer directly to start her new business.

Explaining the process of this enterprise to the other women, she convinced them to help her market it in their circles as well.

She got back to the Dhristee team once to arrange a hoarding in front of her house to promote her group and their newest venture. When the team asked her how she had managed to do all of this, she said simply, “We are responsible for our own lives.”

Clearly, Urmila has been responsible for starting her own enterprise, and teaching it to the women of her group.

Recently, representatives of another SHG, Ganesh Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh, Bhadrapara, came to meet the women of Aradhana Swayam Sahayata Samuh to learn the mushroom cultivation practice from them, so they could also start the enterprise for themselves.

The first time I went to go work for women empowerment, I thought, “Well that’s not a big deal.” Today, I know exactly how tough it is, and the time and patience it needs. Each day I laugh and live with these women, trying to get to know them, while they try to understand me.

(The author works with the women of Korba to aid them with ideas for business and strengthening their SHGs as a part of the organisation Dhristee. She is also an India Fellow of the batch of 2016-17.)

For more information on Dhristee and the work they do, click here. Find out more about the India Fellow Social Leadership Program here.

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Ravindra, who grew up in a small village in the Amravati district of Maharashtra with his father working as a peon and three siblings, had a challenging childhood. At 16, he began poultry farming, and now, at 55 years old, he found himself standing before young Indian Administrative trainees at LBSNAA in Mussoorie, sharing his inspiring success story!

Every year, LBSNAA hosts guest lectures from distinguished civil servants to advise young IAS trainees on the workings of the administration. On 7 March, 2023, Ravindra was invited to address 189 trainees.

“I was the first farmer from Maharashtra invited to LBSNAA. It was a proud moment for my family and me. I had the opportunity to interact with future IAS officers who will serve as mukhiyas (district magistrates) across the country, and the citizens in those districts will become like their families,” he tells The Better India.

“Farmers make a significant contribution to the district’s productivity. So IAS officers should be aware of their real-life challenges and understand what farmers expect from them when they are posted in the districts. I got an opportunity to help the trainees understand this,” he adds.

Starting with just 100 poultry hens, Ravindra now owns 1.8 lakh hens on his 50-acre farm in Amravati. We sat down with him to understand his experiences as a poultry farmer and how he managed to achieve this feat.

Setting up business at 16

To overcome financial constraints, Ravindra worked at a chemist’s store that would earn him Rs 5 per day. “We did not own any ancestral land. Our financial condition was very poor. I remember going to college on foot as I did not have a bicycle. I used to repair old torn clothes to wear to college,” he shares.

Alongside his job at a chemist’s store, he ventured into poultry farming after seeing his neighbour’s success, who owned a 400-hen poultry farm. So in 1984, when Ravindra was just 16, he started poultry farming. And to help him kickstart this, his father gave him Rs 3,000 from his provident fund.

After getting a 15-day training from the government department, he set up a poultry farm with 100 hens on a kachha (mud) slab in his house. Having no prior experience, he had to sell eggs and broilers at a low cost compared to the market.

Gradually, Ravindra was able to expand his small business. He went from having 100 to 400 hens within 10 years.

In this period, Ravindra completed his master’s in commerce in 1992, and four years later, got married. “Since we came from an impoverished family and I was a farmer, many families rejected me for their daughters. Only after a lot of assurances from others was I able to get married,” he recalls.

Meanwhile, Ravindra bought an acre of land in Amravati. With a bank loan of Rs 5 lakh, he expanded the farm with 4,000 hens. “By then, I started earning well from the business and got my kachaa house renovated. Soon after, I expanded the farm to 12,000 hens,” he says.

But his happiness was short-lived. In 2006, India witnessed an outbreak of bird flu that took a toll on the poultry business. “It was the first bird flu in the country. People were scared to consume broilers and eggs. They even forced poultry farmers to kill their birds. I sold 16,000 broilers for Rs 2–3 per kg, which were earlier sold at Rs 50–60 per kg,” he says.

“But thankfully, I already had bought 15-acre land to practise farming. So for those two years, I continued to earn by growing fruits and vegetables like oranges, soybean, and tuar dal (pigeon pea),” he adds.

In 2008, he took a loan of Rs 25 lakh from a bank and restarted the business with 20,000 egg-laying hens. “With profits, I kept on increasing the birds at my farm. Today, I have 1.8 lakh hens,” says Ravindra, who has been doing poultry farming for the past four decades.

He shares that he now earns up to Rs 60,000 per day through this business.

Sharing learnings with new IAS officers

Over the years, Ravindra advanced his farm with improved technologies like indoor vertical farming, greenhouse farming, automatic watering, drip systems, remote sensing irrigation systems, and organic farming.

“I have employed only 50 workers to manage my poultry farm spread across 50 acres. Most of the work is automated. For example, from collecting eggs from broilers and giving feed to poultry birds, to collecting their excreta, everything is ensured using machines,” he informs.

Interestingly, in 2013, he was selected by the state government as one of the 80 progressive farmers to be sent to Europe for a 10-day trip to understand the nitty-gritty of expanding the farming business with machinery.

The next year, he was conferred with the Vasantrao Naik Award by the Maharashtra Government. Later in 2021, he received the Innovative Farmer Award from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

In 2022, Ravindra was also conferred with the prestigious Jagjivan Ram Abhinav Kisan Puraskar by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

It was because of these awards that Ravindra says that he was able to establish an identity and free himself from corrupt officers at the grassroots. “Many local officers used to come to me to get hens and eggs for free on a regular basis. If denied, they would provoke neighbours to complain against me for bad odour coming from my poultry farm,” he says.

Other than this, he adds, “Usually, the Government announces compensation when farmers experience crop losses. For this, patwari (village registrar) is appointed to survey the damage. In the process, they seek a share in the compensation amount. If somebody refuses to give the amount, they remove their names from the list.”

Ravindra says he was able to highlight these challenges in front of IAS trainees at LBSNAA. He also advised them to not rely on junior officers only, and to visit farmers’ sites on their own to understand the challenges at the grassroots independently.

“Farmers will not be able to progress with farming alone. After sowing, it takes five months to generate income from the crop. During this period, they are left without any means to earn. So, officers should encourage farmers to adopt parallel businesses like poultry farming, mushroom farming, silk and cattle rearing, and vermicompost business to boost their income.”

Ravindra shares that it was crucial for him to put forward the farmers’ expectations to these future officers, and to be able to have received this opportunity felt like a great achievement. “At LBSNAA, reputed officers lecture the IAS trainees. And that day, a farmer was able to take the stage. I hope with my work, younger generations do not feel hesitant to seek a career in farming,” he says.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Ravindra Metkar.

This deeply disturbed Sharmila Jain Oswal, who was in Canada at that time.

“While I was earning good money, I was not on my own soil. I yearned to return and support the farmers, contributing to my nation’s nutritional security. Growing up in a village, I had seen the plight of farmers and knew their problems firsthand. Sadly, many government initiatives failed to reach them, leading to mounting debts and poor crops,” the 52-year-old tells The Better India.

So, Sharmila decided to quit her job and returned to Pune in 2008. She then embarked on a two-year survey across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan to understand the problems faced by farmers on the ground.

Soon after, she established an NGO named the Green Energy Foundation to provide solutions to farmers. The foundation focuses on the revival of water sources and implementing smart farming techniques, while empowering women in agriculture.

A childhood that sowed the seeds of change

In the late 70s, Sharmila’s father ran a flour mill in Poynad, a small agrarian village near Alibaug, Maharashtra, where millets were the major grains used. Growing up there, the young girl gained insight into the challenging lives of farmers and their families.

She says she learned two important lessons from her father. One — the importance of millets; two — the concept of ‘corporate social responsibility’ even before she had heard the term CSR.

“I studied in a Marathi medium school where most of the children faced several hardships. Their fathers were farmers and didn’t have a steady income most of the time. The girls were married early and weren’t given access to higher education. Most women in my orthodox Rajasthani family also faced similar problems — including being forced to wear ghungats (a cloth to cover the head),” she adds.

After hearing stories of harassment and domestic violence from schoolmates and relatives, she decided to become a lawyer to help women facing such challenges. “I wanted a different life than my mother, sisters, or sisters-in-law. I had witnessed my near and dear ones fall victim to domestic violence. Girls in my school were denied education and married early. So, I fought for my education,” she recalls.

Sharmila now considers herself lucky because both her father and later her husband prioritised her education. However, the difficulties faced by the farming community that she witnessed growing up, such as failing crops and increasing debts, deeply affected her.

“I saw through close quarters what a farmer and his family go through when their crop fails, or when it doesn’t rain. I wanted to work towards finding solutions for these problems, as the water crisis was only increasing,” she adds.

These challenges inspired her to get a master’s degree in environmental and agricultural law in England after getting married. She worked in the UK from 1997 to 1999 and later moved to Canada, where she practised until 2007. Afterwards, she returned to her homeland in response to the difficulties faced by Indian farmers.

Helping farmers switch to sustainable methods

After returning to Pune and founding the NGO in 2008, Sharmila — armed with a Rs 10 lakh grant from NABARD — began her first sustainable water management program in Buchkewadi, Maharashtra in 2010.

The village was facing a water crisis due to which farming was becoming increasingly difficult.

“The entire village, which has around 40 farmers, was getting water from one small dam. We worked on a programme that would optimise water usage and increase water availability in the village. We did a detailed soil and water assessment, and worked on an equitable water distribution model. We also helped villagers regulate water usage so that they receive water even during summer months,” explains the lawyer.

Sharmila continued her work across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. In Dungarpur, Rajasthan, she helped farmers move from farming just one crop — corn — to multiple crops.

“Crops like maize need a lot of water. So we helped the tribal farmers in Dungarpurby showing them how to cultivate crops like moong (green gram) using less water on their farms — through a partnership with ITC’s e-Choupal. This way, the farmers always have a backup crop in case one fails. In the process, they also gained access to ITC’s marketplace. We also assisted farmers in growing millets, which require less water,” she adds.

Dipti, a farmer from Dungarpur, says they have benefited from this programme, and that today, they also grow vegetables. “Earlier, my husband would have to go to other cities in search of work if our crop failed. Now, as we are growing lentils and vegetables, we are able to sustain ourselves well. We are able to manage even with less water, as we have a multitude of crops,” she shares.

Unleashing the magic of millet

Over the past two decades, Sharmila says they have helped over 1.5 lakh farmers in five states through water management programmes, millet and vegetable cultivation, and capacity-building programmes, which has yielded a steady income for them.

Even before millet became the buzzword, this social activist urged farmers to grow this superfood in arid regions. “Millets are climate-resilient, carbon-neutral and eco-friendly. They require bare minimum water, making them sustainable,” she says.

She has helped farmers diversify their crops and conserve water by teaching them how to cultivate millets, such as ragi, jowar, proso millet, and pearl millet, as well as vegetables, including exotic ones like zucchini.

When the pandemic hit the country, Sharmila’s son Shubham was at home after completing his bachelor’s degree in political science at Ashoka University. A conversation about millets and the absence of healthy food choices sparked the idea for their startup, ‘Gud Mom’.

“During my time at the university, I saw most of my friends consuming junk food. We also saw many youngsters affected by lifestyle diseases. To help combat this and also provide a good market for farmers, we launched a startup based on a farm-to-fork model to sell millet grains and healthy millet-based snacks,” says Shubham Oswal.

‘Gud Mom’ sells millet noodles, pasta, cookies, crackers, herb sticks and more through their website, on Amazon, and via other retailers. Most of the grains and ready-to-eat items are priced between Rs 48 and Rs 150.

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A post shared by Gudmom by 1 Organic (@gudmomindia)

“Our goal is to build a healthy ecosystem. Nowadays, children consume too much junk food, which is not good for them. We have transformed millets into a variety of appealing products with international flavours and seasonings that the current generation enjoys. We want to build the immunity of the nation,” he adds.

The startup today has an annual revenue of over Rs 16 crore and works with more than 5,000 millet farmers across the country.

‘Gud Mom’ received the Best Startup in Organic Farming 2021 and the ‘Poshak Anaj Award 2022’ from the Indian Institute of Millet Research. Sharmila was recognised and lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for her work in increasing millet cultivation in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme.

She says she now hopes for a day when millets will be distributed under the public distribution system (PDS). “If we want farmers to grow more millets, they should be distributed in ration shops. They are healthier than wheat and rice. They should also be included in the mid-day meal scheme to encourage widespread consumption,” opines Sharmila.

You can buy their millet-based products here.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

Sources

NHRC

This manual exercise of spraying pesticides on the crops is hazardous not only to the farmers’ health but also to the soil’s as the spray gets everywhere. 

In the process, several farmers also bear high labour costs that directly impact the earnings generated from the crop. 

To counteract these issues faced in a difficult occupation, a Bengaluru-based startup called Niqo Robotics is using robotics and artificial intelligence to make this efficient and cost-friendly for farmers.

Launched in 2015 by a Bengaluru-based man Jaisimha Rao, the agri-tech startup is on a mission to build accessible and reliable robots for long term and sustainable farming.

In August 2023, the company launched its ‘AI-powered spot spray robots’ that selectively spray agrochemicals only on the plant, thus limiting chemical pollution of the soil and the farm’s ecosystems.

As of now, more than 500 farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka are using land-based robots to reduce their input and labour costs.

Making precision agriculture a reality

Born in Tamil Nadu and raised in Kuwait in the Middle East, Jaisimha completed his graduation in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, USA. Thereafter, he joined a company in New York and worked for seven years till 2014.

“I was in my 20s, so it was fun working abroad. But by that time, I realised how my future in the corporate job was going to be and so I wanted to explore entrepreneurship,” the 37-year-old tells The Better India.

At the age of 28, he quit his well-paying job in the USA and came back to his family to settle in Karnataka. While his peers suggested he explore fintech entrepreneurship given his experience, he did not want to limit his choices.

It was only when he went to a coffee plantation on the outskirts of Bengaluru that he understood his purpose. 

“One day, my father dragged me along to a coffee plantation that he wished to purchase. While conversing with one of the caretakers, I got to know that farmers adopt regular, blanket spraying in which chemicals are unnecessarily seeped into the soil,” he says.

“When I questioned the conventional methods, the caretaker said that this is how they have been doing it for the last 50 years and continue to do so. This came as a surprise to me. I did not get any scientific explanation,” he adds.

After some research, he quickly learnt that the food growing practices in India were largely manual, and critical input decisions were made based on traditional wisdom and not scientific data. 

“What struck me was how farmers in these plantations and other traditional crops spray on the entire farm without any regulation. In terms of soil health, each part of the farm is different. I wanted to work on an idea to identify particular parts of the farm that need spraying,” he adds.

With the advent of cameras and artificial intelligence, Jaisimha wanted to use a method to make precision agriculture a reality. So, in 2015 he started Niqo Robotics equipped with a vision of revolutionising Indian agriculture through innovation.

See, Select, and Spray

For the first four years, working with farmers across the country, Jaisimha used drones to take pictures of different sections of the farms that were infected with pests. He would then provide an analytical report to these farmers.

“While the analytics were helpful for the farmers, unfortunately, they did not find it useful enough to pay for it. For them, it was nice to have a report but it wasn’t necessarily a must-have,” he says.

Realising what was needed, he further worked on land-based robots that not only allow farmers to analyse activities on the farm but also to take action. 

The company launched these AI-based robots last year for trial in the Akola district, Maharashtra, approaching cotton farmers of the region. Last month, they formally launched 50 such robots for use.

Using three steps – see, select, spray – Jaisimha’s robotic sprayer uses a special day and night-vision camera to see each plant. It then uses high-speed and in-built computers to identify the plants to spray on the fields. Thereafter, it uses precision nozzles to deliver the right dose of pesticides directly on the plant.

“Our core technology is the camera which is attached to the sprayers. The cameras differentiate between a plant and soil. The camera recognises the location of a plant and signals the nozzles to spray. The nozzle shuts wherever there is soil,” he adds.

Over blanket spraying pesticides, Jaisimha says, farmers can significantly save up to 60 percent on pesticide costs.

But how did the farmers receive it?

At the village level in the Akola region, the Niqo Robotics team facilitated demos for farmers in June last year. 

“We could keep claiming big results but the farmers won’t believe it unless they see it. They are used to seeing this exercise being done by machines and tractors,” Arha Padman, chief marketing officer, tells The Better India. 

Talking about the response of farmers when they first see the robot sprayers, Arha says that it may very well be a magical moment for them. “Initially, they thought that this is a regular machine, but once our 10m long sprayer boom opens, cameras turn on, and the nozzles go on and off, the farmers see its potential.”

She adds, “And after the demos are done, interested farmers book the robots for a spraying session.” As per the company’s working model, farmers lease and book the robots from them for spraying. For this, they are charged Rs 350 per acre.

“For example, Yogesh Raut, a farmer who grows cotton and soybean crops, was very sceptical about us initially. But after the demo, he booked the robot for one spraying session. As soon as he saw the results, he booked the next session,” she says.

Sharing his experience with The Better India, Yogesh who owns a 30-acre farmland says, “When one of my friends listed the advantages of using these robot sprayers, I could not believe him. It was only after the two sessions on my crops that I realised he was not lying.”

He adds, “Usually, we manually spray our crops which costs Rs 1,200 per acre. With these robots, my work is getting done in half the amount and additionally, we are saving on the pesticide costs too.”

“Other than this, we are also able to save time. Labourers hired for this task take an entire day to do it. With these robots, we are able to secure the fields within two hours. I am very grateful to the company for thinking about us farmers,” adds the 42-year-old farmer.

Like Yogesh, 500 farmers across Karnataka and Maharashtra are using the robot sprayers on rent.

As of now, the technology is designed to spray pesticides on crops like cotton and chillies rather than paddy fields. 

Highlighting the challenges the company faces at the grassroots level, Jaisimha says, “Although farmers are willing to accept the technology, they believe that the more you spray, the higher yield you get. It is a little challenging to make them understand the importance of selective spraying.”

This year, the team has sprayed over 1 lakh acres of farmland so far. Jaisimha intends to scale the technology to more regions for the same crops.

Knowing that his technology is helping some of Indian agriculture’s most pressing issues like labour shortage and resource efficiency, this entire endeavour has been extremely fulfilling for Jaisimha. He is also glad that he is doing something for his countrymen rather than working abroad.

“We have helped farmers optimise their operations, boost return on investment, and minimise agriculture’s environmental footprint through our revolutionary robotics solutions,” he adds.

“Our journey has only just begun, and we are dedicated to continuing our work in this sector and beyond, pushing the frontiers of what is possible with robots and automation,” he says.

Edited by Padmashree Pande; All photos: Niqo Robotics.

When the COVID-19 lockdown was initiated, the Ludhiana-resident experimented more with different vegetables and fruits. First, she started growing easy-to-grow vegetables, such as spinach and brinjal. Later on, she included zucchini and bitter gourds in her garden.

What started with five pots is now a lush haven that has several fruits and seasonal vegetables — from cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, radish, and carrots during winter to cucumber, okra, pumpkin, tomatoes, and even some melons in summer.

Today, she grows more than 200 plants in her 2,000 sq ft terrace garden. She shares the tips with her over 1.5 lakh followers on Instagram.

But this success also came with a set of challenges. Ravneet says maintaining a terrace garden was challenging as it was difficult to manage weather conditions and pest attack outbreaks.

However, she is resilient to growing indigenous varieties and seasonal vegetables. She says having patience is the key to a bountiful crop.

Learn more about her terrace garden here:

Edited by Padmashree Pande

“When this college was being built, I was entrusted with setting up the science laboratories from scratch. Every lab was constructed under my supervision. But when the authorities got good money for the land on which the college was built, they had it demolished,” the 38-year-old recalls in a conversation with The Better India.

“I taught in that college for almost 10 years. The campus was reduced to ruins in front of me. It was so heartbreaking. It seemed like a decade of my work was wasted. This is when I decided to invest my time and energy in something that I can call my own,” she adds.

Although she got many offers from other colleges, the MSc graduate in microbiology decided to venture into entrepreneurship and started a business in mushroom farming that earns her up to Rs 1.5 lakh per month today.

Mushrooming the college syllabus into business

Born and raised in Farukhadbad, Uttar Pradesh, Nidhi completed her master’s from Jiwaji University of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. A year later in 2007, she started teaching at a private college in the Gwalior city.

As part of the syllabus, she would teach mushroom cultivation to her students. However, she never knew until 2016 that she could build a career in the topic she taught. “Since I studied microbiology, I already knew the nitty-gritty of mushroom cultivation. This seemed a better idea for business,” she adds.

So in 2017, she set up her company Natural Bio Impact and Research Pvt Ltd to grow mushrooms. With Rs 3,000, she bought 10 kg of oyster mushroom spawns and cultivated mushrooms in her home in a 10×10 sq ft room. But, in contrast to her expectations, she could not get a good yield.

“For every kg of mushroom spawns, we should have gotten at least 10 kg of mushrooms. That means, in total, we should have gotten 100 kg of produce. But our yield was 30 percent less than anticipated,” she says.

In the initial phase of her business, Nidhi was dependent on cultivators from Agra and Delhi to procure mushroom spawns. She observed that the quality of the spawns she sourced was poor. 

“Often, the spawns were delivered crushed as they were packaged in poor-quality gunny sacks. They would also be contaminated with fungus which resulted in a lower yield. It also affected the size and quality of the mushrooms grown,” she adds.

The next step, however, helped her expand the business.

A move towards a good yield

The same year, Nidhi used her ancestral house of 1,500 sq ft to set up a lab with dedicated rooms for incubation, inoculation, and pasteurisation. 

She had decided to grow mushroom spawns on her own.

Explaining how she grows the spawns, Nidhi says, “First, we boil wheat and barley straws. Then we sterilise them with fungicides. We then pack them into small packets and add them into autoclaves for sterilisation. After incubation using the mother spawn, we store the packets for six to seven days. In the process, a white-coloured fungus gets layered over the wheat grain. That is how spawns are prepared.”

Nidhi also highlights the mistakes farmers should avoid while preparing mushroom spawns. She says, “Usually, farmers take shortcuts in preparing spawns. For instance, spawns should be soaked overnight in fungicide and kept aside overnight. They skip these steps to take a shortcut and keep it only for two to three hours.” 

“They might not observe the damage then, but it would be visible after 10-15 days when a fungus attacks their produce,” she adds.

Nidhi uses these spawns to cultivate oyster mushrooms throughout the year. Today, she gets a yield of up to 150 kg of mushrooms every two months. She sells fresh mushrooms for Rs 100 per kg and sun-dried mushrooms for Rs 800 per kg to be used by pharmaceutical companies. 

Nidhi uses Pleurotus Florida oyster mushrooms, which are known for their medicinal properties. As per a paper published in the International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Research, these mushrooms are considered a valuable health food with a high content of protein. “It is demonstrated to possess various valuable biological properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor as well as antidiabetic activities,” notes the research paper.

Other than this, she is able to produce 1,000 kg of spawns per month, which are sold to at least 150 farmers from across Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

By selling fresh and sun-dried mushrooms, its spawns and other unique products like mushroom papads, pickles, biscuits, and protein powder, Nidhi manages to earn Rs 1.5 lakh per month.

Simultaneously, she also teaches biology to Class 11 and 12 students. “I did not quit teaching because I am passionate about it. My husband always motivated me in this journey. There have been times when I lost hope, but he always encouraged me. He even quit his job at Reliance as a branch manager to support me in marketing and expanding the business,” she adds.

Her husband, Sanjay Katare, tells The Better India, “We started from scratch. We knew that these mushrooms were in great demand by pharmaceutical companies, but we did not know how to market the products to the right people.” 

He goes on, “There was a time when I even went door-to-door to sell our oyster mushrooms to traders in the Delhi market. Today, we sell our products across India to Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Surat and Kutch among other cities.”

Commenting on his decision to quit the job to support his wife’s business, he says, “It was a very risky decision as we both did not have jobs, and we had a small son to take care of. There were even times when we thought of quitting this business and returning to our private jobs as we were not getting good profits because of low yields.”

However, their perseverance paid off in the long run. “We got a good boost in the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic when the demand for oyster mushrooms in pharmaceutical companies grew. This also motivated us as we could survive at a time when others were losing their jobs,” Sanjay adds.

Meanwhile, for Nidhi, the business helped her feel empowered. “Today, I am not dependent on any private institute. I teach for my passion and earn a living through business. I have been able to establish something for myself. And this is something that I can pass on to future generations,” she adds.

Source:

Antidiabetic potential of the oyster mushroom Pleurotus Florida: By Prabu M and Kumuthakalavalli R published in the International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Research in 2017.

Edited by Padmashree Pande; All photos: Nidhi Katare.

“My husband was down with a fever for a few days. We found out that he had malaria. The local doctor referred him to a Guwahati hospital for treatment. Along with my father, he left for the city for his treatment, but soon we got the news that he was no more,” the Borjhar village resident tells The Better India.

“My daughter was very small. While we were grieving the death of my husband, her entire future’s responsibility was in front of me. My parents brought me back home from my in-laws’. I thought of working as I did not want to be an unwanted bojh (burden) for my elderly parents,” she adds.

The incident encouraged Kanika to embark on a journey towards self-empowerment. Today, the 45-year-old runs a vermicompost business that earns her Rs 3.5 lakh monthly.

How She Started

Having studied till class 12, Kanika struggled financially and professionally. To fend for herself and her daughter, she worked low-paying jobs like weaving. For every Assamese saree she weaved, she would only get Rs 1,000. 

“It would take at least eight days to weave a saree. I could barely earn Rs 4,000 in a month. It was a very small amount for us to survive,” she says.

It was only in 2014 that she attended a workshop and came across a way to earn better income. “Through my self-help group, I got to know about a five-day workshop conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). I participated in it and got to know about several business opportunities like fish farming, poultry, and vermicomposting. I got very interested in vermicomposting as I had easy access to all the raw materials like cow dung and leaves at my home,” she says.

For the first time in all these years, Kanika felt optimistic. With just Rs 500 of her savings and 1 kg of earthworms provided by KVK in Nalbari district, she started the vermicompost business.

She uses bamboo which is locally available to make the structure of the vermicompost beds. To prepare the vermicompost, Kanika says, she uses paddy residue, and stems of water hyacinth, and mixes it along with cow dung to turn this organic debris into worm castings. 

“Farmers use these worm castings over chemical-laden urea to improve the fertility of the soil and thereby their crops. Vermicompost contains high amounts of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium,” she says.

In one year, Kanika was able to produce 800 kilos of vermicompost. Back then, she sold the compost for Rs 10 per kg and utilised all the earnings to expand the business. 

“Earlier, I had two cows but later I bought four more cows to get more cow dung. I also source at least 30 truckloads of cow dung from farmers to boost production,” she says.

She has set up 10 vermicompost beds each of 10×3 feet in size. In addition to this, she has also set up a 85×35 feet vermicompost bed on 1.5 bigha land of her family. Today, she is able to produce up to 35 tonnes of vermicompost in a month.

A distressed mom turned exemplary businesswoman

The major breakthrough in her vermicompost business came when in 2019 she attended a two-month orientation programme organised by the North East Agriculture Technology Entrepreneurs Hub (NEATeHub), an innovation hub under the Assam Agricultural University.

As part of the training, Kanika learnt to make vermiwash – a liquid extract produced from vermicompost as well as enriched vermicompost manure that has higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content over regular vermicompost.

“While vermiwash is used as a biopesticide, the enriched vermicompost which is prepared by the joint action of earthworms and microbes like Trichogramma, is used to stop the growth of diseases and improve the overall health of the plants. This added new product categories to my portfolio,” she says.

Under the brand Jay Vermi Compost, she sells vermicompost, vermiwash, and enriched vermicompost priced at Rs 12 per kg, Rs 70 per litre, and Rs 40 per kg, respectively.

Kanika sells the products to Assam’s agriculture department and to at least 25 nurseries across Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal, and Nagaland through Flipkart and Amazon.

A Truly Inspiring Tale of Perseverance And Grit

With no prior business experience, Kanika now earns in lakhs every month. In fact, she is also invited by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Assam, every month to train students in business. 

Sharing a few tips, she says, “If somebody wants to start this business, they should ensure that they produce good quality vermicompost. The income in the market depends on the quality of vermicompost they produce.”

On what separates quality vermicompost from others in the market, she says, “A good quality vermicompost should have 40-50 percent moisture content. It should not be too dry. Initially, when you add all the raw materials, you should water it for 20 days. It helps soak the raw materials and makes it easier for earthworms to chew and excrete. It takes about 35 days to prepare vermicompost.”

Kanika was the first in her village to venture into the business. Looking back at her life nine years ago, she says, “When I first attended the workshop, I had to travel 3 km to get there. It would cost me Rs 15-20 for one-way travel. There were days when I would not even have money for the journey home. I would have to walk. I couldn’t even buy water if I got thirsty en route.”

“Today, I am able to teach my daughter in a good school. I wish she either becomes a doctor or gets into an agriculture university. Previously, I did not feel comfortable asking my parents for money. Thankfully, I do not have to ask for money from anyone today. With my earnings, I also got my home renovated and constructed an office for myself,” she says with pride.

In 2021, Kanika was conferred the national-level Padma awards by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. 

“Just a few years back, I could not have even imagined that I would get recognition from the government. The happiness cannot be expressed in words,” she says.

Edited by Padmashree Pande; All photos: Kanika Talukdar.

“For generations, my family has cultivated wheat and rice. I’ve noticed that despite the hard work farmers put into their fields day and night, they struggle to earn a decent income from it. In contrast, floriculture can yield two to three times the income compared to traditional wheat farming,” the 45-year-old tells The Better India.

“Besides, Punjab’s climate is ideal for growing most crops. The sandy loam soil and water with a pH of 7–7.5 are beneficial for flower cultivation. That’s why I chose flower farming over wheat, becoming the first farmer in my district [Fatehgarh Sahib] to do so,” he adds.

Today, he grows 40 varieties of exotic flowers — including California poppy, gladiolus, calendula, alyssum, chrysanthemum, daisy, delphinium, lupin, and salvia — on 22 acres of land in his village Nanowal. He produces around 10 tonnes of flowers in a five-month season, earning an income of Rs 1 lakh per acre.

Failed at everything to succeed in one

While most of his cousins, including his sister, moved to countries like the US and Canada in search of jobs, Gurwinder’s attachment to his village only grew. Without any aspirations to settle for a corporate job, he discontinued education after Class 12. “I never had any inclination towards higher studies. But I wanted to be accomplished and establish an identity for myself while living in the village,” he shares.

After completing Class 12 in 1993, he did several odd jobs from being a salesperson, a tea leaves trader, and a mushroom and poultry farmer to selling sweets and customising swanky jeeps. “I failed in all these professions as I lacked enthusiasm and was unable to enjoy the work,” he says.

Fifteen years later, in 2008, his life took a turning point when he started flower farming as his profession. He found out from a friend that the Punjab Horticulture Department was offering subsidised seeds of Holland gladiolus flowers.

“I decided to give it a try. The department gave me 10,000 bulbs for free, but I needed land to grow the crop, so I sought help from my father. When I informed him about my new venture, he got upset and angry because he thought I was not serious about any work, often quitting jobs after two to three years,” he recalls.

Nevertheless, Gurwinder’s father allowed him to experiment on two kanals (about 0.25 acres) of land. So Gurwinder planted the bulbs, and after 90 days, they started to bloom. He sold the first batch in the local markets and earned around Rs 3 per spike.

The Holland gladiolus flowers are one of the most widely used ornamental flowers across the world. With a longer shelf-life of seven days, these flowers are an economical agri-product for farmers. Hence, encouraged by the successful experiment and potential returns, he expanded the area under flower cultivation to one acre the next year.

Subsequently, he introduced other varieties of flowers from countries like Europe and Israel, gradually expanding the flower cultivation to 22 acres of land.

Transforming flower farming with machines

Although Gurwinder found happiness in flower farming, it came with its own set of challenges. “Gladiolus flower bulbs resemble onions. In the past, we planted these bulbs by hand in beds, ensuring the pointed end faced upwards. This was a slow and labour-intensive process,” he says.

“I discovered that foreign farmers use machines on large fields for planting. However many farmers in India believed that unless you plant the bulbs as specified, they wouldn’t grow. They thought machines wouldn’t do it right. But after researching, I found this belief to be untrue,” he adds.

In the absence of a suitable planting machine in the local market, Gurwinder decided to make one himself. It took him three years to come up with a one-of-a-kind machine that helped plant flower bulbs and reduce the farmers’ time and cost.

For this, he also received a grant of Rs 12 lakh from Punjab Agriculture University.

Explaining the features of the machine, Gurwinder says, “We use a tractor to run this semi-automatic machine. It has a circular plate with holes in it. The bulbs of flowers are dropped on the beds through these circular plates. Earlier, it would take an entire day for 30 labourers to plant bulbs on an acre of land. Now, with five people, we are able to plant bulbs in just two hours. With this, we save Rs 40,000 per acre on labour costs.”

After seeing the success of the machines on his farm, other farmers approached him to enquire about them. Other than the planting machine, he has also developed machines for digging and grading purposes.

So far, he has sold eight machines — priced between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1.6 lakh — to farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Himachal.

Apart from this, he has also trained more than 2,000 farmers from across the country — including Leh, Himachal, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan — to grow exotic flowers for free. “I wish more and more people adopt floriculture and double their incomes. So I don’t charge even a penny to train farmers.”

Gurwinder received national recognition for his farming innovations in 2019, and more recently, about two months ago, he was recognised at the state level by Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann.

“I cannot express this feeling in words. Some time back, I would be mocked by many people as I never settled on any work. Today, everyone — including my family — appreciates me. People associate my name with the village. When others say, ‘Yeh Gurwinder wala Nanowal hai?’, it is a moment of pride for me,” he says.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

“I am a farmer’s son,” says Madhu. “I have seen how farmers suffer due to crop failure, lower profits and climate change. I am trying to help them make more profits by converting their coconuts to cash flow.” 

He does this through his startup Tengin, based in Bengaluru. The engineer-turned-farmer makes Rs 4 lakh per month by selling virgin coconut oil, barfi, soaps, candles, sugar, chips, crockery shells, coir dish scrubbers, and more. What’s interesting about his products is that they end up using every single part of the coconut, ensuring that virtually nothing goes to waste.  

While Madhu was convinced that this was his calling, his father wasn’t of the same opinion. “No farmer would want his sons to join farming because of the losses,” he explains. 

He shares that even when he was working in the corporate world, his mind was occupied with thoughts of how he could increase farmers’ revenue by eliminating middlemen from the supply chain. 

Tengin also engages women self-help groups (SHGs) in his village to produce zero waste from the coconuts. He works with more than 20 farmers in Karnataka and Goa, along with nearly eight women from SGHs in his village to make the products. 

He adds, “With my startup, I can only hope to make the profession (farming) more profitable and appealing to the youth to carry on.” 

Here’s a look at how Madhu turned his passion into a venture: 

“I had never seen such an impressive setup before, so I started frequenting the client. Observing their work helped me gain the confidence to replicate something similar. Lately, I had not been happy with my work in Dubai and was looking for a reason to come back home,” the 38-year-old Mumbai resident tells The Better India.

Considering hydroponics to be his calling, he returned to his grandparent’s village in Pune in 2011. “The concept of hydroponics was very new back then. People would find it hard even to pronounce it — some would term it hydrophobic and ‘hydrolonic’,” he smiles.

Without any farming background, Ashwin started to grow green fodder on the 500 sq ft of land in Pune. Today, he harvests 500 kilos of green fodder daily to feed the 105 cows and goats on his farm. He also set up a research lab ‘Scientific Hydroponics’ to introduce farmers to the benefits of hydroponics farming.

Changing the game for Indian farmers

Ashwin points out that Indian farmers lack access to green fodder because it requires large tracts of land and gallons of water. “In states like Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu, farmers already lack sufficient water for irrigation. If a farmer owns 800 cows, they have to reserve 60 acres of land to grow green fodder. That means they cannot grow any other crop on this land, which is not economical,” he says.

“But with hydroponics, we can reduce the area and water requirements. With a one-tonne unit that can be installed in a 1,000-sq ft area, a farmer can save at least seven acres of land. This land can be utilised to grow other crops. Using hydroponics, farmers can harvest one kilo of green fodder by utilising just 1.5 litres of water while saving 99 percent of the water required conventionally,” he adds.

Other than this, the cost of green fodder is an added woe. “If a farmer does not have enough land to grow green fodder on their own, they are forced to purchase expensive fodder from the market. The green fodder grown using traditional methods costs Rs 8–14 per kg whereas that grown hydroponically costs Rs 2 per kg,” he informs.

Despite its benefits of conserving land and water, the main drawback of the hydroponic technique was its expensive cost. Aswhin says a one-tonne unit costs up to Rs 16 lakh. “These setups require air conditioners, ozonators, and UV and RO systems. This increases the cost of the unit. I wanted to reduce its price so that many farmers can adopt it,” he says.

After multiple trials and errors, Ashwin developed a low-cost economical model that cost Rs 3 lakh on average. This model could be replicated across various geographies in the country. Ashwin worked on vital parameters like temperature and humidity required to promote the growth of green fodder.

To regulate temperature, he replaced air conditioners with his ‘fan-and-pad’ based cooling system that uses exhaust fans to pull air through cooling pads, which then evaporate water to cool the air.

“In summer, the temperature shoots up to 42 degrees Celsius. To grow fodder like maize, you require a temperature of 28–30 degrees Celsius; whereas for wheat or barley, the temperature should be 20-24 degrees Celsius. This fan-and-pad system reduces the temperature to up to 20 degrees Celsius. It is designed like a cooler but works like an AC,” he explains.

Using ‘fan-and-pad’ cooling systems, dehumidifiers to maintain humidity levels, inverters, and stabilisers, Ashwin customises an optimal hydroponics infrastructure based on the region’s climatic conditions.

Reaping the benefits of pioneering hydroponics in the region

In the past 15 years, Ashwin has trained more than 8,000 farmers and entrepreneurs to adopt hydroponic farming techniques. He charges Rs 12,000 for a two-day onsite workshop and a year-long handholding.

“First, we train them. Next, we customise a unit design for them, and when they implement it, we keep a close watch on their work every day through video calls,” he says.

For instance, Pinak Suryavanshi (24) who hails from Maharashtra’s Sangli district, switched to hydroponics farming last year with Ashwin’s assistance. “I live in a region where we face intense water scarcity. In a situation like this, we had to waste an uncalculated amount of water to grow green fodder on a large land. But with hydroponics, we are able to get 500 kilos of fodder daily by using 500 litres of water,” he tells The Better India.

Pinak, who grows maize fodder to feed 10 buffaloes and 1,200 hens, says it cost him Rs 1.25 lakh to set up the system.

Besides training people on setting up hydroponic fodder systems, Ashwin also offers consultation and installation services across India and in countries like Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. With this, he has been able to clock Rs 2 crore in revenue last year. This year, he projects an income boost to Rs 10 crore.

“When I came back to Mumbai, my family was shocked at my decision to quit my job, where my salary package was worth Rs 25 lakh per annum. For eight years between 2011 and 2019, I hardly earned any income from my hydroponics venture. Moreover, I invested Rs 25 lakh — some from my savings and the rest loaned from my family members. It is only in the past four years that I started earning a profit from this work. But I enjoyed the work that I put in throughout these years,” he says.

“It is extremely satisfying to see that today, people in India are as fascinated by hydroponics as I was back then,” Ashwin shares.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Ashwin Sawant.

When Lhüvevolü A Rhakho from Nagaland’s Phek district was experimenting with different recipes in 2019 in a bid to get her family to eat healthier, she stumbled upon a few recipes that suggested eating mushrooms. At the time, the 37-year-old mass communications graduate was engaged in a retail business. While she had no plans of venturing into the entrepreneurial space, life did.

Today as Lhüvevolü spearheads her initiative ‘Native Organics’, she says it is a testament to her passion and dedication to learning. She says she starts her day at the break of dawn, checking on the unit in Phek where the mushrooms are grown, going into the neighbouring fields and speaking to the farmers — all the while believing that there is always something more to learn that will help her scale her venture.

But while her focus is now razor sharp, in 2019, she was merely “experimenting with mushrooms to pass her time.”

As she notes, “It was during this time that I began to see how economically viable the idea was.” But even so, it was an interaction with the famed Dr Sosang Longkumer of Konger Agritech that really gave her the final push to explore mushroom farming in detail.

A chance encounter and an idea

Dr Longkumer is credited with introducing shiitake mushrooms, which usually grow in East Asia, into Nagaland in 2018, thus setting the stage for the rise of “mushroom-preneurs” in the Northeastern state.

In his mushroom spawn production laboratory in Dimapur, Dr Longkumer would spend hours researching and experimenting, all in a bid “to live up to a challenge” —  as he told The Better India in a previous interview.

Quoting Dr Longkumer, “My interest in mushrooms began when Dr Rajesh, a senior scientist and my former colleague at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) unit in Nagaland, challenged me to grow mushroom cultures and make spawns inside the laboratory. This was sometime in 2010, and I was working as a research associate.”

Coupling his knowledge of microbiology and applied genetics, Dr Longkumer achieved outstanding results. He recalled how “Dr Rajesh was impressed by the quality of the mushroom spawns and advised setting up a spawn production lab to help farmers grow mushrooms all through the year. Mushroom farming is a profitable venture with low investment and early returns.”

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In Nagaland, Dr Longkumer is something of a hero. His startup Konger Agritech has spent the years since its inception training over 500 farmers in Nagaland in shiitake and oyster mushroom cultivation and generated “approximately 20,00,000 Shiitake dowel spawns and 25,000 kg of Oyster mushroom spawns”.

Why shiitake mushrooms?

Prior to 2018, Government-backed laboratories produced the fungi only during the winter months — a reality that Dr Longkumer attempted to change with his startup. He wanted to ensure the perennial availability of these mushrooms and pass on the information on how to cultivate them to farmers in the state.

Lhüvevolü was one of the lucky recipients.

As she recounts, “Dr Longkumer helped me out tirelessly and taught me the ways of cultivating mushrooms. Besides, I also wanted to try growing a mushroom that was in demand, tasted really good, had medicinal benefits, and could be cultivated in our type of environment. So I settled on the idea of shiitake since the production was easier and simpler in comparison to other mushrooms.”

These mushrooms come with a host of benefits. The dark brown fungi thrive on hardwood trees and have terpenoids, sterols and lipids, which are said to have immune-boosting, anti-cancer effects. In their dried form, the fungi have a typical umami flavour that makes them a wonderful addition to dishes.

But the real reason why the shiitake revolution took off in Nagaland faster than anyone had anticipated was that the taste of the mushrooms cultivated here was better than those cultivated elsewhere.

Though traditionally grown on sawdust logs in other parts of the world, in Nagaland, the methods are slightly different. Here, oak logs are deployed which result in mushrooms having a better taste and higher medicinal value, informs Lhüvevolü. 

When she started her journey cultivating these mushrooms near her home after her interaction with Dr Longkumer, she says she never anticipated the trajectory of events that would follow.

“It started as a side hobby, but I gradually began seeing the potential behind the cultivation. Seeing people’s interest in the product allowed me to expand the hobby to an entrepreneurial capacity,” she says.

Native Organics also encourages their farmers to grow these mushrooms by supplying them with oak saplings. One of the farmers Veshoselü says he wasn’t even aware that mushrooms could be used for business. “Native Organics has helped marginal farmers like myself by providing market linkage; otherwise it is not easy to sell produce in small quantities. Income from selling shiitake mushrooms also helps us in managing household expenses during seasons.”

Meanwhile, for Lhüvevolü there is no looking back.

‘There is a lifetime of learning with mushrooms alone’

Elaborating on the chemical-free process she follows to grow the shiitake mushrooms, she says, “The first step involves stacking up oak logs or any other hardwood logs in an enclosure built to maintain dampness and low light conditions. Next, we drill small holes into the logs in proportional sizes and leave the logs in the enclosure. Then we insert the spore directly onto the prepared log and water it at regular intervals till the mycelium starts growing.”

She adds that at Native Organics, their passion for sustainable practices is evident in the quality of the shiitake mushrooms — emphasising that they are grown with absolutely no use of chemicals or pesticides.

Elaborating on a technique called pollarding, which is used to grow these ingenious fungi,  Lhüvevolü says it is an eco-friendly one. “The pruning of the branches is done in a way that does not harm the tree and ensures that the tree is saved for the future.”

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She is inexplicably proud as she adds that Native Organics has “more than 4,000 fruiting oak logs”. Once the mushrooms are harvested, they are sun-dried and turned into powders and sold across India with a major portion of orders coming from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Chennai. These peak during the harvest season — June, July and October — says Lhüvevolü.

The products range from smoked shiitake mushroom powders and shiitake chutneys to shiitake chilly flakes and other such products retailing for Rs 500 for a 75 g jar.

As I express my amazement at how well she has managed to scale the venture without any formal training in business, Lhüvevolü laughs. “To be honest, I didn’t know a thing! I ventured into this business with a passion for building something from scratch and the humility needed to learn as much as possible.”

Edited by Pranita Bhat

Sources

Why Shiitake Mushrooms Are Good For You by Healthline, Published on 14 June 2019. 

After completing electrical and electronics engineering at Rajasthan Technical University in 2012, Amanpreet decided to pursue his passion. He had 50-acre farmland in his hometown Kota, and wanted to start a business to utilise the land for dairy farming.

To start with, he completed a dairy science course from the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in 2014; worked in companies like Mother Dairy, Amul and Nestle; and pursued a dairy automation course from Tel Aviv University in Israel in 2015.

“At the end of 2015, I returned home. With the technical help from a milk company from Israel, we established a dairy farm on our land. We started with milk subscriptions,” says Amanpreet to The Better India. 

He started Gau Organics in 2016 with his brothers Uttam Jyot and Gaganpreet. They bought 27 cows and started with milk subscriptions, later moving to value-added products like ghee, butter, organic jaggery, honey, sweets, etc. Today, they also sell cow dung cakes and manure, alongside training other farmers in doing so as well.

What is notable about Amanpreet’s farm is that they are also able to cover 70% of their electricity needs on their own. We sat down with the 32-year-old to understand how. 

Making the most out of waste

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Amanpreet realised early on that they couldn’t just rely on milk and would have to expand to value-added products. “The main issue faced by dairy farmers is the complete reliance on milk for income. A cow produces milk after nine months of pregnancy. She is not a machine. If she has an upset stomach, the milk will not be good. We need to take all this into account.”

Meanwhile, another point that came to his notice was the excess waste generated by their livestock. So alongside selling value-added products, they started selling cow dung cakes and manure on Amazon. “We had listed cow dung and vermicompost manure in 2018 on Amazon. We saw a pickup in sales only in 2020 after the lockdown was announced. As people started gardening at home, sellers like us saw an uptick in sales.”

As their sales picked up, Amanpreet also started training farmers on how to sell cow dung cakes and manure.

“These farmers were dependent only on milk and were not given a good price for it. So we started training them on how to use the excreta from cows, make proper manure, and sell it. We trained over 55 farmers, mostly women,” adds Amanpreet.

“We help farmers get a daily income by selling cow dung cakes and manure. Female farmers are able to get Rs 200-300 per day sitting at home,” he adds.

70% of electricity is generated on the farm

As they joined hands with more farmers and their livestock increased to 250, they had enough cow dung to make biogas and work towards being self-sufficient for their electricity needs. Amanpreet built two 40 kW biogas plants. 

Cow dung and urine are collected and sent to the digester of the biogas plants. They are then converted into electricity, which covers almost 70% of their needs and helps them save more than Rs 2 lakh per month on electricity bills, claims Amanpreet. 

“We are able to generate 80 kW power through our plants. We only need to buy 30% of the electricity from the state government. We’ve been doing this for seven years. The slurry is also collected and used in the fields as organic manure.”

They also have facilities for rainwater harvesting, as well as a 60 kW solar power plant. 

Dreaming of an organic co-operative

The hero product of their farm, says Amanpreet, is the Bilona ghee. “For me, no other ghee comes close to the one my grandmother makes. I wanted to try and recreate this recipe on a large scale. So I took the recipe from my nani (maternal grandmother). It took me more than a year to make it commercial.” 

They also opened a store in 2018, and Amanpreet says their products are exported to regions like South Africa, Dubai, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. With this, they clock a revenue of Rs 6 crore a year.

But he notes that it has been difficult to get a skilled workforce. “People don’t celebrate farmers. If an engineer goes into a field like marketing, he is celebrated. However, if he wants to do farming, society doesn’t celebrate him. It took me four months to convince my family. We should not take food science and farmers for granted. It’s important to understand nutrition and read the labels if you don’t want to pay hefty bills for medicines,” he adds.

He hopes to form a cooperative for organic brands like theirs.

“Just like there is a Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation (Amul), I want to make an organic natural food cooperative to provide nutrition for the country,” he says.

Edited by Divya Sethu

Recounting the journey that led him from being a corporate worker in the FMCG industry to becoming an entrepreneur and establishing Adithi Millets, Somashekar takes us through a series of events that were not part of any initial plan. The pivotal moment was an incident in 2013.

“My father was suffering from a kidney problem and doctors couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason. In the months following the diagnosis, he had to undergo dialysis,” he shares.

Seeing his father in pain would cause him to constantly ask, “Why him?” — a question to which no one had the answer. As hospital visits grew more frequent in the coming months, Somashekar’s savings grew scarcer. “We spent all our savings on private hospitals before shifting to government hospitals,” he says, adding that he gave his all for three years in an attempt to save his father, who eventually passed away in 2013.

Unknown to Somashekar, this experience would be the foundation that would shape the rest of his life.

During the hospital visits, Somashekar would often notice that so many patients were afflicted with diseases that were related to unhealthy diets. This he figured, was the result of present-day produce that is laden with chemicals and pesticides.

However, this wasn’t the only reason for his switching to an agriculture startup. Coming from a farming family, Somashekar had firsthand witnessed agrarian community problems and the looming crisis in Indian villages — farmer suicides.

A quest to do something meaningful

A June 2023 report in The Times of India stated that the months spanning January to April this year recorded 830 farmer suicides, while the same period last year witnessed 945. Though a shocking reality, Somashekar notes that not much is being done on the ground to prevent the vicious cycle.

Explaining it further, he adds, “Many farmers grow expensive crops like cotton, chillies, etc. To do this, they borrow money from banks hoping for a good harvest to repay the loan. But if the harvest isn’t good, they borrow more, creating a cycle. This can lead to overwhelming debt and lead some farmers to take drastic steps like suicide.”

He felt a certain affinity for the village and wanted to help the farmers during this crisis. So he decided to quit his corporate job and work closely with the farming community in his village in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

Here, he noticed how a lot of new farming startups and entrepreneurs were advocating organic farming among the farming community here. While the intention was good, this amused him. He explains, “Farmers initially practised natural and organic farming as their regular method. However, some started using pesticides and saw better results, which influenced others to switch. Nowadays, when I work with farmers to promote organic farming, my goal isn’t to teach them something new but to reintroduce this old practice into their lives.”

From farm to plate

Having started with 30 farmers in 2017, Adithi Millets has grown its farmer base to over 200 and has a turnover of Rs 2 crore. The venture empowers farmers to grow millets, expand their marketing facility, trade with corporates, etc.

Somashekar works across seven villages in three districts of Kurnool. The farmers from Tadakana, Ulinda Konda, Bhudidha, Nagalpuram, etc are all part of the association.

‘Millets to Millions’: founded on this philosophy, Adithi Millets is on a mission to spread the love and knowledge of these superfoods among the masses. On asking why he chose millets, he says that millets are very healthy and a great addition to everyone’s diet. Moreover, “millets are easy to grow, which means farmers need not take huge loans”.

Elaborating on the process involved, Somashekar says it begins in June first week before the onset of the monsoons. “We interact with the farmers and have meetings in the factory premises where we highlight the benefits of cultivating millets,” he explains.

“Once a farmer agrees, we give them a company letter with the MSP (Minimum Support Price) clearly mentioned. This letter assures them that we’ll provide seeds for free each season. We consult with them to choose the right seeds for the season. After they cultivate the seeds, we buy them back. This eliminates their concern about finding a market for their seeds,” he adds.

This is a relief for farmers because lugging quintals of millet across state lines to sell is not a wise option. He continues, “Once the farmers bring the millets to the factory, we give them the promised MSP.”

At the factory, local women from the village participate in the cleaning and segregating process. Once they deem the quality fit, the millets are processed into value-added products — such as millet dosa, millet khichdi, malt, etc. These products are sold through Amazon and priced nominally at Rs 150 upwards.

Somashekar also shares that their association with farmers goes beyond giving them seeds and helping them find a market for their produce. “We assist families affected by farmer suicides by providing sewing machines, livestock, and other resources that can help them earn a living,” he says.

K Hemadri Reddy, a farmer from Kodumur village has been cultivating brown top millet since his association with Adithi Millets in June 2022. Sharing his experience, he says, “Before joining Adithi Millets, I would sow the seeds of brown top millet in four acres and get 4,000 kg millets. When I would sell it in the market, I would get an MSP of Rs 5,000 per quintal and earn Rs 2 lakh for the entire harvest.”

On joining Adithi Millets the farmer adopted Somashekar’s re-cropping method (leaving six inches of stubble in the ground after harvest and allowing it to grow in the monsoon without sowing new seeds). This gave him yet another harvest of 4,000 kg of brown top millets, which he then sold for Rs 7,000 per quintal.

“I got almost double my previous revenue without sowing new seeds,” exclaims the farmer.

Somashekar, meanwhile, is glad he can help his community. His beliefs in good agricultural practices and a love for farming have stood the test of time and helped him scale his empire to what it is today.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

Malesh T, who grew up watching his grandfather cultivate sugarcane, observed that a nearby district Kolar with low water resources still flourished with crops and had happy farmers.

He explains, “Many paddy plants need 2 crore litres of water per hectare per season. But some farmers use close to 20,000-30,000 litres. They do not have a mechanism to measure that. So, the problem never was the lack of water resources but the lack of proper irrigation techniques.”

Other than this, when a farmer uses more water than required, the farms remain flooded with water for a maximum part of the season resulting in fungal diseases and hence, more spending on disease management.

So, in 2016, he launched CultYvate, an agri-tech platform that enables farmers to look after their crops sitting at home. The technology helps them understand when to provide irrigation so the crop is not submerged in water all the time. With this, he is cutting down 40 percent of water use in farms, he says. 

“Our technology helps farmers analyze the dynamic climatic conditions and plan their farm cultivation for both local and foreign crop varieties. It also helps them understand and reduce the possibility of disease and pest infestation, while also boosting the production cycle considerably,” says Malesh.

Watch how he is revolutionising the lives of farmers across the country:

Edited by Divya Sethu

“Following the ban, these communities could not sell their camels for transportation and tourism in other states. This caused camel prices to dip significantly. Camels that used to sell for Rs 1 lakh were now going for as low as Rs 4,000,” Aakriti Srivastava tells The Better India.

“These communities lost their main income source. Sometimes, they took the camels near railway tracks, hoping they would go hungry and maybe get hit by trains. Some households that used to have 50 camels now have none or just one or two,” she adds.

The government data also shows that the state’s total camel population dropped from 3,25,713 in 2012 to 2,12,739 in 2019 — a 35 percent decline.

Today, the 27-year-old is able to bring livelihood opportunities back to these pastoralists with her startup ‘Bahula Naturals’. It supports the livelihoods of at least 2,500 camel herders and helps at least 45,000 camels thrive by selling camel milk-based products.

“Can you imagine deserts without camels? We attempt to bring livelihood opportunities to these communities, highly nutritious food for our customers, as well as bring the cause of camel conservation through these products,” she shares.

Journalist turned entrepreneur

In 2017, Aakriti moved to Bajju village in Bikaner district near the India-Pakistan border, nearly 1,200 km from her hometown in UP’s Gorakhpur. It was while pursuing her graduation in journalism and mass communication in Delhi that she was assigned to document stories of pastoralists in the Thar desert.

“I went to the desert in June. All my romantic notions of what a desert would be like were shattered,” she says.

During her first visit which was for four months, she learnt about the community of pastoralists, camel herders, sheep goat rearers, and indigenous cow rearers. “In challenging geographies and extreme temperatures, these communities would travel eight months on foot covering 800 km of stretch with their herds,” she says.

“Pastoralism has been enriching the desert soil all these years. Whatever organic greenery that we see in deserts is because of their movement. When the pastoralists are on the move with livestock, their droppings rejuvenate the pasture land,” she adds.

She continues, “Camels were also used to draw water, cultivate the farm, and for transportation purposes. But with the introduction of man-made machinery and the 2015 ban, these pastoralists started switching to daily wage jobs after leaving their camels on railway tracks to die as they could not earn a livelihood from them.”

Because they couldn’t find stable ways to make a living from animals and their products, these communities had to start working for daily wages in mines and brick kilns in cities.

After five years of research, Aakriti co-founded the Bikaner-based startup ‘Bahula Naturals’ in 2022, along with Romal and Suraj Singh — who she met during the assignment. Together, they also work with local partners and non-profits such as Urmul Seemant Samiti, Desert Resource Centre, and Selco Foundation.

Helping the ship of the desert sail

The trio is working to establish India’s first net-zero dairy — wherein they collect milk from 4,000 camel, sheep, and cow rearers in Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Nagaur districts.

After quality testing, the collected milk is stored in instant milk chillers that are claimed to bring the temperature down to four degrees within three minutes. With a storage capacity of 500 litres, these solar-powered milk chillers are installed in eight remote locations in Bikaner and Jodhpur districts.

“We brought in instant milk chillers because the locations are spread out. By the time, these communities transported milk from one hamlet to another and then to the dairy, the milk would go bad amid extreme temperatures,” she informs.

The milk is brought to the dairy and milk processing units in Bajju village via delivery vans. Thereafter, products are made using camel and cow milk, which are then sold to 300 households across Bikaner, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai using a subscription model.

The startup sells a wide range of products — such as camel milk ghee, camel milk biscuits, camel milk feta cheese, camel milk Cheshire cheese, A2 cow bilona ghee, cold pressed oils, gluten-free black wheat flour, etc.

Aakriti further informs that their cheese is now also procured by chefs in cities like Goa, Delhi, and Bengaluru.

Highlighting the challenges to run such a startup, she says, “It is not common for Indians to consume camel milk products. In the first year, most of our time was spent raising awareness about the importance of camel milk products, which are highly nutritious superfoods. These products help people with diabetes, blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.”

Since May last year, the communities have been able to collectively generate an annual revenue of Rs 1 crore. “Any small-scale household is able to earn an income of up to Rs 12,000 a month, which was earlier zero! Apart from this, numerous herders are including camels in their groups because they can once again make money from them. At this year’s Pushkar mela, the price of camels in the local market also increased to Rs 35,000,” says Aakriti.

Meanwhile, Genaram Raika, a camel herder, has been dependent on these animals for livelihood since childhood. When man-made machinery replaced camels on farms, the 50-year-old was also unable to earn an income by selling milk. But today, he is able to earn up to Rs 48,000 a month with his 450 camels.

“As there was little awareness about camel milk, we would be forced to throw it. Today, we are able to fetch good income by selling 40 litres of milk every day. I am able to feed my family of seven with this income,” he tells The Better India.

Commenting on the impact at the grassroots level, Aakriti says, “I did not know all this would be possible when I started. But I’m happy I chose to stay in the village. While my parents wanted me to be a doctor, I decided to live with these camel-raising communities. Through this job, I can now address the very issues within the community that I initially aimed to highlight during my time as a journalism student!”

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Aakriti Srivastava.

Sources:

20th Livestock Census Rajasthan 2019: Published by the Government of Rajasthan.

“When there is enough supply in the market, prices reduce. Earlier, we were selling tomatoes for Rs 50 per crate of 20 kilos, which comes to Rs 2.5 for 1 kg. We were unable to even get its cost of production. Additionally, we have to spend on harvesting the crop and transporting it to the market,” the 38-year-old farmer tells The Better India.

“Since last December, I started drying the excess produce. For the same quantity, for which I would get Rs 50, now I earn Rs 350,” adds Nitin, who grows tomatoes, grapes, and onions on a five-acre land in his village Matur.

In the past five months, he has been able to earn an additional income of Rs 1 lakh by selling excess produce that would otherwise go to waste. “Initially, many farmers questioned me on why was I investing in a solar dryer and what benefit it could bring me. They also mocked me saying it would not be a profitable decision, but today, they themselves are willing to use the solar dryers,” smiles Nitin.

Along with 13 farmers, he has been able to install a three-tier solar dryer with the capacity to simultaneously dry up to 500 kg of produce in a single cycle. Like Nitin, at least 50,000 farmers across the country have been able to reap benefits from excess produce, thanks to Indore-based Varun Raheja.

Along with his mother Babita Raheja, Varun runs Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt Ltd to help farmers increase the shelf life of their produce and derive better income from it.

Foldable solar dryers at the rescue

Varun, a mechanical engineering graduate, spent four years of his college focusing on researching farmer suicide rates and ways to increase their income.

“I love nature and I hate waste. Whenever I see a fruit coming out of a tree that is just dependent on soil and water, I perceive it as magic. Whenever I saw farmers throwing their produce, I would wonder about ways to preserve it so that they can sell it for a better price. I found solar dryers as a sustainable choice,” the 26-year-old tells The Better India.

Since his first year in college, Varun did an internship under Padma Shri Janak Palta McGilligan, who teaches the advantages of solar power to students in her learning centre. By the end of engineering, he came up with a solution to help farmers turn excess produce into value-added products by using solar dryers.

To achieve this, he applied his mechanical engineering expertise to enhance solar dryers, creating foldable and portable ones with capacities ranging from 20 to 100 kilos.

“We have two types of designs — the first is foldable and portable, and the other is a fixed polyhouse design. We have designed foldable ones, especially for small and marginal farmers. These are 40 feet long solar dryers that can be folded into a five-foot box. This helps us install them in remote locations,” says Varun, who has priced a 20 kg solar dryer at Rs 24,000 — at least half the price of those available in the market. Starting from five kg, he has solar dryers up to a capacity of 1,000 kg.

So far, he has installed over 3,500 solar dryers in the rural and remote farms of the country including Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Arunachal and Gujarat. Every month, the farmers are able to monthly process 115 metric tonnes of fresh produce, which would otherwise go to waste, into useful products like dry powder, flakes, and toppings.

“We have reached out to farmers in remote areas where they cannot access the market easily. For example, pineapples grown in Manipur are sold at Rs 250 per piece in markets like Delhi and Mumbai. But locally, they have a value of Rs 5. Still, a bulk of the produce is not able to reach the outside markets,” he shares.

“So, we are able to help them process excess produce in tribal remote areas and get a better income. We have been able to boost farm income by 50 percent,” he adds.

Increasing shelf life by a year

Working on a self-sustainable model, the solar dryers do not require power or maintenance. In the water-proof dryers, slices of vegetables are placed and within two to three days, the produce is sun-dried and ready to be converted into value-added products.

For example, sun-dried tomatoes are used to prepare oats and soups as well as pizza toppings. Raw bananas are converted into banana chips, grapes into raisins, and onions into onion flakes. Varun says, “Every vegetable and fruit, even a watermelon, can be dried into a value-added product. There is an unlimited scope and demand for such products.”

Interestingly, the dryer dehydrates moisture of the fresh produce in such a way that it retains the taste, colour, aroma, and nutrients of the product, he says. Not only this but the shelf life of perishable food products is also increased to a minimum of one year or more without using any additives or preservatives.

Varun has partnered with at least 170 organisations like Sahaydri Farms, PRADAN, and TATA Trust to engage with farmers at the grassroots level. After installing solar dryers, his team trains them to convert the produce into dried products.

Other than this, he also supports farmers in the marketing of their dried products by selling them to their network of 200 FMCG companies in India. At the decentralised collection centres established in almost every state, the dried products are collected. After quality checks and sorting based on colour and size, the products are sterilised and packaged to be supplied to FMCG brands like Happilo and Chaayos.

“We are not just selling solar dryers, we are building an ecosystem where farmers learn how to practise this technology,” says Varun, who aims to onboard three lakh farmers by the year-end.

“Honestly, I had never imagined that I would even reach this level. It is unbelievable most of the time that we have been able to reach the remotest locations across the country. Currently, I am working on a model in which I am able to utilise papaya peels and seeds in the cosmetic industry. And thereby help farmers double their income,” he adds.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos courtesy: Raheja Solar Food Processing Pvt Ltd.

“Surfing is already a difficult sport. While practising, often, a paper or plastic cup would hit my head and sometimes a plastic bag would get wrapped around my feet. The sea is full of it! When you go slightly outward into the sea, huge amounts of plastic lie there,” the 26-year-old tells The Better India.

Recalling another such incident, he says, “In 2018, when my brother and I were trekking to spot gorillas in Uganda mountains, we spotted plastic there too! We realised that there’s plastic even in the remotest places. Since then, it has been my quest to work on something that solves an environmental problem,” he says.

In order to do their bit to tackle the growing plastic problem, siblings Rishabh and Rohan started Qudrat, a Kerala-based startup that creates biodegradable tableware from agricultural waste — such as rice bran, rice husk, and rice straw — to replace paper and plastic disposable tableware.

Their products have found customers not only in Indian metros like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai but also in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Northeastern states of Mizoram and Nagaland. Apart from India, the siblings have buyers in the US, the UK, Canada, and Mexico.

Last month, Rishabh says, they sold about 25,000 units of plates, straws, spoons, and cups.

The quest to find a better substitute

In 2016, after dropping out of Chartered Accountancy, he got into his family business of selling motorcycles. The BCom graduate continued the automobile franchise business till 2020 before founding his own startup.

“The pandemic gave us an opportunity to research how agricultural waste could be converted into disposable tableware. We came across paddy straw as a raw material. This agri-waste, if left in fields leads to stubble burning, contributing to yet another environmental crisis. We wanted to utilise this waste in valuable products,” he says.

After 20 months of improvising the products, the brothers started selling commercially in November 2022.

Explaining how these products are made from agricultural waste, he says, “Firstly, we collect husk and rice grain from mills in Thiruvananthapuram and straw from farmers across Kerala belt. Then after heating, crushing, and mixing them, the raw materials are compressed and moulded into finished products.”

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Highlighting the uniqueness of these products, he says, “We have an edge over the raw materials of paper, plastic, bagasse, and areca palm leaves. In bagasse, chemicals in small amounts are added to increase their capacity to hold water while areca tableware has a tendency to catch fungus.”

“Whereas our products get degraded in 30 days and are naturally manufactured. Our plates can hold water for 25 minutes without any leakage and our cups for more than 70 minutes. Our products also have a shelf life of more than a year,” he says.

He adds that the edible straws and spoons are priced at Rs 399 per pack and the rice husk cup at Rs 6 per piece.

“These products can be utilised as fertilisers also as it has water retention quality. We use the reject pieces in our factory to make compost for use in our farmland, where we grow brinjals and chillies,” he adds.

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No more sights of cattle eating plastic

Other than being 100 percent biodegradable, Rishabh says the uniqueness of the products makes them safe to be eaten by any animals too.

“This material has always been used as fodder for cattle by farmers. So we wanted to make these products animal friendly as well. For instance, if our tableware is not disposed of properly after a party and thrown on the road or in the sea, and if an animal eats it, then it should not harm them in any way,” says Rishabh, who has a certification on his animal-friendly products from the CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research).

Besides corporates, caterers, and individuals, their products are being used by chefs who cook for dogs. Chennai-based Sneha Sridhar, a “dog chef”, got a spitz in the initial phase of the pandemic and was looking for sustainable tableware for her dog.

“Dogs might bite into the paper tableware and quickly swallow them. In such cases, edible plates cause no harm even if my dog consumes them as it is made of just rice straw and husk. These are not snack substitutes, but they can enjoy it when they are having food,” she tells The Better India.

Sneha also hosts dog-centric events like birthday parties and picnics where she has replaced plastic and paper cutlery with these alternatives. Rishabh says that the products are priced at Rs 299 for a pack of 25 animal edible plates.

With this work, Rishabh and Rohan have been able to prevent 4,000 kilos of agri-waste from being burned and saved 2,880 kilos of single-use plastics from entering landfills and the sea.

Rishabh says, “Each work is special in its own way, but to be able to cater to the environment gives us far more satisfaction at the end of the day. We are doing something that would have an impact on the environment while also earning money. It is a win-win.”

The products are available for purchase on the website and are also available on Amazon and Flipkart.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos: Rishabh Suri and Sneha Sridhar.

Sudhanshu Sharma and his wife Susmita Roy were working in the national capital. He was in the strategy and marketing sector, while she was in public health.

What astonished them was a high-rising “mountain” that they would often pass on their way to work. But on this fateful day, they realised it wasn’t a mountain, but a massive mound of garbage.

“It was shocking,” Sudhanshu recounts to The Better India. The couple says this ghastly revelation only added to their growing concerns about the city and its pollution standards.

“The dust, pollution, and air quality in the national capital would often cause us to wonder how people were okay with it,” says Sudhanshu. 

Despite the “good life” they were living, there was a looming concern on his mind. Delhi may be an advanced city in the world, but if one cannot breathe clean air, what is the point?

That very year, the couple made a conscious decision to be a part of the solution. The way forward as they saw it, would be a series of slow and decimal changes, but steps in the right direction nonetheless.

While they were ideating on what they could do to improve the quality of their lives, they were reminded of a family land that was lying vacant in Bhopal. So they decided to cultivate it with organic farming methods, which would also give them a chance to get in touch with their roots.

Creating a farming venture right from the roots

Sudhanshu says that he never expected his life to take this course. “I studied finance at the prestigious LEEDS Business School and had plans to go into the investment sector. However, the recession hit, and I returned to India in 2008, where I continued working in the corporate line,” he recounts.

“I was always looking for a niche that could lead to a win-win situation,” says Sudhanshu, thinking back to the initial days of starting the farm. He had to do intensive research to get things right and work at the grassroots levels to understand the basics of farming.

After months of dedication, in 2018, the couple was ready to start farming on their 14-acre land which is 65 km from Bhopal and had laid barren for years. Their first choice of crops was moringa and aloe vera, following the success of which, they ventured into paddy cultivation.

“The crops sold well,” says Sudhanshu. And in the coming years, the couple was looking at a land booming with vegetables such as lauki (bottle gourd), bhindi (lady’s finger), pumpkin, and spices such as coriander, methi (fenugreek), and more. They employed organic techniques to boost production, including using gau mutra (cow urine) as a fertiliser.

“As part of our integrated farming model, we ensured that everything used to fertilise the land comes from the land itself. We also adopted cows that were abandoned on the streets of Bhopal and currently have 14 of them. We used the cow dung to fertilise and nourish the land,” says Sudhanshu.

Instead of the traditional technique of tilling the land, which leads to the release of carbon and other greenhouse gases, the couple used the vegetable crop to prepare the ground for cultivation.

Jaivik Jeevan: Giving people their money’s worth

However, the businessman turned farmer says he soon noticed a gap — “When we’d go to the farmers’ markets, people would express a desire to consume vegetables and fruits produced locally,” he says.

This got the couple thinking about how they could channel their resources into building a venture that would let India taste the sweetness of their produce. And in January 2020, Jaivik Jeevan’s first store was set up in Bhopal, and was touted as the business arm of the organic farm.

The idea behind building a D2C (direct-to-consumer) brand, says Sudhanshu, was for people to have access to good quality produce. He adds that in the years that followed, their earnings increased.

“We started following the principle of multiple cropping, wherein we reserve four acres for vegetables, another few acres for oilseeds, pulses, etc,” he says, adding that the processing centre on the land is where oils, flours, etc, are prepared from the millet and the waste is used for vermicomposting.

“It is a zero wastage farm concept,” he shares. “But the journey from being corporate professionals to spearheading organic farming has been an uphill one with its own share of lows.” Recounting their initial years of learning, the couple says it couldn’t have been more eventful. 

“Some days we would see the jowar (sorghum) and bajra (pearl millet) being eaten by the birds, and while it was disheartening, we would always say ‘Let them enjoy’. Corporate life often makes one forget that there are other beings on the planet who have tremendous intelligence,” says Sudhanshu.

Through this journey of learning, the couple made sure they never lost focus of their goal, which was to stay true to their customers while ensuring farmers a chance to earn a better price.

‘We never shied away from going to the mandis.’

Susmita says that they believed they would grow more if they incorporated feedback from their customers and engaged with the farmers on a regular basis. So they did all the groundwork themselves.

“We would go and stand with our farmers and did not shy away from taking produce to the mandis ourselves sometimes,” says Susmita. “People in cities often do not know where their food is coming from, nor see their farmer. But we wanted to change this.”

“Our customers are aware of what goes into the production process, how the sowing of the groundnuts is done, and other such processes, as we ensure transparency,” she adds.

Currently, there are 12 farmers associated with Jaivik Jeevan. The sentiment shared among them is one of gratitude toward the couple, as their quality of life has greatly improved. They say there is no need to migrate to the cities when things are going so well in the village.

The farmers along with managing the Jaivik Jeevan farm, also tend to their own farms, as Sudhanshu and Susmita do not compel them to leave their independent farms. “We do farm pickups for produce grown on the farmers’ lands and everything produced is bought. We don’t believe in sorting and grading produce, and being picky,” says Sudhanshu.

Chaudhary Bhoopendra Singh, one of the farmers, who has been associated with Jaivik Jeevan since 2018, says, “After getting in touch with Sudhanshu and Susmita I have started getting a good rate for my crops. I can also reach the right customers. It has not only helped me as a farmer but also as a customer. I urge all farmers in Madhya Pradesh to join hands with this platform and resort to organic farming, as I think it is great for a farmers’ well-being.”

Jaivik Jeevan products are shipped to more than 20 cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai. The product range includes pickles, chutneys, oils, spices, ghee, honey, fruits, and vegetables. Sudhanshu says they have received 20,000 orders over the last two and a half years.

“But,” as Susmita emphasises, “I wouldn’t call it a ‘rags to riches’ story. The sight of the mound of garbage that we spotted all those years back gave us an insight into how callous we have become about the planet.”

She adds that starting an organic farm with Sudhanshu may seem like a small step, but it is one in the right direction.

“Patience, not giving up and a leap of faith helped us transition from the corporate world to this green one.”

You can order products from Jaivik Jeevan here.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

“Sucking pests like mealy bugs and aphids attacked the cotton crop and would not die even after multiple spraying. For a four-month season, I had to spray pesticides up to seven times. But, I found that their resistance to chemical pesticides had also increased,” Anuja tells The Better India.

The 45-year-old farmer had tried different options to get rid of pests and failed. So when she heard of bio-pesticides — a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides — around five years ago, she was sceptical about the results.

“At the time, I could not believe that using bio-pesticides would be of any help. But since this was our last resort, I thought of giving it a try. Initially, I sprayed only 20 percent of my crop with it, and I got good results in flowering and my yield increased up to 30 percent,” she says.

For Anuja, the results were so unbelievable and bountiful that she switched to majorly using bio-pesticides for her crops. Today, she sprays them on most of her crops, such as cotton, soybean, mulberry, and oranges, grown on 12.5 acres of field.

“In bio-pesticides, microorganisms control the pests, so there is no chance of resistance. Spraying bio-pesticides even once is sufficient. It not only increases our yield but also saves us Rs 10,000 per acre in pesticide expenses as well as additional labour costs. Our expenses have reduced by one-third the amount we used to spend before,” she says.

“Workers also had to face skin irritation while spraying chemical pesticides and contracted diseases. Thankfully, with these bio alternatives, it is a win-win situation for all of us as it saves us time, energy and money. Our soil fertility has increased, and earthworms are also returning to our soil,” she shares.

Behind Anuja’s joy is Yavatmal’s researcher Sangita Sawalakhe who has dedicated her life to innovating bio alternatives to chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

Over the past three decades, she has helped more than 10,000 farmers in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Punjab switch to organic farming with the use of bio-pesticides and bio-fertilisers.

Befriending microorganisms for crop health

In 1992, while pursuing her master’s in Agricultural Entomology, Sangita met farmers in the region infamous for farmer suicides.

“I learned that they spend a lot on buying chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Despite using chemicals for benefit, they would get less production. These expenses kept compounding their debt year by year. Unfortunately, this resulted in farmer suicides, which disturbed me a lot. That’s when I decided that I will find some cheaper alternative to chemical fertilisers and pesticides,” says the 55-year-old.

The recent data by the National Crime Records Bureau shows that agrarian distress took the lives of as many as 10,881 farmers and agricultural labourers in 2021. The majority of victims engaged in the farming sector were reported in Maharashtra at 37.3 percent.

Meanwhile, driven by her motivation, Sangita started studying biological pest control systems. “Pests like white grub eat the root of crops and pose a big problem for farmers in fields. At that time, there was no usage of bio-pesticides. I started studying parasite predators and found that there are some microorganisms Trichogramma spp which control pest attack by destroying their eggs and larvae,” she says.

Eventually, she found bio alternatives to control pests like white grubs, mealybugs, mites, aphids, jassids, and more. And in 1998, her experiments resulted in Vidarbha Biotech Lab (VBL) which sells 16 kinds of bio-pesticides, bio-fungicides, and bio-fertilisers.

“We make these products using microorganisms like fungi, bacteria and viruses which cannot be seen with the naked eye but are useful for crops. We term them as friends of crops,” she says.

Sold in liquid as well as powder form, these products are priced between Rs 250 and Rs 400. The products have certification from the Central Insecticide Board, Faridabad. Other than conventional farming, these bio-pesticides and bio-fertilisers can also be used in hydroponics and aquaponics types of farming, says Sangita.

Why use bio alternatives?

The agricultural entomologist lists four major benefits of using bio-pesticides and bio-fertilisers in the crop instead of chemicals.

Kills pests and prevents disease: Sangita says, “The direct advantage of these alternatives is that they control pests and diseases, and boost nutrients in soil by killing pests in their larvae and pupa stage. This prevents pests from spreading in the crop.”

Protects seed: “Microorganisms continue to secrete nutrients and maintain moisture near seeds so that even in case of no rain, it will prevent the seeds from dying,” she adds.

Boosts soil fertility and maintains C/N ratio: “These microorganisms also make the soil fertile by increasing the porosity of the soil. It also helps maintain the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio in the soil. A ratio of 18:1 should be maintained for a good yield,” she informs.

This means that the carbon component should be at least 18 parts as compared to one part of nitrogen in the soil. But with chemicals, it is the other way around. “When farmers use chemical fertilisers like urea, the nitrogen increases thereby decreasing the carbon content. Bio alternatives help balance this with the help of organic matter compost,” adds the researcher.

Reduces one-third of expenses: Sangita says that bio alternatives also save one-third costs of farmers as compared to chemical fertilisers. “Farmers typically use two to three bags of 50 kg each of chemical fertilisers in one acre of land. However, using bio-fertilisers, only 1 litre is needed, which is a significantly smaller amount,” she adds.

Sangita further informs that farmers should add bio-fertilisers within the first month of the sowing period for a better yield.

“Apart from bio-fertilisers, less dosage of bio-pesticides and bio-fungicides is used. As microorganisms keep multiplying, you do not have to spray multiple times. This reduces farmer’s input costs by one-third and prevents them from compounding debts,” she adds.

However, there are some limitations associated with bio alternatives.

“These alternatives cannot be used simultaneously with chemicals or in temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius in open fields, as it would harm microorganisms. Microorganisms can tolerate temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius and require a humid environment with shade to thrive,” she says.

As per Sangita, the demand for these bio alternatives has increased over the years.

“Farmers are diverting towards bio alternatives and organic farming. When I introduced farmers to these products, they could not believe that these can replace chemical fertilisers. But today, we have so many farmers who find my products useful. These bio alternatives will bring a revolution in the farming sector, and to be able to contribute to that is extremely satisfying,” she shares.

For her work, Sangita has been felicitated with many awards including the Honour of Excellence award by the Union Ministry of Agriculture in 2018 and the Maharashtra Udyogini Puraskar in 2008.

Edited by Pranita Bhat; All picture credits: Sangita Sawalakhe

Source:

Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India 2021: By National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs.

“These vegetables are grown in polluted environments and loaded with heavy metals. People who consume them get fatal diseases, such as cancer,” the 33-year-old tells The Better India.

“Apart from that, urban residents are so dependent on packaged and deep-fried foods, which is harmful to health. The quality of the food that we consume matters. So I thought I should grow my own vegetables,” he adds.

After working for nearly a decade as an electronics and communications engineer, Shashank quit his job in 2018 and moved to Vadodara. Soon after, he ventured into growing his own food. But like a majority of urban residents, space was a constraint for him.

As an alternative to traditional vegetable farming which requires a lot of time and large land, the engineer chose aquaponics farming, which combines aquaculture and hydroponics. In this method, fish helps humans grow food as the nutrients from fish excreta enrich the water used to grow plants.

Today, he grows nearly 2,500 varieties of plants, which include green leafy vegetables, medicinal herbs, and flowers.

Hydroponics vs aquaponics

While looking for alternative methods to conventional farming, Shashank discovered hydroponics as well as aquaponics methods of farming.

Explaining the difference between the two, he says, “In hydroponics, plants are grown without soil as a base. Instead of soil, the roots are immersed in water. A system is placed wherein a fixed quantity of water keeps cycling. Additionally, liquid chemical fertilisers are added to nourish the plant.”

Meanwhile, aquaponics combines hydroponics with aquaculture.

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“The major difference between hydroponic and aquaponic setup is the media used to provide nutrients to the soil. It has a similar setup of hydroponics but with an additional fish tank to breed fish. The fish excreta is decomposed by bacteria into nitrate which is an ideal fertiliser for plants. It is like imitating the river ecology. Through this fish tank, water is regulated throughout small tanks that hold plants,” says Shashank, who has upcycled drums and cans to use as fish tanks.

Other than nitrates produced by fish waste, Shashank adds iron nails, lime and egg shells to boost iron and calcium nutrients in the media.

“The biggest advantage of this method is that along with growing food without soil in less space, it is also organic. Also, there is no need to fertilise the plants individually,” says Shashank.

Interestingly, aquaponics farming saves 80 percent of the water required in a conventional farming setup, he informs. “Farmers can also harvest additional income by breeding and selling edible fish other than vegetables,” he says.

Decentralising food production

After six months of research and assistance from ICAR-CAFRI, Vadodara, he grew vegetables through aquaponic farming under artificial light in a 600 sq ft area for three years. Seven months back, he moved to grow vegetables in a commercial terrace setup.

Without any previous farming experience before, today, Shashank is able to harvest about 500 kg of vegetables monthly from his 2,000 sq ft aquaponic terrace farm. He now also trains urban residents interested in farming.

“I wanted to build this farm to demonstrate that urban people can also grow vegetables every day. I support them for a year to help them understand the system so they gain confidence to grow vegetables in an aquaponic setup,” he says.

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Gautam Trivedi (26), a Vadodara resident and music producer by profession, wanted to grow his own vegetables. After receiving training from Shashank, he set up an aquaponics farm in a 50 sq ft area of his garden. “In an aquaponics set up, we get nice green leafy vegetables that are crunchier and better in taste than that available in the market. It also requires low maintenance,” he says.

So far, he has trained 35 people from Gujarat and Rajasthan through offline and online classes.

“It is a one-to-one process. I conduct a six-hour class. In the initial three hours, I inform them about the different plants that a farmer can grow. In the next three hours, I train them on how to implement the aquaponics system,” says Shashank, who charges Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 for offline and online classes, respectively.

Sharing a few tips on aquaponics farming, he says, “Crops require an environment with the optimal temperature. For instance, to grow leafy vegetables, a temperature between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius is needed. Whereas for hilly crops, such as strawberries, you need to reduce the temperature to 18 degrees Celsius, and for crops like lettuce, up to 15 degrees Celsius. We use urban clay pots to regulate the temperature of water in the system,” he adds.

Other than this, he suggests farmers introduce fish like gold and koi fish. “They produce more excreta and also survive in harsh temperature conditions. Just ensure to filter the water before adding the fish to the tank; water should not be hard. You can add 150 fish in a 1,000-litre tank. For edible fish, you would require a tank of 3,000 litres as their size grows,” he says.

Shashank says it costs Rs 800 per sq ft to establish an aquaponics terrace farm in a vertical setup. “This cost can be reduced to Rs 400 if farmers wish to avoid vertical farming. It is a one-time investment,” he adds.

“Food production is basic yet urban residents avert from the idea. Instead of earning a good income for myself, my focus is on enabling urban Indians to grow their own vegetables even if they have a small space — as small as one square foot, The aquaponics farming will enable people to decentralise food production,” says Shashank.

If you wish to learn aquaponics farming, you can contact Shashank at +91 99742 04501.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

“I used to sell products to middlemen at a commission of 30 percent. If I give them produce for Rs 90 per kg, they sell it for Rs 120-150. So, they were the ones reaping the profits for my produce,” he tells The Better India.

Exploitation by intermediaries in the farming sector is a longstanding issue. Despite being the producers, farmers receive less income in the farm-to-consumer supply chain, which is controlled by middlemen.

A few years back, the 43-year-old farmer even tried to take his life. “Our situation was very bad. We would not get sufficient income for our produce. I have a family of eight to look after,” shares the Gove village resident.

Today, the farmer can sell his produce-based products, like jaggery and turmeric powder, through the Indian Farmer Entrepreneurs (IFE) Store. This online marketplace liberates farmers from middlemen’s control.

“Here, we do not have to give any amount for commission. We find this system extremely beneficial for small farmers like me as we cannot sell so much produce alone. It also helps us sell to places other than Maharashtra,” says Sachin, who manages to get orders for up to 50 kg of produce from the platform.

Behind the e-commerce platform are college friends Aniket Gharge and Jay Sidhpura. They have collaborated with at least 20 farmers from across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh since the launch of the platform in 2022.

Eliminating the hurdle

Coming from a family of farmers, Aniket from Vadagaon village in Satara always had a passion for farming. After graduating in computer engineering, he worked in a web development company in Pune for a year. However, in 2017, he took the leap and started his own YouTube channel to share stories of farmers.

“Since my school days, I would like to speak to farmers and understand their issues,” says Aniket, who has around 2.5 lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel today.

During the stint, he found that although the government promotes organic farming, there was hardly any dedicated marketplace where farmers can sell such products without the help of intermediaries.

“Farmers earn better income with value-added organic products, but nobody tells them where they can sell them. Also, a bulk of their time goes into growing crops and cannot invest their energy in marketing the products,” he says.

“Therefore, they would sell their products locally, but despite good quality, they would not earn as much as they should because of middlemen. So I wanted to create a large marketplace for farmers so that they can earn decent incomes without any interference,” adds the 28-year-old.

So last year, Aniket combined his interest in farming and tech background to launch a marketplace for farmers along with his college friend Jay, who manages product listings on the website. With hardly any investment, they designed the website to help farmers directly sell their products to consumers and eliminate the long chain of intermediaries.

Beyond Maharashtra

Farmers reach out to Aniket through his YouTube channel and social media. Aniket then visits their farms to inspect the products. Farmers must provide FSSAI licenses for the products. Once the registration process is completed, which involves sharing their information and product details, the products are listed on the website.

The collected products are stored in Aniket’s warehouse in Satara until they are distributed to consumers based on demand. When orders come in, the products are packaged from the warehouse and dispatched to customers via courier service.

“If your product costs Rs 100, then we will display the same. We do not charge anything other than the packaging cost which is Rs 10. For our consumers, we have also recorded documentaries on the manufacturing and processing of each of our products,” says Aniket, who simultaneously runs a digital marketing business for survival.

Highlighting one of the challenges in running such a marketplace, he says, “Sometimes, products did not deliver because of carelessness at the end of courier companies. We have to make multiple calls to ensure products reach consumers on time.”

However, “The benefits of the system are bigger than its challenges. In a span of a year, we are estimated to have nearly doubled their income. This has also helped farmers expand the customer base from Maharashtra to across the country,” he adds. With IFE Store, farmers are able to sell their products to customers in more than 15 states including Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Assam.

The platform currently has over 25 categories of products — including jaggery candies, air fresheners, pickles, rose jam, millet products, and spices. So far, they have managed to cater to about 340 customers, and Aniket plans to expand the e-commerce business in other states and connect more farmers to the platform.

It is with this motivation that Aniket continues to do the work despite reluctance from his family.

“My parents are farmers, but they always wanted me to quit farming and earn a decent income in an engineering job in the city. I believe that I could have established a good career in the IT sector, where there would have been job security. But I am fortunate to pursue my passion and be of some help to farmers at the same time,” he shares.

Edited by Pranita Bhat

And at the helm, driving this change are two individuals Bhavesh Sawariya — a mechanical engineer from Chhatisgarh, and Annu Sunny — a science graduate from Kerala. Now in their thirties, they met in 2015 in a social leadership development program called India Fellow.

Designed to propel the youth toward working on the ground level with communities in rural India, the program held a certain kind of fascination for Bhavesh who had always lived in the city and wanted to experience village life.

As he recounts to The Better India, this 13-month programme was instrumental in shaping everything he did professionally thereafter. In his words, “It was a work of fate.”

“Sometimes you have a calling to do something that is very different from what you set out to. When that time comes, follow the calling,” he advises. Today, Bhavesh and Annu’s creation ‘Graamya’ is a result of this tryst with fate.

The platform, which was registered in 2016 in Idukki, acts as a link between consumers looking to buy organically grown spices and farmers who are growing these. Graamya also empowers farmers to shift to natural farming methods, providing them with the support they need to make this transition.

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A trip to Ladakh that changed everything

During the course of the program, Bhavesh and Annu, along with the other 22 fellows were captivated by the stories they came across on the ground. They played an integral role in coming up with tangible solutions to the problems faced by these villagers. However, it was towards the end of the fellowship that the magic happened.

Recounting the experience, Bhavesh says it was during a travel workshop to Ladakh. “The idea was to move away from the geographies that we always witnessed and apply our learnings to a different setting. This would help us make sense of our learnings in a true sense.”

While in Ladakh, the group of 24 was exposed to the harsh realities that tourism had birthed in the valley. While introduced to be a vehicle of change, it had become the cause of disruption.

“Tourism has taken away the resources of the locals,” points out Annu. “Water, electricity and more were being redirected from the local communities to the resorts. But while this was the problem, the solution came in the form of organisations working at the grassroots to create sustainable models.”

This greatly influenced both Bhavesh and Annu, who bonded over their common zeal to help local communities.

Unlike Bhavesh who came from a city background, Annu had grown up witnessing the many struggles of farmers. Having grown up in Idukki around spice plantations, she had often firsthand heard of these stories and wished there was something she could do.

As Bhavesh shares, in many ways, the fellowship encouraged them to take a leap of faith with Graamya. He adds that the network of entrepreneurs, changemakers, and solution finders that they had built over the course of the 13 months stood them in good stead.

Two models, One goal: Farmer empowerment 

Graamya came as a wave of hope for the Idukki farmers in 2016.

The years 2016 to 2018 saw the duo working with the grassroots enterprises in Idukki — where the duo decided to implement their sustainable model — to understand the operations in the area and learn about the many verticals that the model would necessitate.

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Today, Graamya is a safe space for the farmers in Idukki, empowering and driving them towards natural farming while also assuring them of a steady income. The platform procures spices directly from 40 farmers providing them with a direct source of income. It also empowers over 100 farmers through guidance with organic farming, processing methods, connecting them with the right markets, etc.

And the results have been remarkable, the duo affirm.

“During our research, we understood that chemically intensive farming was prevalent in the area. This was simply because farmers did not have the confidence to veer towards natural farming as results were slower,” Bhavesh explains.

He adds that through the time they spent with the farmers in the region, they were able to distinguish them into two categories and plan on addressing their needs individually.

The first category was the farmers who were engaged in chemical farming, using as much as 20 kg of pesticides per hectare to boost the yield. The second category was the small landholders who were involved in natural organic farming for generations. Both these groups had different concerns.

“With the first category, the intent was to drive them towards organic farming. They were sceptical of entering into this space due to the uncertainty of yield. So we associated with them and assured them that whatever produce is sold, 60 percent of it will be sent back to them,” notes Bhavesh.

For the second category, he says the challenge was finding the right market.

“Often, farmers using organic methods end up selling their produce in the mainstream market, where chemically-grown produce is also available. The challenge was to create a platform where consumers looking for organic produce are connected with the right farmers,” he says.

Graamya is the platform that connects the two, finding buyers for the produce across India as well as in the US, Europe, Netherlands, Switzerland, etc.

Annu, meanwhile, says the model does not just serve as a benchmark for them but also for others who are working with villages. “If you are able to identify that one speciality of region or community you belong to, it will be easier to find common solutions to problems that exist. The essence of Graamya is the same. This model can be easily replicated by any person in one’s own community.”

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The duo go further and also helps these organic farmers improve their processing methods and storage facilities so as to extend the shelf life of the produce.

The farmers agree that this has been helpful. “Earlier, we had no other option but to sell our spices in the nearest market. We had no incentive to put in the extra effort to improve the end quality,” says P V Ravindran. “With Graamya coming in, our farmers are now able to think beyond traditional markets. They are willing to put in that extra effort to improve the end quality. We also feel good when our spices are used by consumers who value the quality and chemical-free nature of our spices.”

Another farmer Denny Augustine says that knowing they are associated with Graamya provides them with a sense of trust. “We get a better price for our chemical-free spices. Moreover, we are able to give high-quality products to people who value them.”

Meanwhile, Bhavesh and Annu stand proud as their network of farmers thrives, gets the recognition they deserve, and most importantly, is credited for making the shift to sustainable means of farming.

“We had a calling. We followed it through,” remarks Bhavesh.

Edited by Pranita Bhat