Medium-With-Image Archives - Progressive Farmers

Surinder Kumar

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Innovative Farmer Surinder Kumar: Pioneering Success in Relay Cropping and Strawberry Farming in Jhangola

In the heart of Dasuya district in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, a tale of agricultural innovation and resilience is unfolding. Sh. Surinder Kumar, born and raised in this agrarian landscape, has emerged as an inspirational figure for farmers across the region. His transition from a 20-year career in exhibition conference management in Delhi to becoming an innovative farmer in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic shows his determination and commitment to sustainable farming practices.

Surinder Kumar’s journey into agriculture wasn’t a predictable one. Driven by the economic uncertainties brought about by the pandemic, he returned to his roots, drawing on the farming experience instilled in him during his childhood. His parents, deeply rooted in agriculture, had imparted invaluable knowledge that would later become the foundation of his success.

In pursuit of a new venture, Surinder Kumar turned to a friend in the UK, a seasoned farmer with expertise in strawberry cultivation. Armed with this knowledge and complemented by his own extensive research, Surinder Kumar embarked on the ambitious journey of strawberry farming in India. The initial challenges were manifold, ranging from the unavailability of high-quality seedlings in India to the struggle of exporting seeds and seedlings from other countries.

The first year proved to be financially daunting, as he faced significant losses on his initial 3-acre venture, with expenses averaging 8 to 9 lakhs per acre. Undeterred, Surinder Kumar sought solutions and identified the need for superior strawberry varieties. This realization led him to import unique strawberry varieties with distinctive flavors from Italy, varieties that could thrive under Indian conditions. Fulfilling all government regulations for seed importation, he received guidance from PUSA on the proper procurement and cultivation of these imported plants.

As Surinder Kumar’s strawberry enterprise began to take root, he expanded his agricultural footprint by acquiring land in Himachal Pradesh. Currently, he manages an impressive 8-acre plot in Jhangola village in Delhi, with 4 acres dedicated to strawberry cultivation and the remaining 4 acres supporting a variety of vegetables, including capsicum, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, and wheat.

One of Surinder Kumar’s key strategies for maximizing profit margins is his adoption of relay cropping, a method where different crops are cultivated sequentially on the same piece of land within a single growing season. His relay cropping patterns, particularly between strawberry-watermelon and capsicum-watermelon, have proven to be highly lucrative, demonstrating the potential for diversification in farming practices.

In addition to innovative cropping patterns, Surinder Kumar places a strong emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices. He has implemented integrated pest management techniques to minimize the use of harmful pesticides, safeguarding both soil and crop health. Recognizing the importance of water management, he has developed a variety-specific fertigation regime, optimizing the use of water and fertilizers for enhanced crop growth.

Modern technology plays a pivotal role in Surinder Kumar’s farming approach. Real-time temperature and humidity monitoring through data loggers ensure optimal conditions for his crops, showcasing his commitment to leveraging technology for agricultural efficiency.

For the marketing and sale of his produce, Surinder Kumar has strategically partnered with supermarket giants Reliance Fresh and Big Basket, providing him with a fixed market and ensuring a steady income stream. This collaborative approach not only secures his financial stability but also contributes to the economic growth of Jhangola.

His message to the fellow farmers is seed selection and plantation at the right time is very important in strawberry farming. Also, he actively engages with and assists other farmers who wish to delve into strawberry farming, offering guidance on seed selection, cultivation practices, and post-harvest care.

In conclusion, Sh. Surinder Kumar’s agricultural story stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability. His strategic adoption of relay cropping, importation of unique strawberry varieties, commitment to sustainable practices, and embrace of technology exemplify a holistic approach to farming. As an advocate for responsible and profitable agriculture, Surinder Kumar not only cultivates success for himself but also serves as an inspiration for the farming community at large.

Smt. Naina Kumari

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The Inspiring Journey of Smt. Naina Kumari from Farmer to Visionary Khetipreneur

Smt. Naina Kumari, a trailblazing entrepreneur from Bhagalpur, Bihar, has revolutionized the agricultural landscape with her dedication to mechanized processing of cereals, pulses, spices, mushrooms, jaggery, and mangoes. Her adoption of cutting-edge machinery has not only minimized wastage but also significantly increased profits, marking a transformative journey from a traditional farmer to a visionary khetipreneur. Naina’s innovative approach and commitment to modernizing agricultural practices have not only benefited her community but have also set a remarkable example for sustainable and profitable farming in the region.

Naina Kumari’s established the Farmers’ Producer Organization (FPO) named ‘Vikramshila Gram Udyog.’ under the brand name ‘Shree,’ she sells a diverse range of processed items, including semolina, spices, papad, chips, mushroom, mango pickles, and jaggery. The brand has become a household name, resonating not just across India but also attracting attention from international markets.

Embracing the digital age, Naina Kumari has seamlessly integrated the online mode for selling her high-quality processed produce. This strategic move has not only expanded her market reach but has also positioned ‘Shree’ as a prominent player in the e-commerce space for agricultural products. The shift to online sales has been a game-changer, providing convenience to customers and opening up new avenues for growth.

Beyond her success in processing various agricultural products, Smt. Naina Kumari is also diversifying her income streams through fish rearing and dairying. This multifaceted approach not only adds to her financial stability but also showcases her versatility as an khetipreneur willing to explore and innovate in different domains of agriculture.

Naina’s inspiring journey from a local farmer to a nationally recognized entrepreneur has been widely covered by newspapers and social media channels. Her story serves as a beacon of hope and motivation, not only for aspiring khetipreneurs but for women in Bihar and beyond. The accolades she has received, such as the ‘Mahila Udyami Samman’ and the ‘Utkrisht Kisan Puruskar,’ stand as a proof of her tireless efforts in food processing and uplifting the livelihoods of fellow farmers.

What makes Naina Kumari’s story even more remarkable is the profound impact she has had on her community. Through her FPO, she trains local women, empowering them with the skills needed for khetipreneurship. By doing so, she not only boosts their incomes but also contributes to the economic upliftment of the entire community. The ripple effect of Naina’s initiatives has enhanced the market presence of these women, turning them into self-reliant contributors to the agricultural sector.

Naina’s commitment to empowering women in agriculture goes beyond the boundaries of her own success. She has become a beacon of inspiration, breaking stereotypes and proving that women can thrive in traditionally male-dominated sectors. Her recognition for the ‘Mahila Udyami Samman’ underscores the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of women in entrepreneurship.

The journey from local markets to a broader market presence is a an example of Naina’s determination and strategic vision. Once faced with skepticism, she has now become a symbol of success, with those who once doubted her abilities now eager to collaborate with her. This shift in perception highlights not only the resilience of Naina Kumari but also the transformative power of embracing innovation in agriculture.

Naina’s success story has been notably recognized at different farmer fairs, where her stalls have received accolades for being the best. The prestigious ‘Utkrisht Kisan Award 2021’ further cements her status as a pioneer in the agricultural sector. Her dedication to quality, innovation, and community development sets a shining example for the entire farming community.

In conclusion, Smt. Naina Kumari’s journey from a traditional farmer to a celebrated khetipreneur is a remarkable example of the transformative power of innovation in agriculture. Her commitment to mechanized processing, online sales, and community empowerment has not only brought her personal success but has also positioned her as a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, in Bihar and beyond. Naina Kumari’s story is a attestation to the potential for growth and success when traditional practices meet visionary entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.

Gurpreet Singh

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Gurpreet Singh: Spearheading a Revolution in Sustainable Agriculture

Within the sprawling district of Bathinda, Punjab, lies the largest village in the region – Mehraj. Here, in this tranquil setting, Gurpreet Singh embarked on a remarkable journey into the world of agriculture. Born into a family with a deep-rooted connection to the land, Gurpreet’s journey into farming was a natural progression. However, what sets him apart is his dedication to organic farming and sustainable agriculture practices.

Gurpreet’s foray into farming commenced in 2009, when he decided to take up the mantle of his family’s agricultural legacy. His father had already been tilling the fertile Punjab soil for years, and it was under his guidance that Gurpreet nurtured his passion for farming. He cultivates a variety of crops on their 35-acre expanse, including Paddy, potatoes, mung beans, and mustard.

The Organic Farming Challenge: Patience and Promise

The turning point in Gurpreet’s agricultural journey came in 2017 when he made the pivotal decision to transition to organic farming. This marked the beginning of his quest to cultivate crops in harmony with nature, without the use of synthetic chemicals or pesticides. While he admits that the transition was not without challenges, he firmly believes that organic farming is the way forward. Currently he does organic farming on 3 acres of his land.

When discussing his shift to organic farming, Gurpreet emphasizes that while the initial years may not be as financially rewarding as conventional farming, the long-term benefits are immense. According to him, organic farming begins to yield significant profits by the fourth year. Despite the initial hardships, Gurpreet remains resolute in his commitment to take organic farming to a commercial level.

One of the driving forces behind Gurpreet’s dedication to organic farming is the increasing awareness among consumers about the importance of healthy, pesticide-free produce. People are willing to pay a premium for organically grown crops, and this growing demand provides a promising market for farmers like Gurpreet.

Gurpreet’s Ventures into Dairy

His journey isn’t limited to just farming; he also delved into the dairy business, with a herd of 25 to 30 animals at one point. However, realizing that the profit margins in this sector were limited, he shifted his focus back to organic farming and other agricultural endeavors. Currently, he maintains 15 animals, including cows and buffaloes, to meet his household requirements.

Championing Sustainability: Stopping Crop Residue Burning and Saving Water

One of the most remarkable aspects of Gurpreet Singh’s farming practices is his commitment to environmental sustainability. He actively refrains from the burning of crop residue, a practice that has been a major contributor to air pollution and environmental degradation in Punjab. Additionally, he has been a pioneer in implementing the direct-seeded rice (DSR) method, which significantly reduces water consumption compared to traditional methods.

Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR): A Water-Saving Innovation

The conventional practice of flooding rice fields consumes vast amounts of water, contributing to the alarming drop in water levels in Punjab. Gurpreet’s adoption of the DSR method, where rice seeds are directly sown into the soil, has achieved an impressive 80% success rate. His dedication to water conservation has earned him recognition from both agricultural institutions and fellow farmers.

Empowering Fellow Farmers: The Customer Affairs Center

Gurpreet Singh’s commitment to sustainable agriculture extends beyond his own farm. He operates a customer affairs center where he offers advanced farming techniques and services to fellow farmers. Services like the lucky seeder, silage plant, and vacuum planter have not only proven profitable for him but have also empowered other farmers to adopt more sustainable practices. He also provides knowledge on sustainable yet profitable practices within 25 to 30 Km of his village free of cost to the fellow farmers.  

Guided by Agricultural Institutions and Community Support

His journey has been supported and guided by institutions like Punjab Agricultural University and Krishi Vigyan Kendra Bathinda. Gurpreet is also an active participant in various farmer groups that promote knowledge sharing and mutual support. He is a member of a group spanning across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, where farmers assist one another in overcoming challenges.

Recognitions and Accolades: Celebrating Excellence

Gurpreet’s innovative approaches in agriculture have garnered widespread recognition. He stands adorned with numerous accolades, including prestigious awards from esteemed institutions such as Punjab Agricultural University, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Bathinda, and the Khetibadi Vibhag. Notably, his exceptional contributions were celebrated on both the national and international stages, as he received honors from ICAR in Hyderabad in December 2022 and April 2021. His accomplishments extend beyond awards; he was notably conferred with the ‘Best Farmer’ Award during the International Conference ICSCI 2022, a testament to his exceptional dedication.

Furthermore, Gurpreet Singh’s pioneering efforts in crop residue management, including his steadfast commitment to eschew burning practices, have earned him widespread acclaim. His sustainable practices have attracted the attention of numerous news outlets, further highlighting the remarkable impact he has made in the realm of agriculture.

Agricultural Entrepreneurship: Selling Quality Products

Gurpreet sells his farm products to Punjab Agro, and his high-quality wheat commands double rates from local customers who appreciate the superior quality. Moreover, he supplies aromatic Basmati rice to neighboring Haryana, reflecting his commitment to quality and sustainability.

Words of Wisdom: Starting Small and Scaling Up

Gurpreet Singh has a valuable piece of advice for aspiring farmers. He suggests starting small when adopting new farming techniques. Experiment on a smaller portion of your land first, and if it proves successful, expand it to the entire farm. This approach not only saves time but also minimizes risk and costs.

 Gurpreet’s Vision: Taking Organic Farming to New Heights

As he looks to the future, Gurpreet Singh envisions taking natural organic farming to new heights. He is passionate about educating fellow farmers about the importance of abandoning crop burning practices and implementing innovative methods to combat the depletion of water resources in Punjab.

Conclusion

In the heart of Punjab, Gurpreet Singh’s journey from conventional farming to a champion of organic, eco-friendly methods serve as an inspiration for farmers across the region and beyond. With his dedication and vision, Gurpreet Singh is not only securing a prosperous future for his farm but also contributing to the preservation of Punjab’s precious natural resources.

Brijesh Kumar

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Brijesh Kumar: Cultivating Innovation in the Heartland of Agriculture

In the fertile lands of Dangarh, Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh, where agriculture is a way of life, the story of Mr. Brijesh Kumar unfolds—a tale of unwavering dedication, passion, and innovation that has transformed him into a beacon of success in the world of farming. It is said that when you follow your passion with true dedication, the power of the mind leads you down a path of innovation and accomplishment, and Brijesh Kumar’s journey is a testament to this belief.

With about 8 acres of his own land and additional leased land at his disposal, Mr. Brijesh Kumar has been cultivating crops round the year since 2010. His journey into farming started early in life, as he completed his Senior Secondary school and dived headfirst into the field of agriculture. Over the years, he has honed his skills and expertise in farming through an integrated farming system approach.

Brijesh Kumar’s specialty lies in a diverse array of crops, including horticulture crops like potatoes, cauliflower, and brinjal. He also ventures into animal husbandry, raising 4 Sahiwal cows and 4 buffaloes. His focus on potato seed production, particularly varieties like Jignasa 1, Jignasa 3 Neelkanth, Raisoni, spans approximately 20 acres, while rice varieties 1692 and 1502 find a home on about 5 acres of his land. Brijesh Kumar actively engages in direct sales of these seeds, contributing to his substantial income. Additionally, he cultivates seasonal mushrooms, further diversifying his agricultural portfolio.

What sets Brijesh Kumar apart is his ability to maximize profits through multiple avenues within agriculture. His success story encompasses a wide spectrum, ranging from field crops like paddy, maize, and wheat to horticultural delights like potatoes, cauliflower, and brinjal. His livestock, including cows and buffaloes, also contribute to his thriving enterprise. Moreover, poultry farming adds to his diverse income streams.

In his pursuit of knowledge and innovation, Brijesh Kumar has harnessed the power of social media. He actively uses platforms such as YouTube and Facebook to connect with fellow farmers and stay updated on the latest advancements in farming techniques. His thirst for learning led him to seek guidance from farmers in his locality, participate in Kissan melas, and undergo training at the nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra for poultry farming and mushroom production. YouTube, in particular, plays a pivotal role in helping him stay at the forefront of modern farming practices.

Like any farmer, Brijesh Kumar faces his share of challenges, from unpredictable weather conditions to seed availability and the issue of spoilt seeds due to pesticides. However, his commitment to sustainability is evident through his dedication to organic farming on approximately 2 acres dedicated to potatoes and rice production.

To stay at the cutting edge of farming technology, Brijesh Kumar has secured government funding for upscaling technologies and implementing high-tech production methods. A significant portion of his produce, around 25%, is sold through direct channels, further boosting his income and fostering strong community connections.

In his pursuit of excellence, Brijesh Kumar encourages farm visits from various agricultural scientists, fostering knowledge exchange and community growth. His dedication and innovative farming methods even caught the attention of DD National, where he was featured for his groundbreaking approaches to agriculture.

Brijesh Kumar’s journey has been punctuated by accolades and recognition, underscoring his contributions to the agricultural landscape. In 2022, he was honored with the prestigious IARI Fellow and Innovative Farmer Award. Various institutions and organizations have also appreciated and awarded him for his dedication and innovative approaches. Government funding further validates his efforts and commitment to sustainable farming practices.

As Brijesh Kumar continues to innovate and expand his farming horizons, his story serves as an inspiration to all those who believe that passion, dedication, and innovation can lead to remarkable success, even in the heartland of agriculture. His journey reinforces the idea that farming is not just a livelihood but a canvas for innovation and a path to economic prosperity. In the ever-evolving world of agriculture, Brijesh Kumar is a true pioneer, paving the way for a brighter and more sustainable future for farming in India.

Padam Singh

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Padam Singh: Cultivating a Rooftop Oasis of Organic Abundance

In the bustling urban landscape of Basai Darapur, New Delhi, where concrete dominates and green spaces are scarce, Padam Singh’s story emerges as a testament to the extraordinary transformation that passion and dedication can bring about. Born into a family of farmers, Padam always harbored dreams of creating something exceptional for his environment his relentless pursuit of knowledge and unwavering commitment eventually led him to create “The Terrace Garden,” an awe-inspiring organic haven in the heart of the city.

Padam Singh’s journey towards becoming an urban farming pioneer began long before he retired as the Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Delhi, in 2021. During his tenure, he would often frequent PUSA, Delhi, India’s National Institute for Agricultural Research, where he immersed himself in the world of home-based farming and agriculture. His maternal grandfather’s orchard provided valuable insights into fruit farming, and he supplemented his learning with extensive online research and videos.

In 2013, Padam Singh took a significant leap by establishing his Organic Farming Kitchen Garden on the rooftop of his home. Spanning 2500 square feet, this rooftop oasis comprises 400 plants and vegetables, showcasing the fruits of 35 different fruit species. Among these species, he mainly nurtures:

∙         Mango
∙         Oranges
∙         Lemon
∙         Sapodilla (Chickoo)
∙         Mulberry (Shahtoot)
∙         Peach (Aadu)

Padam’s childhood inclination toward fruit farming found a perfect outlet in this endeavor. He personally tends to each plant, nurturing them with care and dedication. His passion has sparked the interest of many, with people frequently visiting his home on Saturdays and Sundays to witness his thriving rooftop garden. Inspired by his example, several individuals have embarked on their own home-based farming journeys. Padam Singh extends his influence by visiting other households, sharing his knowledge, and even gifting plants to encourage others to embrace the joys of organic gardening.

One remarkable aspect of Padam Singh’s approach to farming is his commitment to organic practices. He refrains from using chemical fertilizers available in the market and instead creates his own organic manure at home. He learned this skill through extensive online research and by attending relevant classes, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and environmental consciousness in his gardening endeavors.

Padam Singh’s journey is a shining example of self-driven success. Despite lacking formal agricultural training, he relied on keen observations at PUSA and discussions with scientists to chart his path to success. His remarkable achievements include three awards from the Head of the All India Kitchen Garden Association, with two first prizes and one-second prize in recognition of his exceptional plants. Furthermore, his journey has been showcased on television, with appearances on DOORDARSHAN in 2018 and 2021.

Beyond his role as an urban farmer, Padam Singh wears many hats. He is a licensed advocate, a distinction granted by the BAR Council of India, an international table tennis umpire, and a sought-after guest lecturer at various universities and colleges. In his community, Padam takes pride in teaching young children about farming, imparting valuable knowledge to the next generation.

Padam Singh is a devoted father, with two sons who share his curiosity about his unique approach to farming. One of his sons is an IT Engineer, while the other holds a degree in B.Com Honors. They are deeply interested in their father’s agricultural pursuits, potentially ensuring the continuity of his legacy.

Looking to the future, Padam Singh has no intentions of commercializing his agricultural passion. He remains committed to sharing the abundance of his terrace garden with the elderly, children, family, and relatives. His dream is to acquire a substantial piece of land where he can expand his gardening endeavors further, cultivating an even greater variety of fruits and vegetables to share with his community.

Padam Singh’s journey as an urban farming pioneer exemplifies the power of unwavering passion, relentless dedication, and the pursuit of knowledge. In a concrete jungle, he has created a green oasis that not only sustains him but also inspires countless others to embrace the beauty and potential of organic gardening. In his humble rooftop garden, Padam Singh sows the seeds of change, one plant at a time.

Pradeep Singh

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Pradeep Singh: From Corporate Success to Dairy Farming Pioneer

In the heart of Rohtak, there resides a man who dared to break the mold of corporate success to follow his heart’s calling. Mr. Pradeep Singh, a native of this village, embarked on a journey that not only transformed his life but also left an indelible mark on his community. His story is one of passion, dedication, and a commitment to reviving the roots of his homeland.

Pradeep Singh’s journey began with a simple thought – a desire to contribute to his own community, where farming had always been an integral part of life. The lush fields and fertile lands of Rohtak inspired him to spread awareness about dairy farming and help fellow farmers overcome the challenges in this field.

After completing his MBA, Pradeep spent a decade in the corporate world, working for the renowned company Havells. However, he soon realized that his deep connection to his native place and his passion for agriculture called him back. He felt a profound need to do more for his community.

In December 2018, he founded “Bagdi Milk Power Milk Processing Enterprise,” a venture dedicated to transforming the dairy farming landscape in Rohtak. The enterprise produces a range of dairy products, including Badam Dudh, Lassi, Mava Barfi, Gulab Jamun, Kheer, and Paneer Pakode, all made from the highest quality milk.

Pradeep Singh’s mission goes beyond just producing dairy products; it’s about empowering the uneducated and unskilled youth of his region. He provides training to local farmers, teaching them how to obtain nutritious milk from buffaloes and what should be fed to the animals to maximize their health and milk production. Currently, approximately 80 farmers are associated with him, receiving fair prices for their produce.

What sets Pradeep Singh’s enterprise apart is his commitment to providing clean and healthy products to consumers. He owns cows, but for buffaloes, he collaborates with local farmers and educates them on best practices. This approach ensures that both the farmers and consumers benefit from his venture.

Not only does Pradeep involve farmers, but he also supports local artisans who provide him with traditional “mitti ke bartan” (clay utensils). These artisans are integral members of his farmer groups, helping maintain the authenticity of the products he offers. He utilizes modern machinery, such as a Mawa making machine and milk chillers, to ensure the highest quality and hygiene standards.

With 17 direct employees, 12 of whom contribute to the farms and five dedicated to producing ghee, Pradeep Singh has created meaningful employment opportunities in his community. His dedication to quality is reflected in the price of his ghee, which costs around Rs. 1500 per kg (cow) and Rs. 1200 per kg (buffalo), with additional shipping charges if needed.

Pradeep’s younger brother is also actively involved in the business, and the entire family supports his vision and efforts. Together, they have become a symbol of community-driven entrepreneurship in Rohtak.

Pradeep Singh’s journey has not gone unnoticed. He has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field of dairy farming and milk processing. He received awards from prestigious institutions like the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in Pusa, Delhi, and Haryana Agricultural University in 2019.

Looking ahead, Pradeep Singh has ambitious plans for the future. He aims to expand his online presence and make a wider range of products available to customers, including sunflower oil. His unwavering commitment to his community and his dedication to quality have transformed him from a corporate success story to a dairy farming pioneer, revitalizing the farming landscape in Rohtak and inspiring many to follow their hearts and make a difference in their communities.

Navdeep Singh Virk

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Navdeep Singh Virk’s Journey: From 10 Black and White Holstein Friesian (HF) Cows to a Successful Dairy Farm of Red and White HF Cows

Introduction

In the heart of Punjab’s Patiala district, in a village named Shergarh, a story of determination, innovation, and dedication unfolds. Navdeep Singh Virk, a passionate farmer, embarked on his journey in 2012 with just ten cows. Over the years, he has not only transformed his small dairy farm into a thriving enterprise but has also become a pioneer in promoting the European breed of Red and White Holstein Friesian (HF) cows in India. Navdeep’s success emphasizes the importance of genetic diversity, immunity, and high milk production.

The Beginning

Navdeep Singh Virk’s journey began with a modest herd of ten black and white Holstein Friesian cows. His vision was clear – to provide the best care for his cows and to continually improve their breed. To achieve this, he made the bold decision to import semen from Europe, specifically of the Red and white Holstein Friesian, which are known for their superior milk production and resilience. These Red and white Holstein Friesian breeds are distinct from the conventional A1/A2 milk cows, offering unique advantages. These cows have different names in different countries. These are known as Ayrshire in Scotland, Dutch in Pakistan, and Red and White HF in India.

Advantages of Red and White Holstein Breeds

One of the primary advantages of Red and white Holstein breeds, as Navdeep discovered, lies in their robust immunity. These cows are inherently less susceptible to diseases, making them a valuable asset for any dairy farmer. Moreover, they can endure harsh weather conditions, including temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius, without the need for additional cooling systems like foggers.

Navdeep’s herd now consists of 22 animals, including two bulls. Semen shortage, which is a common challenge for dairy farmers, is effectively managed by Navdeep through the use of his own produced bulls. After three years, a bull becomes capable of serving as a breeding sire. This not only ensures a sustainable source of semen but also allows Navdeep to sell high-quality bulls at better rates than cows. He has sold one bull, two milking cows and one heifer to the Animal Husbandry Department, Sikkim.

Expanding Horizons

Navdeep Singh Virk’s dedication to his farm extends beyond the borders of Punjab. He supplies semen to farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar. His reputation for quality semen has even caught the attention of semen banks, who source semen from his farm. Navdeep’s commitment to breeding excellence has created a ripple effect in the dairy farming community.

Genetics and Milk Production

Navdeep firmly believes that milk production is heavily influenced by genetics. Consequently, he does not purchase cows from outside sources. Instead, he relies on careful breeding to maintain and improve the genetic quality of his herd. The result is a remarkable range of milk production, spanning from 7,000 to 13,000 liters per cow.

Navdeep’s dedication to genetic diversity also extends to preventing inbreeding. He maintains meticulous records to ensure that no inbreeding occurs within his farm, preserving the health and vitality of his cows.

Nutrition and Diet

To maximize milk production, Navdeep employs the services of a nutritionist who formulates balanced diets for his cows. On average, his cows produce 35 liters of milk per day, with some reaching an impressive 45 liters. The nutritionist takes into account factors like body weight and milk production to tailor diets to each cow’s specific needs.

Sustainable Practices

Navdeep’s commitment to sustainability is evident in every aspect of his farm. From the careful selection of Red and White HF breeds to the precise diets provided to his cows, he places a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility. He also practices silage preparation with a focus on starch, green foliage, and protein content to ensure his cows receive the best nutrition.

Water and Comfort

Navdeep’s farm goes beyond just meeting the basic needs of his animals. He has set up tanks, bowls, and pools where fresh water is added daily. Cows have the freedom to spend time in the pool, which not only cools their bodies but also keeps their udders clean. This attention to the comfort of his animals is proof of Navdeep’s commitment to their well-being.

A Message to Farmers

Navdeep Singh Virk’s journey from ten cows to a thriving dairy farm is an inspiring tale for farmers across India. His success offers several valuable lessons:

Diversify Your Breeds: Navdeep encourages farmers to consider different breeds based on their specific conditions and budget. High milk production and immunity should be top priorities.

Start Small: Beginning with a small number of cows and gradually expanding is a wise strategy. Investing in cows that provide at least 25 liters of milk production is a good starting point.

Embrace Innovation: Navdeep’s use of imported semen and his emphasis on genetic diversity are key factors in his success. Farmers should not be afraid to adopt innovative practices.

Focus on Sustainability: Sustainable practices, such as careful nutrition planning and environmental responsibility, are crucial for long-term success in dairy farming.
Share Knowledge: Navdeep’s vision includes educating others about the benefits of these breeds.

Conclusion

Navdeep Singh Virk’s remarkable journey from a small dairy farm to a thriving enterprise shows his excellence in dairy farming. His story is an inspiration to farmers everywhere, offering valuable insights into the benefits of genetic diversity, immunity, and high milk production. Navdeep’s vision for the future includes expanding his farm’s capacity and further promoting the advantages of Red and White HF breeds. His message to fellow farmers is clear: adapt to changing conditions, focus on sustainability, and invest wisely for a prosperous future in dairy farming.

Gangaram

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Gangaram: A Journey from Education to Sustainable Farming

In the serene village Kalakh of Jaipur, Rajasthan, nestled amidst the landscapes of India, Mr. Gangaram embarked on a remarkable journey of transformation, transitioning from a career in education to becoming a staunch advocate for sustainable farming practices. His story is a testament to his unwavering commitment to promoting organic farming and fostering a culture of agricultural research and innovation in his community.

Before dedicating himself entirely to farming, Mr. Gangaram owned a school in his village from 2000 until 2016. In 2018, he handed over the reins to his brother to pursue his lifelong passion for agriculture. Recognizing the importance of knowledge sharing, Gangaram actively encourages trainees from various universities to visit his farm, providing them with valuable insights into sustainable farming practices.

Gangaram’s journey into sustainable farming began with formal training at HITC Horticulture in Durgapur and attending Organic Kheti training programs. Inspired by his agricultural background, he established the Seport Organic Farm and Agro Research Centre in November 2017.

Today, Gangaram’s farm is a thriving testament to his dedication. He cultivates a diverse range of crops, including cucumber, melons, strawberries, broccoli, figs, and various types of lettuce. In addition to these crops, he also grows seven different types of green fodder.

Gangaram’s journey into organic farming was fueled by a pivotal moment in 2012 when he read an article about the hazardous chemicals sprayed on crops in Punjab, leading to health issues. This revelation ignited his determination to pursue organic farming and promote chemical-free agriculture. In 2016, a visit to Mini Israel in Jaipur further solidified his commitment to farming by witnessing the success of over 500 polyhouses.

On August 28, 2017, Gangaram commenced his journey into polyhouse farming, having received training and guidance from experts in the field. He conducted extensive research, consulting with his family, who shared his agricultural background, before venturing into farming. Continuously seeking to enhance his knowledge and expertise, Gangaram emphasizes, “I took various pieces of training and to date don’t miss a chance of learning about farming.”

Gangaram’s dedication to sustainable farming extends beyond the boundaries of his polyhouse. He also breeds fish, raises Avishan sheep (10 for meat), and maintains a dairy farm with three Gir cows and five Murrah buffaloes. Currently, his polyhouse spans three acres, with a fourth acre under development. Overall, he supervises 15 bighas of land shared with his two brothers. While all of his farming practices are organic, the polyhouse requires the occasional use of WSf and Biohouse chemicals.

One of Gangaram’s unique features is his direct interaction with consumers. He sells strawberries directly to visitors and offers a wide variety of vegetables at local markets. Additionally, he supplies his produce to Kissan Mela, ensuring that his fresh and organic products reach a broader audience.

Gangaram’s commitment to education is evident as he welcomes two batches of students from SKN Unit City who are pursuing B.Sc as part of the RAWE program. His farm serves as an experiential learning platform, offering hands-on exposure to sustainable farming practices.

Gangaram’s remarkable journey has not gone unnoticed, earning him a series of prestigious awards and recognitions. In 2019, he was honored with the JB Kheti Award at the state level. In 2021, he was recognized as an innovative farmer by IARI, Delhi. He continued to receive accolades, including the Pandit Din Dayal Upodaya Karsi Award in 2021 and the IARI Fellow Award on February 9, 2022.

Looking to the future, Mr. Gangaram envisions expanding his sheep production by exploring more breeds and implementing sustainable practices. His relentless pursuit of knowledge, coupled with his dedication to sustainable farming, makes him a true trailblazer in the field of agriculture. Gangaram’s story serves as an inspiring example for individuals seeking to make a meaningful impact in their communities through sustainable and organic farming practices.

In a world where sustainable agriculture is becoming increasingly important, Gangaram stands as a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration for those who wish to make a positive change. His dedication to organic farming and his commitment to sharing knowledge not only enrich his community but also contribute to a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Hardeep Singh

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In the heart of Ludhiana’s Rabbon Uchi village, a tale of ambition, dedication, and perseverance has unfolded over the past 15 years. At the center of this narrative is Hardeep Singh, a visionary dairy farmer who has transformed his dreams into reality through relentless hard work and an unwavering commitment to his craft. With an academic background in marketing, an MBA degree, and a stint at Tara Feed, Hardeep’s journey into the world of dairy farming is an inspiring testament to the possibilities that lie beyond traditional career trajectories.

Hardeep’s foray into dairy farming was no mere happenstance. His passion was ignited during his time at Tara Feed, where he had the opportunity to visit various farms as part of his job. These visits opened his eyes to the potential of dairy farming as a profitable and sustainable occupation. Armed with this newfound inspiration, he embarked on a journey that would lead him to become a pioneer in his field.

With a burning desire to learn and grow, Hardeep took extensive training in the field, initially focusing on buffalo farming before transitioning to cows. Armed with his newly acquired knowledge, he purchased 20 animals at the outset, and what sets his journey apart is his steadfast commitment to breeding. Unlike many in the industry who often rely on purchasing animals, Hardeep chose a different path. He decided to breed his own cows, a decision that not only spoke to his dedication but also set the stage for a self-sustaining farm. Over the years, his herd has grown to a total of 90 cows, comprising both Holstein Friesians (HF), with 40 actively contributing to milk production.

Obstacles, as Hardeep believes, are an inevitable part of any occupation. Yet, his approach to challenges is what truly defines him. He is not one to shy away; instead, he tackles each obstacle head-on, seeking innovative solutions. One such example is his battle against mastitis, a common and often debilitating condition in dairy cattle. Hardeep invested time and effort in researching and refining the nutrition of his cows’ feed. Drawing upon recommendations from institutions like Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Punjab Dairy Farmers Association (PDFA), he fine-tuned his cows’ diet, leading to a reduction in mastitis cases and an overall improvement in cow health.

Another challenge he confronted was repeat breeding. Through meticulous research and experimentation, he found a solution by incorporating the right mix of minerals and vitamins into the cows’ diet, effectively addressing the issue. Hardeep’s proactive approach doesn’t stop at on-farm solutions; he’s also tapped into the resources provided by the National Dairy Development Board. Leveraging their schemes, he secured subsidies for his initial purchase of 10 animals, giving his venture a solid financial boost.

In his pursuit of excellence, Hardeep leaves no stone unturned. He uses imported semen from reputable sources like Punjab Dairy Farmers Association, Avis, and Worldwide, enhancing the genetics of his herd. With an emphasis on technology, Hardeep employs software to monitor his cows’ health and productivity. Each cow wears a tag around its neck, and the software sends him real-time updates about their well-being, including any signs of sickness. The same software aids in optimizing artificial insemination timings, ensuring a higher success rate in breeding.

Hardeep’s accomplishments extend beyond the dairy barn. His family, especially his brothers, have been pillars of support throughout his journey. With 42 acres of land dedicated to agriculture, he maintains a symbiotic relationship between his farming endeavors. He cultivates crops such as potatoes and corn, the latter serving as silage for his cows. This integration not only reduces costs but also highlights Hardeep’s holistic approach to farming.

As Hardeep Singh continues to nurture his dairy farm in Ludhiana’s Rabbon Uchi village, his journey remains an inspiration to all who come across it. His ability to surmount challenges, embrace innovation, and sustain a thriving enterprise underscores the limitless possibilities that can emerge from a combination of passion and perseverance. In his story, we find not only a tale of individual success but also a roadmap for revitalizing and revolutionizing the agricultural landscape.

Message to farmers

Reflecting on his journey, Hardeep emphasizes the profitability of dairy farming, provided one pays meticulous attention to expenses and focuses on the crucial aspects of feed, breed, and cow management. He stands as a testament to the notion that with the right blend of passion, knowledge, and determination, even a non-traditional background can lead to extraordinary success. His story underscores the potential of agriculture as a dynamic and rewarding profession, inspiring aspiring farmers to think beyond conventional boundaries.

Amarpreet Singh

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Unlocking Agricultural Potential: The Journey of a Visionary Farmer Towards Integrated Farming Success

In the sacred grounds of Chamkaur Sahib, where the echoes of historic battles still linger, a modern warrior treads a different path. Amarpreet Singh, a farmer with a relentless spirit, has harnessed the power of integrated farming techniques to revolutionize his 28-acre farm. Drawing inspiration from his forefathers’ bravery, Amarpreet has rewritten the story of agriculture in his own way, utilizing innovative methods to maximize his land’s potential and secure a sustainable future.

Embracing Change: The saga of Amarpreet Singh’s agricultural journey began when he decided to trade his corporate suit for the farmer’s plow. In 2010, Amarpreet left behind his role as an Assistant Manager at HDFC bank to pursue his calling in farming. His father’s fishery business laid the groundwork, but Amarpreet’s vision extended beyond traditional boundaries. Armed with an MBA degree, he fused modern business acumen with ancestral wisdom to craft a thriving and sustainable plan.

The Rise of Fishery: Fish farming, often fraught with market unpredictability, became a canvas for Amarpreet’s ingenuity, which he practiced in 21 acre of farm. Recognizing the need for strategic marketing, he ventured into collaborations with local vendors. By forging partnerships with chicken vendors, he ensured a steady market for his fish. Technical expertise gained from the Fisheries Department, Ropar, was pivotal in mastering the nuances of fish farming. Five distinct breeds (Golden or Common Carp Fish, Rohu Fish, Grass Carp Fish, Catla Fish, and Mrigal FIsh), recommended by the Punjab Government, took root in his farm, enabling a consistent and quality fish yield.

Managing a fishery isn’t without its challenges. Amarpreet’s insight unveils the delicate dance of nurturing fish to optimal size for market demand. Subsidies from the Punjab Government ease the financial burden, making fishery a viable venture. Wise netting practices, combined with innovative tactics such as underground pipelines, optimize water usage and harvest yields. His farm now resonates with the symphony of diverse activities that contribute to a harmonious ecosystem.

Pig Farming: Amarpreet Singh specializes in breeding large white Yorkshire pigs, a choice driven by their rapid growth rate and substantial litter size. On average, a female pig produces ten offspring. Presently, his farm is home to 63 pigs, with an average weight ranging from 60 to 65 kg. In terms of feeding, there are three primary methods: utilizing commercial feed, preparing homemade feed, or relying on waste products. Amarpreet Singh Ji favors commercial feed due to its superior formulation and mechanized production processes. Notably, the use of commercial feed enhances litter size; on this regimen, he records an average of 10 offspring per cycle, which occurs at least twice.

Sales transactions take place on the farm, facilitated by vendors who assess the pigs’ weight before making purchases. The average pig’s weight falls within the range of 80 to 85 kg. Typically, this sales approach involves immediate cash payment to the farmer.

In some instances, pig farming encounters challenges such as the disruption of pig sales caused by African Swine Fever. This viral disease can lead to a temporary suspension of sales for approximately a month, after which regular business operations resume as usual.

Goat Farming: Amarpreet Singh’s agricultural journey continues to evolve, as he ventures into goat farming with the Beetal breed, a recommendation by the Punjab Government. Despite his relatively short six months of experience, he has already witnessed growth in this sector. This growth is particularly evident due to the significant number of pregnant goats under his care, contributing to a growing inventory of approximately 20 goats in total.

In the midst of successfully integrating various farming aspects, Amarpreet Singh envisions further expansion by incorporating duck farming into his repertoire. Recognizing the potential benefits for his fisheries business, he believes that introducing ducks could enhance his overall farming dynamics.

Amarpreet’s dedication and accomplishments have garnered recognition, including the Chief Minister’s Award in 2019 for his achievements in piggery and integrated farming. Presented by the Punjab Government, this award was bestowed by the former Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, during a ceremony held at the PAU University in Ludhiana. Over the years, Amarpreet Ji has also earned multiple certifications, showcasing his commitment to honing his expertise.

Throughout his journey, Amarpreet attributes a substantial portion of his success to his supportive family. He acknowledges their instrumental role, particularly during his transition from a private job to becoming a full-time farmer. His wife, who is also well-versed in fish farming, provides valuable insights and guidance that have propelled his agricultural pursuits forward.

Thriving in Diversity: In addition to fishery, pig farming, and goat farming, Amarpreet’s farm boasts poultry and crops such as pulses, mustard, and turmeric. His prudent land use practices exemplify his commitment to maximizing returns. Poplar trees stand as a testament to his holistic approach, nurturing nature as much as his profits.

A Glimpse into the Future: As his journey continues, Amarpreet envisions integrating duck farming, yet another promising venture that complements his existing operations. Awards and certifications acknowledge his dedication, culminating in the Chief Minister’s Award for his contributions to piggery and integrated farming.

Family, Learning, and Advice: Amarpreet credits his family’s unwavering support for his success, particularly during his transition from the corporate world to farming. He encourages educated individuals to embrace integrated farming, highlighting its role in bridging the gap between mankind and nature. A testament to resilience, he urges fellow farmers to diversify their income streams and embrace integrated farming as a route to sustainable growth.

Conclusion: The story of Amarpreet Singh’s transformation from a corporate professional to an integrated farming pioneer is a testament to the untapped potential of modern agriculture. Through innovative techniques, thoughtful collaborations, and a deep commitment to environmental harmony, he has not only maximized his land’s yield but also set an example for a new generation of farmers. His journey showcases how harnessing the power of integration can pave the way to prosperity while treading lightly on the Earth.

Sikander Singh Brar

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Revolutionizing Agriculture: The Visionary Journey of Sikander Singh Brar

In the heartland of Punjab, where farming is not just a profession but a way of life, one man’s unwavering passion for innovation has brought about a transformative change in the agricultural landscape. Sikander Singh Brar, a pioneer in the realm of farming, has not only challenged conventional practices but has redefined the essence of agriculture itself. From humble beginnings rooted in a traditional farming family to becoming a beacon of modernity, Sikander Singh’s journey is a testament to the power of determination, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

From Tradition to Innovation: The Early Years

Sikander Singh Brar’s journey began in Balihar Mahima, Bathinda, where he was born into a farming family deeply entrenched in traditional agricultural practices. His father, S. Buta Singh, was a stalwart in traditional farming techniques that had been passed down through generations. Yet, even amidst the familiarity of these age-old practices, young Sikander Singh harbored an unyielding desire to bring something new to the table.

“Why settle for the same crops year after year?” Sikander Singh pondered.

His inquisitive mind refused to succumb to the status quo. This innate desire to break free from convention, to reach for the skies from the earth to the heavens, became a guiding principle in Sikander Singh’s life. He understood that the urge to forge ahead, to innovate, should be the driving force across all fields of endeavor.

Cultivating Change: The Birth of Innovation

As Sikander Singh embarked on his academic journey, enrolling in Pharmacy at Sirsa in 1983, his foray into farming began to take shape. Supported by his elder brother, S. Samsher Singh, a Veterinary Inspector, he started to usher in a new era of farming in his village. The duo challenged the age-old practices of wheat and barley cultivation, which had long been the staple of the region.

Their motivation was clear: Why not infuse freshness and diversity into farming practices? This question echoed in Sikander Singh’s mind as he delved deeper into his newfound passion. After leaving his Pharmacy studies in 1984, he shifted his focus entirely to farming. And thus, the journey of transformation began.

Embracing Diversity: A New Chapter in Farming

Sikander Singh’s determination to explore the uncharted territory of farming led him to the cultivation of delicate and diverse crops. He took the plunge into cultivating tomatoes, an unconventional choice that would soon reap rewards. Through collaborations with various companies and the implementation of advanced techniques, his efforts bore fruit – both literally and metaphorically.

Yet, Sikander Singh’s innovation extended beyond crop selection. He held a staunch aversion to harmful pesticides and chemicals that wreaked havoc on the environment and human health. Opting for organic fertilizers and sustainable practices, he set an example that spoke volumes about his commitment to a holistic approach to farming. In 2005, they planted a kinnow orchard on five acres of land. In addition, they prepared wheat seeds from 15 acres of land and supplied seeds to the National Seed Corporation Limited, expanding their efforts to cultivate 50 acres of wheat seeds from 15 acres for the corporation.

Agricultural Revolution: An Inspiring Legacy

Sikander Singh Brar’s pioneering spirit did not go unnoticed. His successful endeavors earned him recognition from prestigious institutions like Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He emerged as a luminary in the agricultural landscape, sought after for his expertise, knowledge, and innovative methods. His insights were not confined to his fields alone; he generously shared his wisdom on television, radio channels, and workshops, inspiring fellow farmers on both local and global platforms.

His journey, however, was not just about accolades and achievements. It was about ensuring a sustainable future for agriculture. Sikander Singh was an ardent advocate for proper training and preparation before venturing into new farming practices. His emphasis on organic farming, minimal pesticide use, and the adoption of innovative methods echoed his unwavering commitment to the betterment of the land and its people.

The journey of Poultry farm

Sikander Singh Brar, established Sikander Poultry Farm in Balihar Mahima, Bathinda, in 1997. Starting as a modest venture with 5000 birds, it has evolved into a thriving enterprise that has a housing capacity of 35,000 birds of BV 300 breed. The Poultry farm is now managed by Amrinder Singh Brar who is a nephew of Sikander Singh Brar.

Amrinder Singh Brar holds a Masters in Agriculture from PAU and has been operating Sikander Poultry Farm in Bathinda since 2020. What started as a side business with 5000 birds has now grown to accommodate 27000 birds, including 15000 BV 300 red birds and 12000 BV 300 white birds. Under the guidance of his retired uncle, Nachhatar Singh Sran, a former Poultry Inspector, Amrinder modernized the farm to address challenges like water wastage and efficient feeding. By incorporating nipple waterers and feed trollies, Brar’s farm now operates semi-automatically, with human labor operating elevators to efficiently feed thousands of birds.

Vaccination is a crucial aspect of maintaining the health of the birds, with Brar administering 10 to 15 vaccinations to protect against diseases like CRD, Ranikhet, Fowlpox, and Coxy Variant. He emphasizes three primary factors for successful poultry farming: proper feed ingredients, constant water availability, and optimal temperature control. Despite challenges like fluctuating egg prices, Brar markets his products effectively through networking skills and has received recognition for his prominent poultry farm, as well as his ventures into horticulture and agriculture.

Amrinder Singh along with Sikander Singh are taking the Sikander Poultry Farm to new heights.

The Road Ahead: A Vision of Innovation

As Sikander Singh Brar looks to the future, his vision remains steadfast. He envisions a continued journey of growth, collaboration, and innovation. With his family by his side, he aims to explore uncharted territories, embracing change and transformation. His collaborations with experts and organizations stand as a testament to his humility and eagerness to learn.

Sikander Singh’s journey is a testament to the power of a single individual’s determination to create a better world. From a traditional farming family to a torchbearer of modern agricultural practices, he has illuminated the path of innovation for generations to come. His legacy will forever remind us that the desire to do something different can, indeed, compel humans to reach for the skies, turning dreams of innovation into tangible realities on the fertile soil of our land.

Message for farmers

For any new farmer aspiring to bring innovation in agriculture, it is crucial that they seek training and advice from relevant experts or organizations before initiating any new endeavors. After gaining the necessary knowledge, they can begin their work. Additionally, it is essential to minimize the use of pesticides and chemicals wherever possible and strive to adopt organic farming practices.

Mohammad Gafur

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The Inspiring Journey of Mohammad Gafur: From 1 Bigha to 65 Acres of Land

In the bustling town of Patiala, Punjab, a remarkable farmer named Mohammad Gafur has defied all odds to build a flourishing agricultural empire. Starting with just 1 bigha of land, he has now expanded his farming operations to an impressive 65 acres. Today, Gafur is an expert in the intricacies of farming, achieving remarkable success through his sheer determination and unwavering spirit.

Hailing from the town of Malerkotla, Mohammad Gafur’s life took an unexpected turn in 1983 when his father passed away. With the weight of responsibility on his young shoulders, he had to leave his studies and seek a way to support his family. Gafur’s journey in farming began with a small vegetable nursery. He soon realized that this was his true calling, and he was passionate about cultivating the land.

Gafur’s progress in farming was nothing short of extraordinary. In 1992, he seized an opportunity to get 6 to 7 acres of land on lease, belonging to Khalsa College. This marked a significant milestone in his journey. In the year 2000, Gafur expanded his farming operations to 20 acres and by 2004, his land grew to 31 acres. His relentless dedication and hard work yielded remarkable results. In 2017, Gafur’s land on lease reached a significant milestone of 41 acres, and today, he proudly practice farming on 65-acres of land on lease.

What sets Gafur apart from others is his ability to understand the complexities of farming purely through experience. He did not receive any formal training or guidance from any agricultural institute. With time, he mastered the art of farming and became well-versed in various agricultural techniques. Gafur’s journey is a testament to the value of hands-on experience and perseverance.

Throughout the years, Gafur experimented with different crops and irrigation methods to maximize his yields. In his early days, he worked in Sangrur Nehru Market and Moga, where he sold Paneeri. In 1991, he shifted to Rajpura and eventually settled in Patiala. It was during this time that Gafur began using the mulching irrigation method, which he has employed for the past 5 years. In addition, he uses a drip system for 15 acres of his land, receiving subsidies from both the Patiala officers and the central government for this initiative.

Gafur’s expertise extends not only to farming but also to crop planning. He strategically reserves 15 acres for vegetables, 5 acres for wheat, and 25 acres for paddy during their respective seasons. His knowledge of farming practices has earned him the respect of fellow farmers, who often seek his advice and assistance. Gafur generously helps others with vegetable farming and provides guidance regarding medicines and spray names.

Mohammad Gafur’s family has played a crucial role in his farming journey. While his three brothers continue to be actively engaged in farming, the rest of his siblings have established seed shops. In 2000, Gafur became an Army contractor and started selling 10 acres of his produce to them. This agreement has been ongoing and benefits both parties. As for the future, Gafur wishes to continue farming for as long as he can and has no intentions of leaving it in the hands of servants. His children are currently involved in successful businesses of their own and are not directly involved in farming.

Gafur’s farming endeavors have been profitable, with wheat and paddy on contracted land earning approximately 10,000 to 15,000 INR per acre. The cultivation of vegetables has the potential to generate even greater profits, ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 INR per acre. However, Gafur emphasizes the importance of not solely relying on these figures, as market rates can fluctuate. He advises farmers to carefully consider their investment and start from a smaller scale, gradually increasing their operations.

To manage his extensive farming operations, Gafur employs between 40 to 50 laborers during the busy season. As the season winds down, the number decreases to around 20. Looking ahead, Gafur remains dedicated to his farm and has no plans to retire. He firmly believes in staying humble and grounded and rejects any notions of accepting rewards. Gafur’s dedication, perseverance, and hard work continue to inspire farmers across the region.

Message to farmers

His message to fellow farmers is clear: do not rely solely on others; start small, gain experience, and steadily expand. Gafur’s legacy will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of farmers to weather the challenges and embrace the possibilities that lie within the realm of agriculture.

Karamjit Singh

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Karamjit Singh: Revitalizing Jaggery Production and Inspiring Farmers in Babbanpur

In the quaint village of Babbanpur, nestled in the heart of North India, resides a progressive farmer named Karamjit Singh. Known to most farmers in the region, Karamjit has revolutionized the jaggery production and selling through his dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to quality. With a rich family legacy in sugarcane farming, Karamjit has taken his ancestral expertise to new heights, introducing a range of unique jaggery flavors and expanding his market beyond borders. Today, Karamjit not only aspires to excel in exports but also dreams of promoting authentic Punjabi cuisine. His success story serves as an inspiration and guiding light for fellow farmers.

Karamjit Singh’s jaggery production venture has proven to be a profitable endeavor, surpassing the returns from traditional crop sales in the mandis. To establish a standard set-up, an investment of approximately Rs 18 lakhs is required. With sheer determination and meticulous planning, Karamjit manages 25 to 30 acres of sugarcane production, dedicating the entire harvest towards his jaggery production. Instead of sending the crop to mills, he channels all the raw material into his own processing unit, ensuring full control over the quality and value-added products.

By focusing on jaggery production, Karamjit has witnessed a significant increase in profits compared to conventional crop sales. The value addition and demand for his jaggery and related products have resulted in a remarkable 40% boost in overall earnings. This entrepreneurial shift has not only elevated his economic status but has also set a shining example for other farmers in the region. Karamjit’s success story serves as a testament to the potential of diversification and value addition within the agricultural sector.

Karamjit’s decision to prioritize jaggery production and invest in the necessary infrastructure has paid off. Instead of relying on the uncertain returns from selling raw sugarcane in the mandis, he has tapped into the lucrative market for jaggery and its various flavors. This strategic move has not only ensured better financial stability but has also enabled Karamjit to establish a niche for himself in the industry.

Karamjit’s journey into the world of jaggery production began with his grandfather, who started sugarcane farming and garnered numerous accolades from the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (PAU). Inspired by his grandfather’s achievements, Karamjit’s father established a sugarcane-processing unit eleven years ago, laying the foundation for Karamjit’s future endeavors.

To enhance his knowledge and skills, Karamjit sought training from the KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) cooperation and received further guidance from the PAU. Harnessing his newfound expertise, he introduced fifteen unique flavors to his jaggery production. Initially, Karamjit faced resistance from his village community, but his relentless pursuit of quality and his ability to upgrade machinery gradually won them over. Today, the villagers not only appreciate his products but also take pride in his achievements.

With a focus on marketing, Karamjit embraced social media platforms and participated in Kisan Melas (Farmer Fairs), which proved instrumental in establishing his name in the industry. Through these events, he showcased the diverse range of flavors he offered, attracting customers from far and wide. His jaggery products even found their way into international markets, marking a significant milestone in his entrepreneurial journey.

Karamjit Singh’s exceptional achievements extend beyond jaggery production. His prowess in the agricultural domain has been recognized in various fields, including dairy farming. His dedication and expertise led to receiving prestigious awards in this realm, establishing him as a notable figure closely associated with the Punjab Dairy Farmers Association (PDFA). In 2019, Karamjit’s remarkable efforts were acknowledged when he secured the first award from the esteemed Punjab Agricultural University. Moreover, his excellence in farming practices earned him a place among the top five farmers honored at the Chief Minister Awards. His talent was further recognized with a prize from the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in Karnal.

Karamjit’s pursuit of excellence did not stop at dairy farming alone. His passion for agriculture led him to diversify his endeavors. In addition to sugarcane farming, he cultivates corn and cotton on 25 acres of his land. With a keen eye for sustainability, Karamjit utilizes the byproducts of his sugarcane production as a valuable resource. The residues serve a dual purpose, being utilized as both a renewable fuel source and nutrient-rich organic manure. Furthermore, Karamjit has ventured into dairy farming, where he has earned numerous accolades year after year. At present, his livestock comprises five cows and five buffaloes, contributing to his thriving agricultural enterprise.

Karamjit encountered several challenges along the way. Maintaining the quality of his products required close supervision of labor, ensuring consistency and excellence. Additionally, marketing his products effectively on social media platforms demanded creative strategies and continuous engagement. However, with perseverance and determination, Karamjit overcame these obstacles, establishing a strong foothold in the market.

Karamjit’s success would not have been possible without the unwavering support of his joint family. Their belief in his vision and dedication has fueled his journey. Moreover, Karamjit’s children have also shown immense interest in his work, paving the way for a promising future.

Looking ahead, Karamjit aims to focus on expanding his export business and promoting authentic Punjabi cuisine, including delicacies such as corn bread, mustard leaf curry, and buttermilk. He envisions his products reaching every corner of the globe, highlighting the rich flavors of his region. Furthermore, Karamjit continues to engage in D practices, cultivating corn and cotton on his additional land.

Message to farmers

Driven by a desire to uplift fellow farmers, Karamjit aspires to be a beacon of guidance for those seeking to venture into jaggery production. He encourages farmers to closely observe his operations, from setting up the infrastructure to marketing the final products. Karamjit believes that sharing knowledge and experiences is vital for the growth and prosperity of the agricultural community.

Gurwinder Singh

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Gurwinder Singh: A Pioneer in Bee Farming and Fish Farming

Recognizing the potential for diversification, Gurwinder ventured into fish farming, implementing the RAS method. His farm boasts 15 tanks, each with a diameter of 4 feet and a depth of 4.5 feet, capable of accommodating 7000 fishes. With careful feeding and maintenance, the fish are ready for sale within 5 to 6 months, offering a considerable profit margin of ₹70,000 per tank.

Gurwinder’s success can be attributed to his meticulous approach and continuous learning. He availed a 5-day training program from a government centre in Haryana and extensively researched online to enhance his knowledge. Notably, he has introduced the Vietnamese and Singhi fish variety, which exhibits a low susceptibility to diseases.

An advantage of Gurwinder’s farming endeavours is their low labour requirement. A single person can manage bee farming, and the trading of fishes can be done directly with buyers or through the Mandi in Ludhiana. To maintain optimal conditions, the farm employs a well-designed roofing structure that aids in regulating temperatures throughout the year. In winter, the tanks are completely covered, while in summer, a green net cover is used, complemented by the RAS system filters. Temperature monitoring meters have also been installed to ensure precise control.

Gurwinder Singh’s success story demonstrates the potential of sustainable and profitable agriculture practices. Through his dedication and family support, he has transformed his small-scale ventures into flourishing enterprises. Aspiring farmers can learn from his experiences and strive to make a difference in the agricultural landscape by embracing innovative approaches and leveraging the wealth of opportunities available closer to home.

Message to farmers

Gurwinder Singh’s achievements stand as an inspiration to fellow farmers. He encourages them to explore local opportunities and highlights the importance of focusing on labour within India, even in small-scale businesses. In a noble gesture, he extends his support by offering free training to any farmer interested in learning these techniques.

Chamkaur Singh

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Cultivating Success: Chamkaur Singh’s Journey in Farming and Contract Agriculture

In Ina Baja, a small village nestled in the heart of Punjab, a man named Chamkaur Singh has carved a name for himself in the field of agriculture. With a passion for farming deeply ingrained in his soul, Chamkaur has transformed his humble beginnings into a flourishing enterprise that encompasses a variety of crops and provides employment to fifty individuals.

Chamkaur’s journey commenced in 1991 when he took his first steps into the world of farming. Inspired by the bountiful fields of his friend, he resolved to learn the intricacies of agricultural practices. With unwavering determination, he sought guidance from the esteemed university, which equipped him with the necessary skills and knowledge to embark on his farming venture.

Starting with a meager two canal land, Chamkaur initially focused on cultivating potatoes. The success he achieved in this endeavor fueled his ambitions, leading him to expand his operations to two acres. In due course, he diversified his crops to include tomatoes, cotton, paddy, wheat, capsicum, and cauliflower. Over time, his enterprise expanded exponentially, now spanning over fifty acres of land.

Notably, twenty-five acres of Chamkaur’s vast expanse are dedicated solely to tomato cultivation. Recognizing the potential in this crop, he established a strong partnership with the esteemed Crevice Company. Every day, two trucks laden with freshly harvested tomatoes depart from his farm, destined to meet the demands of Crevice’s discerning clientele. To enhance his expertise in tomato farming, Chamkaur sought training from Balwinder Singh Bhalimansa in Hisar, specifically focusing on the selection and management of tomato seeds.

Chamkaur’s dedication and proficiency did not go unnoticed. In 2008, he was honored with an award from the Chief Minister of Punjab, recognizing his outstanding contributions to agriculture. His expertise in crop diseases and management has made him a trusted resource for private companies, who often choose his farms as ideal locations to conduct demonstrations for their new agricultural products. Despite his achievements, Chamkaur remains modest and shy on stage, preferring to let his work speak for itself.

In addition to his accomplishments, Chamkaur has been a beneficiary of various subsidies from the Horticulture department. These subsidies have facilitated the acquisition of essential equipment such as crates, spray pumps, power meters, and even a small air conditioner. Chamkaur acknowledges that problems are an inherent part of life, and instead of succumbing to them, he embraces challenges and strives to forge ahead, armed with resilience and determination.

One of Chamkaur’s notable endeavors has been his involvement in contract farming. In 1994, he embarked on tomato farming and wisely chose to divide his yield. Half of his produce was sold to a local factory, ensuring a steady income, while the remaining half made its way to the open market. Over time, he established a partnership with Punjab Agro and eventually forged an association with Crevice, a decision that proved immensely beneficial.

Through his experiences, Chamkaur has recognized the merits of contract farming. The fixed rates offered in such arrangements mitigate the risks associated with uncertain market prices, providing stability and security for farmers. Furthermore, collaborating with companies grants access to invaluable technical knowledge that enhances a farmer’s understanding and facilitates their growth. Chamkaur firmly believes that every farmer should consider joining contract farming and offers himself as a resource, willing to extend a helping hand to fellow agriculturists. He is prepared to provide training and nursery facilities but emphasizes that hard work is essential for success.

Chamkaur Singh’s achievements extend beyond farming alone. He has also ventured into the production and sale of G2 and G3-level potatoes.

Message to farmers

If you are a diligent, hardworking farmer seeking support, a valuable opportunity awaits. Reach out to Chamkaur Singh, he offers not only guidance but also training and nursery services. Seize the chance to enhance your skills, access resources, and cultivate a prosperous future.

Sarabjit Singh Grewal

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Sowing Seeds of Resilience: Sarabjit Singh’s Journey as a Progressive Farmer

In the vibrant city of Patiala, where the fields stretched as far as the eye could see, resided a progressive farmer named Sarabjit Singh Grewal. Blessed with 6.5 acres of fertile land, Sarabjit embarked on his journey in fruit farming in the year 1983. His early years were filled with enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge as he tirelessly cultivated various fruit crops.

Sarabjit’s passion for agriculture was deeply rooted in his family’s background. His father, Sardar Jagdayl Singh, had retired from Panjab Agriculture University’s Horticulture department in 1980 and was also involved in establishing the Fruit Research Centre in Bathinda. Growing up, Sarabjit was inspired by his father’s expertise and guidance, and it was in 1983 that he decided to pursue agriculture.

Refusing to be disheartened by setbacks, Sarabjit delved into extensive research to enhance his farming practices. With a Master’s and PhD in Zoology from Punjabi University, Sarabjit had a strong academic background that further fueled his thirst for knowledge. He voraciously read books on horticulture and sought information from the vast realm of the internet. Through his dedicated research, Sarabjit gained a wealth of knowledge that allowed him to make informed decisions about his farming endeavors.

In 2018, after nearly fifteen years of experimentation with different crops such as guava, Indian gooseberry, and pomegranate, Sarabjit made a strategic decision to focus on cultivating plum, guava, and peaches. Drawing from the lessons learned from his previous experiences, he carefully studied the unique requirements of peach trees, ensuring that the soil, water, and climate conditions were ideal for their growth. He also adopted the package of practices recommended by Panjab Agriculture University (PAU) and sought guidance from horticulture officers.

Sarabjit’s peach orchard flourished as he embraced the challenges that came with fruit farming. He understood the importance of close plantation and dedicated individual care and attention to each tree, including proper pruning, pest control, and disease prevention. His unwavering dedication and countless hours spent monitoring his trees resulted in a bountiful harvest.

To establish a market for his produce, Sarabjit relied on the services of an intermediary. He recognized the significance of building a strong network to connect with potential buyers and ensure fair prices for his hard-earned fruits. This allowed him to focus on the cultivation process, confident that his fruits would reach eager consumers.

As the sun sets over Sarabjit’s peach orchard, the fruits of his labor stand tall as a testament to his unwavering dedication. His choice of the Shan-e-Punjab species of peach, along with the cultivation of apples, plums, and even exotic fruits like dragon fruit, showcases his adaptability and willingness to explore new horizons in fruit farming. Sarabjit’s success story highlights the importance of knowledge, resilience, and a deep love for the land in achieving agricultural excellence.

Message to farmers

Sarabjit encourages fellow farmers to persevere through the inevitable difficulties, for the joy and satisfaction derived from a life devoted to nurturing the land are immeasurable. He also acknowledges that there may be limitations to earning potential in the fruit farming industry, but the rewards go beyond monetary gains.

Gur Rajneesh

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A journey from Corporate to being a Composter- Gur Rajneesh

About the farmer: Gur Rajneesh holds a distinguished management degree from School of Business Studies, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He holds a significant corporate career of 16 years in Banking & Finance and has worked for Citi Group, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank. 2019 was the year when he started conceptualizing and later after a lot of research he built up his own venture named Nature’s Aashirvaad a commercial vermicomposting unit for production of vermicompost and vermiculture.

Let’s Understand Vermicomposting: This basically means “worm-farming” where earthworms feed on the organic waste materials and give out excreta in the form of “vermicasts” that are rich in nitrates and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and potassium. These are used as fertilizers and enhance soil quality.

Taking the journey ahead: Gur Rajnish’s journey started when he was at the phase of building and ideating, a lot of research and analysis was ongoing from his end to build the right product and process to benefit his end user. This duration was witnessed by Covid 19 which did delay certain aspects with him but a lot of quality work was done like, website, logo designing, trademark registration, packing designs, searching the vendors for packing materials and other equipment’s. Later, during June 2020, some land was taken on lease by him and this established a vermicomposting unit with just 15 beds and from there it was no looking back. Finally in October he laid his resignation and by this time his production, packing material website was ready and the Online Digital marketing campaigns were running.

As production was very less in the first few lots, it was not advisable to target the farming sector first. The feasible option was to target the Urban gardening space, he launched a campaign to get the “Free Sample” of my vermicompost. People gave him their addresses to supply free samples and he himself went home to home to provide free samples for gardening which was loved by the people of TriCity. Eventually he started getting good orders and references for business. Post this familiarity he went ahead to launch his product on various marketplaces like (Amazon/ Flipkart/Meesho /Jiomart etc). He equally got an amazing response because his Branding and Packing was very attractive and with true genuineness.

Beyond Farming: With the focus to help soil stay in good health. We all need to know and understand that nature is the best teacher for farming, so we need to think broader and it’s high time to think about enriching our soil with pure organic feed and what better than using vermicompost. This is a mechanism to maintain a pollution-free environment and in an ecological manner. Gur Rajneesh built products which are an ideal option to achieve the goal of sustainable organic farming/gardening.” With this motive, he started having farmers to visit his plant and as more and more farmers started visiting the farm, new initiative started to be and later he termed it as “Punjab Vermicomposting Training center”.

The aim of his organization is to popularize organic farming in Punjab, generate awareness amongst city folks and farmers and help develop a market for organic foods within the country.

Punjab Vermicomposting Training center provides proper training to start a unit at farmers’s own place. He helped them to provide good quality earthworms and also helped to set up infrastructure With providing a proper training to set up vermibeds, pits from initial stage to till production.

He have regular training programs scheduled at his Mohali Farm every Saturday from 11 a.m. In addition, this is a free service for farmers and people who want to learn vermicomposting. Apart from this he provides consultancies to various Vermicomposting Units and Organic Growers.

It takes immense pleasure to share that he has trained 500+ farmers and young agripreneurs on pro-bono basis.

Currently, he has a supply to households, resorts, residential projects, residential societies, framers, nurseries and hotels.

Vision

To be a trustworthy and innovative global leader in providing genuine organic input products and solutions for organic farming in India and to become the household name in urban gardening space.

Mission

To shape the future of Indian Farmers with our comprehensive organic inputs that helps in maintaining ecological balance.

Values

Total integrity
Absolute commitment to quality
Respect and devotion to Mother Nature
No compromise on being who we are

Commitment

To deliver genuine organic input products to our consumers.
To introduce a unique and successful business model that is committed to service and integrity, and benefits all.
To support natural, sustainable, organic, agriculture practices that serve and protect Mother Nature.
To support the livelihood and well-being of farmers across rural India.
To encourage entrepreneurship among youth.

Ram Vilas

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The Blooming Terrace

As you can imagine, a beautiful garden is equivalent to a valley full of flowers. Can you imagine the same on a terrace? A terrace which showcases plants and flowers of a varied variety including hibiscus, jasmine, roses, orchids, sunflowers, dahlias, cacti, petunias, bougainvillea, chrysanthemums, dianthus, cineraria, and other types of blooming plants. You have to admit, it is a rather idealistic description.

Ram Vilas of Haryana facilitated the cultivation of tens of thousands of edible and decorative plants on his four-story terrace. Around four thousand buckets, containers, clay pots, cement barrels, and the like are neatly stacked on the green-matted terrace floor, which keeps things cool even when the sun is beating down.

A successful businessman by profession in the construction sector who built his passion for gardening into an inspiration for others. 25 years ago, when he started, it was just 8 pots which have grown to many hundred in numbers.

The humble beginnings

Mr. Ram Vilas spent a great deal of time and effort cultivating a beautiful terrace garden above his home, and he has been proudly displaying it to his guests via a video he filmed. When he finally chose to share them online, he found that they were instantly a hit on YouTube. Because of the positive response to his rooftop garden, he has been asked to make additional gardening-related films, especially instructional ones.

Therefore, the flowers he had planted began to spread to other gardens throughout the world. He started handing away his organic fertilisers in response to audience requests after they had failed to get the same results in their own gardens. As a result, a company was founded, and its product is today known as “Grace of God Organic.” In the year 2020, he established this label.

To this day, Ram Vilas ji may look across the world with pride knowing that he has assisted around twenty to thirty lakh individuals in reforesting the planet.

He really wants to help people through his platform to get quick results, practical solutions, and prompt replies, which are highly valued by individuals turning to the internet for home gardening advice.

Using his channel on YouTube, he teaches people about organic gardening and shows them how effective those methods can be.

He has been an inspiration to many amateur gardeners with his terrace garden, which has more than four thousand pots. He hopes to motivate and assist others through the presentation of his gardening methods’ successes.

He is able to cultivate a wide variety of edible plants. Rather than selling finished produce from his terrace garden, he offers consumers the chance to cultivate their own produce by purchasing plant seeds and young saplings.

Ram Vilas’s garden is home to a wide variety of plants and flowers, including seeds and saplings for all kinds of summer and winter flowers; seeds and saplings for all kinds of summer and winter vegetables; buds for all kinds of summer and winter flowers; and small trees for nearly every imaginable fruit and vegetable.

Ram Vilas himself cultivates all of the seedlings using only natural fertilisers. Chemical fertilisers are something he really opposes.

Total square footage of the land: 13,500

Ram Vilas has a YouTube channel with over 3 million followers where he discusses gardening and other topics of interest to his audience. Over the course of the previous two years, he has taught online gardening lessons to well over a hundred pupils.

His favourite leisure of gardening has deepened his enthusiasm and interest. A passion, which did not grow through the internet, videos, or learning. In fact, a skill which sharpened by giving consistent efforts and dedicated time to see the prosperity of results. People from nearby states like Maharashtra, UP, and Uttrakhand have shown keen interest apart from England and France who have paid a visit to his garden and learned from the actions undertaken.

From an early age, he had a passion for gardening that has only grown stronger over time. In particular, flowers of all hues captivated him. After seeing a field of bright blooms, he longed for the day when he could bring home a seedling and nurture it into maturity. This was the original inspiration for his outdoor patio. Tree and plant populations gradually grew in his small garden. For the past few years, he has also introduced a large number of common fruit and vegetable plants.

These blossoms maintain a healthy garden aesthetic while also lowering the air pollution Level. Even though Karnal is a much-polluted city, this terrace garden maintains its natural beauty and purity throughout the whole year.

Cabbage, beets, beans, cauliflower, zucchini, tomato, white brinjal, lemon, mushroom, radish, chilli, snake gourd, and ash gourd are only a few of the crops cultivated by Ram Vilas. Spinach, coriander leaves, mint leaves, basil, ashwagandha (winter cherry), strawberry, guava, dragon fruit, papaya, peach, mango, banana, plum, and strawberry are just some of the leafy greens and fruits he cultivates on his terrace.

Ram Vilas claims to collect five different kinds of them every day.

He uses handmade compost and fertiliser to grow all of his plants organically. There will be a short-lived increase in agricultural yield due to the use of chemical fertilisers he believes.

Mr. Ram Vilas’s cultivation is vast, but he does not consider gardening as his source of income. He is very happy to share his harvest with his friends, family and his neighbors but monetary sales is a strict no for him. “Sometimes people ask for a certain plant sapling which is also given for free unless they are any rare plants,” he says.

He states, “All the saplings are collected from garden nurseries and experienced gardeners from Haryana. I also have a habit of bringing plants after trips and visits made to various parts of the world.”

Ram Vilas especially believes for the motto of gardening is happiness and self-satisfaction. What is equivalent to the pleasure of seeing a new flower in a sapling that you planted? This is the only reason why he manages a garden despite his busy schedule.

Mr. Ram Vilas plans to add many more varieties to his already existing vast collection in the coming years in the hopes of inspiring people to grow their plants, which will also help in improving the air quality index of the city. “Despite the degrading air quality, my family at home manages to breathe better air. Mr. Ram Vilas hopes that people realise the importance of having greenery around them and put together a small garden,” he concludes.

He states, “When it comes to home gardening, people prioritize getting results and receiving practical solutions and quick responses when seeking online help. This is where we strive to excel”.

VISION

Ram Vilas wants to continue helping billions of people in building their dream gardens and ultimately bringing back the greenery and cleanliness of nature to where it was.

His viewers have been his biggest supporters, and this motivates him to generate and create more content to educate people about terrace farming. Ram Vilas never forces anyone to buy his products; he aims to provide people with organic solutions for their gardens.

Message for farmers

Ram Vilas firmly believes chemicals, which are cheaper, are the convenient option to follow, and should be replaced with organic manure as they have overall benefits for the betterment of society and the environment.

Jagmohan Singh Nagi

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Corn King of Punjab

Jagmohan Singh Nagi is an avid farmer and food producer who hails from Batala, Punjab. His father was a factory mechanic and always wanted him to get into the food industry. Kulwant Nutrition started in 1989 with a single plant and a small batch of corn and is now a thriving business with annual sales more than Rs 7 crore.

Contract farmer Jagmohan (now 63) cultivates 300 acres (about half the area of Central Park in New York City) of land, growing corn, mustard, wheat, and various vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes, and beets. For this he is associating and working with 300 farmers in the Indian states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, supplying food to companies such as PepsiCo, Kellogg’s and Domino’s Pizza. Outside the US, he also ships to the UK, New Zealand, Dubai, and Hong Kong. Years before the partition, he and his family were Karachiites.

Before settling in Punjab, Mr Nagi, Jagmohan’s father, moved to Mumbai with his family. Despite the widespread need, there was an acute shortage of technicians to maintain the grain mills. Because of this, his father jumped at the chance. One of Jagmohan’s father’s goals was to get his son a job in the restaurant business. However, he went to Birmingham University in the UK to study grain milling and grain/food engineering as there were no suitable programs in Punjab at that time. Back in India, he established Kulwant Nutrition Farm. Things did not go well at first as he struggled to harvest enough corn without help. However, at that time there was not a good corn crop in Punjab, so their factory collapsed. Therefore, despite the astronomical cost of shipping from there, he started buying corn from the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh. He then worked with Punjab Agricultural University to connect the school with businesses to ensure a successful harvest. The institution has provided high-quality seeds to farmers, and Mr. Nagi said he often buys agricultural products from these farmers. There is an old saying that effort is never wasted. Kellogg’s was his first customer.

In 1991, Jagmohan started working as a contract farmer trying to learn how to farm on his own. Mr. Jagmohan began working at PepsiCo in 1992, producing corn for the Kurkure snack. He says he needed about 1,000 tons of corn a month. He has also been supplying Domino’s Pizza since 1994. Mr Jagmohan started growing and producing vegetables and other preserves in 2013.

Although his farming business was thriving, COVID presented several challenges. When the pandemic broke out, the supply chain was immediately affected by COVID. Grocery stores have remained open, although many other businesses have closed because they are considered a basic service. Therefore, Jagmohan Singh focused on basic products such as organic corn flour and wheat flour. He wants to cultivate mustard oil, grains and chia seeds.

His company employs 70 people and thanks to him, farmers and agricultural students receive free training. They teach farmers about the latest cultivation methods and profitable marketing strategies. He wants to spread his learnings from an anecdote, which explained that selling ghee and cottage cheese are more profitable alternatives to selling milk.

As Jagmohan put it, “Government must nurture and promote agricultural enterprises at the local level” if it wants to encourage young people to enter farming. Food and agricultural technology are also to be supported. He advises farmers that strictly following instructions is the best way to achieve good results and avoid financial losses. Instead of following trends, farmers should carefully select the crops that will grow well in their area. A step will greatly improve their bottom line.

Message for farmers

Being a farmer himself, Mr Nagi encourages other farmers to learn as much as possible and try new things. Those who cultivate the land must prioritize profitable crops. Millet, vegetables, and fruit trees should surround these fields. Instead of selling raw milk, he advises farmers to process the milk into products like barfis and other Indian sweets.

Devendra Parmar

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The man who made his own fuel- Devendra Parmar

The mantra to make agriculture a profitable business can be learned from Devendra Parmar, a farmer from Shajapur in Madhya Pradesh (MP). Due to the skill of eighth pass Devendra, he is now being called by the name “Gas Guru.” Devendra Parmar makes electricity and bio-CNG from his biogas plant. With this bio CNG, he even runs his car and tractor.

The story of Devendra Parmar is very interesting. He has a dairy business along with farming. He purchases milk from nearby villages and transports it via loading vehicles, cars, and tractors.

Every day, he had to put Rs 3,000 worth of diesel and gasoline in the vehicles. In addition, he had to put Rs 3,000 in cow dung cakes for diesel and petrol. Distressed by this expense, he converted his own cow dung gas plant into a biogas plant.

An engineer from Bihar helped in setting up the plant that cost Rs 25 lakhs for him. Now 70 kg of gas is being produced daily in balloons from the plant in the field itself. Using this as CNG, Bolero pickup vehicles, Alto cars, tractors, and bikes are being run without any cost.

This is how electricity, fertilizer, and fuel are made from biogas plants

Devendra Parmar of Patlavada village, 55 km from Shajapur district headquarters, has only passed 8th grade. Devendra takes care of 100 milch animals. He is not only running his vehicles from the biogas plant installed on the farm but is also generating electricity along with vermicompost. Apart from 70 kg of gas, 100 units of electricity are being generated daily from the plant. He is earning three thousand rupees daily by selling earthworm manure and four thousand rupees by selling milk. In this way, he is getting an income of about 2 lakh 10 thousand rupees in a month and about 25 lakh rupees annually.

Know the calculation for converting biogas to electricity

Devendra says that he has seven bighas of land. He did not use chemical fertilisers for the last four years. Along with this, there are 100 milch animals. Due to this, 25 quintals of cow dung are accumulated daily. Cow dung is fed into a 100-cubic-metre biogas plant through an automatic machine. As a result, 100 units, or 12 KW, of electricity are generated. Cow dung waste is used to make earthworm manure. 300 kg of organic manure is sold at Rs 10 per kg. The manure is only taken by farmers from the surrounding villages.

This is how fuel for vehicles is made

Devendra explained that the gas produced in the biogas plant from 2,500 kg of cow dung contains 60 per cent methane and 40 per cent carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is separated from water and oil by purifying it, which results in carbon dioxide and water exiting a pipe together. Methane gas comes into the balloon from the second pipe. The compressor delivers this gas to vehicles in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG). It outperforms diesel in terms of mileage by 15 kilowatt-hours per kilogram.

Parmar’s story is a true inspiration of where there’s a will there’s a way. His hard work & perseverance has helped him achieve the title the “The Gas Guru of India”

Message for farmers

Mr. Parmar believes farmers should keep upskilling themselves in order to manage their finances. Farmers should always seek new opportunities & ways to add a source income rather than sticking to existing methods of farming.

Adnan Ali Khan

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A Token of gift from Kashmir

This is the story of a man who’s been ingrained with farming skills since his childhood. A fourth-generation farmer and entrepreneur from Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir, with ten years of national and international project management, agribusiness, product development, innovation, production, and planning management experience. Adnan Ali Khan has completed his B.E. in Industrial Production Engineering from Bharati Vidyapeeth University in Pune and his MBA in Marketing and HR from the Islamic University of Science and Technology in Awantipora, J&K.

He has started his startup, AL Kareem Souq Pvt. Ltd., with the brand name “TUFA,” in 2019 with a vision and mission to empower farmers in J&K. “TUFA “in Arabic means apple.

The main focus of his startup, “TUFA,” was to remove the middleman from the Agriculture and Horticulture value chain by branding, marketing, and selling products via online and offline modes directly to customers or business-to-business, which increased marginal farmers’ profit by 30% to 40%. Also, many other AgriTech startups will come forward to take the lead in this direction. The primary goal is to increase the value of Kashmiri products such as apples, walnuts, almonds, saffron, and others while making them more affordable to customers.

After conquering success in selling apples, he decided to innovatively package apples in J&K, which has encouraged him to introduce other premium products from Kashmir, like saffron, walnuts, almonds, shilajit, lavender oil, kahwa, and others, to the pan-Indian market.

Adnan Ali received a huge response from customers across the country and abroad. He not only manufactures but also brands, markets, and sells his products without the use of any middlemen. This model has increased the income of farmers, and their bargaining power has increased. The main goal was to create a startup ecosystem in J&K so that the agriculture and horticulture industries could reach new heights.

It occurred to him in 2010 while conducting research that farmers are exploited by middlemen, with farmers receiving only 20% of the price spread. Mr. Khan has a management background. He started doing research and found that there was a huge gap between the wholesale price and the retail price.

Adnan found that there is huge demand for Kashmiri products, which are premium products. Tufa started with small packs of apples and supplied them to supermarkets in Kashmir, and it was a huge hit with customers. Then he started with other products like saffron, walnut, almond, lavender oil, etc.

Adnan Ali Khan strives to achieve excellence in agro-product development by helping marginal farmers using the principles of equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

His mission is to become a successful agro-farmer at the national level by offering assistance to marginal agro-farmers in the exploration of market opportunities, the achievement of direct and seamless connectivity, and integration with the mainstream market through technological intervention.

“TUFA” is truly a gift from nature, as all products are natural and straight from the farm, with no adulteration or preservatives. Most products have mineral, nutritional, and medicinal value, like walnut, almond, saffron, lavender oil, etc. The bright side is that organic products are 30% less expensive than other brands in the market. The quality is unmatched.

List of products

Apple, Walnut, Almond, Saffron, Shilajit, Lavender Oil, Gulkand,
Figs, Cranberry, Blue Berry, Rajma Dal,
Kahwa Tea, Honey, Masala Tikki, Red Chilli Powder,
Lavender Tea, Apricot, Walnut Oil, Almond Oil, Apple Pickle, Apple Chutney, etc.

Khan has been lucky in starting his initiative, as he was supported by everyone during his journey. His family and mentors have been a constant source of support. Also, his initiative was supported & praised by many dignitaries, like NIAM Jaipur, Vice Chancellor SKUAST Kashmir, Vice Chancellor IUST Kashmir, Director CIED IUST, and Director General Horticulture Kashmir. Among those present were the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of J&K, UT President Shri Manoj Sinha, and J&K farmers.

Future Aim

His plan is to create a franchise model for selling premium Kashmiri products. Adnan will have a pan-India presence, and we will try to introduce more unique products from Kashmir. He wishes to be live on, Flipkart, and Amazon so that he can serve all customers. He is also attempting to establish physical stores across India through the franchise model. He wants to grow his business at the pan-India level.

Challenges

There are many personal challenges that Adnan faced in terms of initial investment, lack of knowledge, and expertise. During COVID-19, all operations were halted. Now things have eased out, and we are moving in the right direction.

Adnan Ali expresses his desire to make ‘TUFA’ the first unicorn from J&K in the next 10 years. He wants to provide a platform for marginal farmers to sell their produce directly to customers without the intervention of a middleman. He believes that every day he is working towards his purpose of creating a brand for premium Kashmiri products that will offer quality products at a reasonable price.

Message for Farmers

Farmers must be self-assured, establish their own businesses, sell their own products, and eliminate the middleman from the agribusiness value chain. We must work hard to achieve the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India’s goal of doubling the income of every farmer.

Dharambir Kamboj

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From Rags to Riches

Dharambir Kamboj, from rickshaw puller to successful innovator, was born in Damla Village, Haryana, in 1963. He was the youngest of five siblings. During his early teens, Dharambir was forced to stop studying to provide financial support to his family. Dharambir Kamboj, who once struggled to make ends meet, now sells his patented machines to 15 countries and earns lakhs of rupees per year.

In the early 80s, Dharambir Kamboj was among the thousands who left their villages and moved to Delhi in search of a better livelihood. His efforts were futile because he lacked a degree, so he took on odd jobs to support himself.

Dharambir Singh Kamboj has an extraordinary rags-to-riches story, and it is all about perseverance that has led to him becoming a farmer-entrepreneur who now is earning in lakhs. 59-year-old Dharambir Kamboj, has a life that combines both hardships and a dash of luck!

Life, according to Dharambir Kamboj, an innovator who overcame many obstacles on his path to success, is all about triumphing over your weaknesses and continuing to work hard. This multifaceted entrepreneur wears many hats. Kamboj is best known for his multipurpose processing machine, which allows farmers to process a variety of farm products on a small scale.

Dharambir found peace in a public library near the Old Delhi railway station after working as a cycle rickshaw puller in Delhi for a year. In his spare time, he would read about farming topics such as growing exotic crops such as broccoli, asparagus, lettuce, and bell peppers. “Delhi was a learning experience for him,” he says. However, following an accident in Delhi, he relocated to his native village in Haryana.

He returned to his village after recovering from his injuries in the accident. For six months, he participated in a training program run by the village development society to learn more about improving agricultural practices.

In 2004, he was given the opportunity to visit Rajasthan by the Haryana Horticulture Department. During the visit, Dharambir interacted with farmers to learn about the aloe vera crop and its extracts for obtaining products with medicinal value.

Dharambir returned from his Rajasthan visit looking for ways to market the aloe vera and other processed products as profitable ventures. In 2002, he met with a bank manager, who educated him on the machinery needed for food processing but quoted him Rs 5 lakh for machines.

“The pricing of the machine was exorbitant,” Dharambir said in an interview. “My first prototype of a multipurpose processing machine was completed after a Rs. 25,000 investment and an eight-month effort.”

Kamboj’s multi-purpose machine is a portable machine with a single-phase motor that can process a variety of fruits, herbs, and seeds.

It also functions as a large pressure cooker with temperature control and an auto-cutoff feature.

The machine has a 400-liter capacity. In an hour, it can process 200 liters of aloe vera. The machine is lightweight and portable, and it is powered by a single motor. It is a one-of-a-kind machine capable of pulverizing, mixing, steaming, pressure cooking, and juice, oil, or gel extraction on its own.

Dharambir’s Multi-Purpose Processing Machine has garnered a lot of recognition. The National Innovation Foundation also granted him a patent for this machine.

These machines are sold by Dharambir Kamboj in 15 countries, including the United States, Italy, Nepal, Australia, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Uganda.

In 2009, National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF), presented him with the Haryana State Award for his invention of the multipurpose processing machine at its Fifth National Biennial Awards function.

As Dharambir once stated, “People teased me when I first started my experiments.” They were never interested in me. “When I was working hard and conducting various experiments, my father thought I was wasting my time.”

Dharambir Kamboj, popularly known as ‘Kissan Dharambir’ also received a National Award from the President of India in 2013

Dharamveer Food Processing was one of six companies chosen by the Villgro Innovations Foundation and the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) for the Powering Livelihoods program to help India’s rural economy in 2020. The Rs 22 crore program, according to a CEEW statement at the program’s launch, provides capital and technical assistance to Indian enterprises working on clean energy-based livelihood solutions. The initiative also provided a total of Rs 1 crore in emergency funding to six selected businesses to help them cope with the COVID crisis.

“Before this program, Dharamveer had very little production.” It went from four machines in a month to 15-20 in a month. The revenue also increased rapidly. This program assisted Mr. Kamboj & his son Prince with mentoring and guidance on how to increase production using methods such as solar-powered machines. Villgro also provided Dharamveer Processing Company with approximately Rs 55 lakh during Covid. Dharamveer & his son Prince were able to train multiple people on how to operate the machine and generate employment through social media.

Future Plans

The company plans to export its food processing machines to around 100 countries in the next five years, with a revenue target of Rs 2 crore this fiscal year and around Rs 10 crore by FY27. So far, Kamboj has sold approximately 900 machines, employing approximately 8,000 people.

Message for farmers

Dharambir Singh believes farmers should be able to process what they cultivate that will give them the independence to earn more income. More government schemes & training should be implemented , conducted so that farmers can upskill themselves from time to time & can avail opportunities that would help them secure a future.

Narendra and Lokesh

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A tale of two friends

If we talk about India, then people do a lot of animal husbandry here. People’s attachment to animals, their maintenance, and their different affinities with them are seen here.

Let us tell you that India has the first place in the world in terms of number of buffaloes, the second place in terms of cow and goat farms, and the third place in terms of number of sheep. Animal husbandry brings in crores of rupees here each year. Today you will read about Narendra and Lokesh, residents of Haryana, India, who started Yaduvanshi Goat Farm and are earning crores of rupees by rearing goats. They both studied at the Army School. Narendra and his friend Lokesh are residents of Narnaul in Mahendragarh district in the state of Haryana. Both had been friends since childhood. Both of them completed their early education at the Army School. Narendra then pursued B.Tech., while his friend Lokesh completed his MCA studies. There was such a friendship between the two that they completed their studies together.

Narendra stated that when he and his friend Lokesh used to study together, both of them did not want to do business. Later, while working at a regular job, they planned to expand their business. Both of them liked their jobs and were earning lakhs of rupees, but both of them made a plan to do something of their own. With this thought, both of them started goat farming. Yaduvanshi Goat Farm was then founded in 2016.

Talking about the farm for goats, Narendra says that if someone is thinking about goat farming, then first of all it is necessary to have a big farm for it. Narendra and Lokesh also prepared a campus of about 3.5 acres for goat rearing. He has an acre and a half of goat land and two acres of green grass for goats. They exclusively deal with the Totapari variety of goat.

Narendra and Lokesh are goat breeders with the largest stall-feeding farm in Haryana. On Narendra’s farm, he has made arrangements for goats to live here according to their age. Young goats are kept in one place. On the other hand, there is a separate arrangement for goats whose age is one year. The goats are segregated on the basis of their age and biological well-being.

There is also a separate arrangement for goats older than one year. They say that it is better if the windows in the goats’ rooms are a little closer to the ground, as this keeps the ground cool. He also advises people not to keep windows at a higher height. Before opening Yaduvanshi Goat Farm, Narendra and Lokesh ensured special care for goats. Proper arrangements have been made for the goats to stay on the farm (Yaduvanshi Goat Farm). Green trees have been planted inside the premises so that the goats get constant shade. Along with their roaming inside the farm, complete arrangements have been made for food and water. An iron feeding structure that can rotate has been installed, and small plastic drums have also been arranged for them to drink water so that they do not face any kind of problem.

Since both friendships have been irreparable throughout this journey, their respective families took pride in their friendship and have been supporting them through their highs and lows.

The health of the goats is also taken into consideration at Narendra and Lokesh’s Yaduvanshi Goat Farm. Narendra says I take care of these goats like my children. From the time they are born until they reach adulthood, he is responsible for their health. Vaccines, medicines, and food are also provided for them following birth. A health checkup is also done from time to time. Goats are vaccinated under the supervision of a veterinarian, and a high nutritional value for goats is maintained all throughout, with no repeat breeding and no virus outbreaks to date.

Narendra says that a virus named Brucella forms quickly in goats. This virus is extremely dangerous and can spread to humans; as a result, blood tests of goats are performed on a regular basis. He says that goats have a designated feed at Yaduvanshi Goat Farm. Special care is taken with regard to the nourishment and upkeep of these goats.

There are now more than a thousand goats on their farm. Yaduvanshi Goat Farm, goats are reared well, Earlier, its number was 500–600, but now the number of goats is increasing rapidly. By the way, up to 3000 goats can be kept on the farm built by Narendra and Lokesh.

Talking about the profit of Yaduvanshi Goat Farm, today Narendra and Lokesh are earning crores annually by selling goats for meat and goat milk. He also sells manure made from goat dung, which costs up to 2,000 rupees for one trolley of cow dung. There is even better income from this. It is used as manure, which is very beneficial for the fields.

Along with goat rearing, Narendra and Lokesh also provide training in goat rearing. If someone is short on money, then such people are given free training. During the training, they are taught everything they need to know about goat rearing. It is also told about the problems in goat rearing. Today, many people are opening their own businesses after getting training from them. It is believed in their locality that these two friends have set an example by opening up such a phenomenal goat farm. These two friends were the first ones to make people in their area aware of goat rearing in their area.

Both the friends share their personal beliefs: everyone wants to eat goat meat, but no one wants to keep it. If you want to eat meat, then goats will also have to be raised properly. For goat farming, he says that this business cannot be successful until the goats are taken care of from birth until they grow up. If there is a slight deficiency or negligence, it can harm your business, and if all things are done well, this business will also provide you with crores of rupees.

For those interested in goat farming and rearing, they run a YouTube channel by the name of Yaduvanshi Goat Farm in order to train people with respect to the upkeep of goats.

Future Aim

Narendra and Lokesh want to export their goats to Gulf countries, where the prices are much higher, to earn more profit. They are also planning to open up new farms so that they can get help in terms of quantity for export business in Gulf countries.

Challenges

The main challenge in livestock is labour management. With an annual increase in raw materials, the costs flare up. There was previously little commercial knowledge of the goat farming model that Narendra and Lokesh established in order for their own business to thrive.

Message for farmers

Their message is to be patient and get proper training before starting any livestock business. Also, wait at least 2 years in goat farming to get a net profit. Please choose a breed according to your area and business needs, ensure you have well-trained labour, and keep an eye on the goats.

Er. Deepak Singla & Dr. Rosy Singla

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The Dynamic Duo

This is a story about a couple who lived in the heart of Punjab, Patiala, and fueled each other’s dreams. Er. Deepak Singla is a civil engineer by profession and is research-oriented, and the added bonus is that his wife, Dr. Rosy Singla, is a food scientist. Both did a lot of research work on fruit and vegetable waste and have come up with organic liquid fertilizer, which is a boon to our society.

Being an environmentalist and a civil engineer, he always thought of creating a single product that could solve many problems prevailing in our society, and the Swach Bharat Abhiyaan gave it a green signal. The product is prepared from fruit and vegetable waste, which helps in waste reduction and helps in improving soil quality, which is deteriorating day by day in Punjab and India.

In 2016, Deepak and his wife Rosy launched a premium range of herbal, organic, and nutraceutical fertilisers under the brand Ogron: Organic Plant Growth Nutrient Solution

They believe organic production will reduce chemical imports and will help in boosting our economy. Moreover, it will solve the health issues that have cropped up due to the mass usage of chemicals and pesticides. The air , water, and soil pollution will be treated if organic production is there.

Professor Deepak tried to solve problems faced by farmers by offering them a natural product that can increase the fertility levels of their land, can decrease the pesticide residue, and can convert it to organic land in three to four years with its continuous usage. It promotes the growth of all types of plants and crops. It is a natural organic fertiliser and helps in bioremediation also.

The product is in liquid form, so uptake by the plant is easier. They both shared a similar vision and a set of values that became their most powerful tools in fueling the other’s business passion. Their aim was to create a brand that prioritised the use of standardised herbs and organic waste to create a premium range of fertilisers.

Their driving force was to decrease the health problems that are being faced by people, like cancer, lactose intolerance, and wheat allergies, which are increasing day by day due to the excessive and overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. At the same time, they developed organic products that are environment friendly and in harmony with nature, thus preserving land, water, and air for future generations to come.

This helped them to utilise the waste as well as serve society with a healthy alternative for plant growth and the kitchen garden instead of using chemicals.

So far, this duo has successfully reduced 30 tonnes of waste till date. Organic farmers from nearby areas and nurseries are giving them an approximate sale of more than Rs. 15000/-per month and sales are increasing with an increase in awareness among people

In the year 2021, Dr. Rosy Singla thought, why not serve society with the goodness of a diet? A healthy diet is a form of holistic medicine that focuses on promoting balance between your body and mind. Then she came up with the unique concept of Rosy Foods, with valuable experience of 15 years and tons of research and hard work.

Being a food technologist and knowing so much about the chemistry of foods, she was always keen to help people treat their health issues with correct diet patterns. She has done a lot of research on food technology, and her partner, being an environmentalist, has always been a great support. Although it was a bit difficult to manage with a job, her husband supported him and motivated her to start millet-based food products. She did consultancy for two firms and planned diets for pregnant and lactating mothers and for children as well.

List of products

● Chanoats

● Ragi pinni:

● Chia Protein Laddu

● Nutra Berry Delight(Amla Chutney)

● Mango Boost(Aam Panna)

● Pear chatka

● Soya crunch

● Honey choco nut balls

● Ragi chakli

● Bajra laddus

● Natural plant protein powder

● Millet Savoury

Various government schemes like Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make In India, Startup India and many more have acted as the main pillars to boost Rosy Foods.

The idea is to address the health problems of Punjab people and Indians. Since Dr. Rosy is a firm believer that a diet has the power to cure many diseases. As they say, “Thy Medicine, Thy Food.”

Dr. Rosy wanted to address these issues in greater detail, so she curated foods that would cater to

● Undernutrition in children as well as pregnant women,

● To use foregone grains (millets) as a healthy alternative to serve society.

● preparing food items with therapeutic effects for specific groups of people, like diabetics and heart patients.

● To solve environmental issues with the use of millets, like water level in soil and pesticide requirements,

Dr Rosy has successfully opened a Regd office cum store at Green Complex Market, Bhadson Road, Patiala. For customers’ ease and convenience, they’ll start selling their products online.

Message for farmers from Er. Deepak Singla

Chronic illnesses are becoming more prevalent. One of the main causes is chemical farming, which has increased crop yields numerous times but poisoned all of our food products in the process. However, there is currently no immediate replacement for chemical farming that would allow farmers to attain tremendous crop yields and meet the world’s food needs. India has a 1.27 billion population. But another issue that affects us all is the exponential rise in non-curable diseases. We must take this matter extremely seriously. The best alternative might be organic farming. It is the most affordable technology because producing organic manures requires the fewest resources and labor.

A message for farmers from Dr. Rosy Singla

The value chain for millet and millet-based goods, especially the ready-to-eat category, needs to be promoted and strengthened in light of 2023 being the UN-designated International Year of Millets. Millets are becoming well known as climate-smart crops with significant nutritional and health advantages. To improve the ecological balance and the health of the populace, millet farming needs to make serious efforts to become more widely practised. Our state is currently experiencing a severe water crisis due to a sharp decline in the water table brought on by rice production. Compared to rice, millets use a lot less water to produce tonnes of grain.

Millets are good for us, good for the planet, and good for the farmer too.

Neeraj Prajapati

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A Lifelong Cycle Journey To Awaken The Light Of Organic Farming – Neeraj Prajapati

There are some such turns in the journey of life that change the person. A similar incident happened with Neeraj Kumar Prajapati, a resident of Ahulana village in Gohana, Haryana. Which has not only changed his mind but has also sent his life on a new path.

Seeing the train carrying cancer victims, Neeraj dropped out of the fifth semester of BTech. and left worrying about his career to set out on a bicycle to awaken the light of poison-free farming, i.e., organic farming. In view of this step taken by Neeraj’s selfless spirit, he has been named The Bicycle Man of India.

Prajapati, Neeraj Kumar stated “My mind got upset when I saw patients going for cancer treatment on a train going from Bathinda to Bikaner in Punjab. Most of the cancer patients on the train were travelling for treatment. Among them, people from Haryana and Punjab were more.

He believed indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture was also one of the major causes of cancer. In view of this, he decided that he would try to motivate the farmers to adopt organic farming.

Neeraj not only taught them organic farming techniques, but he also devised marketing channels. As well as selling points for their produce today, all of these farmers are not only earning more money, but also producing more with minimal resources.

Neeraj has now trained nearly 70,000 farmers and is assisting them in producing 1,000 kgs of food per month. He successfully partnered with international agriculture institutes and housing societies to sell the harvest in 2018. His efforts did not come to an end there. Through his approach and communicative skills, he enabled farmers to travel across the country on their bicycles and set up markets for vegetables and grains.

Following his bicycle touring adventures with farming, he decided to write about his experiences in a book titled “Farmer’s Life.” Learning about organic farming and implementing its methods, he has now done everything from convincing farmers to training and assisting them in selling their produce.

Neeraj Prajapati ensures that during a trip to a specific region, he meets researchers, scientists, and experts on organic farming and then brings these new techniques to farmers in various villages.

He works as a helping hand to farmers. He listens to farmers’ concerns and then consults with experts to find a solution.

Due to the COVID restrictions and lockdown, Neeraj’s mission was on a halt

“It’s about time for us to focus on young and promising farmers, particularly those who have only recently begun working in the fields.” “Young farmers should be made aware of the

proper techniques so that they feel motivated to continue working in agriculture,” says 25-year-old Neeraj

Prajapati, who is on a mission to ride a bicycle across the country for 111,111 kilometres to raise awareness about organic farming and the problems associated with pesticide application to crops. States It was one of the most ecstatic feelings I’d ever experienced. “It had been three years since I had dropped out of B-tech, but I felt the transition was paying off,” Neeraj Prajapati observes.

Back to the beginning: How a B-tech dropout named Neeraj Prajapat became a farmer and helped the farming community in India embrace organic farming and GAP through cycle tours across the country.

He used his savings to buy a bicycle a few years later. After conducting extensive research, he began exploring various research institutes, colleges, and villages.

After three years of organic farming and he felt confident enough to train other farmers in nearby Haryana and Punjab districts.

This engineering dropout pedalled more than 44,817 kilometres across many northern states to educate farmers about the benefits of organic farming.

He has cycled through Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana to educate farmers about the dangers of pesticide application to their crops. He has been raising awareness about how these chemicals are produced. As a result, the country’s lung disease and cancer cases are on the rise.

So far, Neeraj has made people aware by travelling 44817 km in Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Neeraj has set a target of 1 lakh 11 thousand 111 km cycle journey for organic awareness.

“I’m about to cross the 45,000 km mark,” Neeraj said. He plans to recruit more farmers in the coming years through his upcoming bicycling programmes in various horizons, and he wants to raise awareness about the benefits of consuming organic produce and GAP.

They planned to make farmers aware of poison-free farming by travelling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari without worrying about their careers and started the journey. Wherever they go, they go to the fields and tell the people about the harm caused by excessive use of pesticides.

A message to farmers

Neeraj expresses his opinion on minimizing the use of agrochemicals. How it is important to shift towards organic farming and safeguard the soil health and increase the microbe quantity in the soil for a valuable harvest.

Shyam Rod

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An Artist By Profession, A Farmer By Choice – Shyam Rod

This is a story about a person who learnt the value of hard work and determination. A former art teacher turned farmer, Shayam Rod grows a picturesque food forest with over 50 different kinds of fruits and vegetables. Also, the founder of Bhoomi Natural Farms, as he’s always had a passion for gardening. You’ll be surprised to know he has planted 1,500 plants on a 1-acre property without any use of chemicals or pesticides. He took proper training on an organic plantation in Lucknow in the year of 2017 before he decided to cultivate a food forest.

Bhoomi Natural Farms is a small, family-owned farm in the heart of India. The farm grows a variety of crops, including rice, wheat, and vegetables. Shyam explains his passion for gardening and farming and the joy he gets from growing his food. The food forest comprises closely planted trees of various fruits and vegetables, where each type of tree helps in the sustenance of the other type.

Shyam Rod was an artist who founded this food forest; he has a son, Abhay Rod, who graduated from Delhi University and is currently studying for an LLB degree while simultaneously managing the food forest. The reason he decided to join and start this was due to pollution in Delhi, and he desired to live in clean air. Shyam Rod is supported by his wife, son, and extended family. He has an ever-supportive family who supports and assists him in introducing new farming practices. Abhay Rod is a Taekwondo black belt who has won numerous medals for his national representation of his skills and talents. His current focus is on organic farming and cultivating numerous food forests across India.

On his Facebook page, viewers can learn more about how Shyam Singh relies on nature to help him grow his crops. He talks about how he uses natural predators to keep pests under control and how he incorporates cover crops into his fields to improve soil quality. He also feels that chemical fertilizers should be banned since they are damaging to our bodies and cause a variety of disorders.

The use of cow dung and cow urine on the farm is essential to make the soil rich in nutrients and bacteria. This process is called “mulching.” This practice has been followed by farmers for centuries, and it is still being followed by many farmers today. The main reasons for using these two products on the farm are to keep the soil healthy and to promote plant growth. He follows a process in which a substance (such as straw or bark) is put over the ground to shield plant roots from heat or cold, keeps the soil wet, and prevent weeds

The food forest at Shyam’s farm is a beautiful and bountiful place. The trees are planted close together and provide an abundance of fruits and vegetables. The variety of fruits and The variety of vegetables available is incredible, and the quality is exceptional. Visitors to the farm are always impressed by the size and health of the trees, as well as the quantity and variety of produce. The food forest is a great example of how permaculture can be used to create a productive and sustainable agricultural system. By mimicking the structure of a natural forest, the food forest provides a habitat for many different species of animals and plants. This creates a diverse and resilient ecosystem that can withstand pest outbreaks and other challenges.
He likens his “Bhoomi” (land) to a canvas that he likes to colour with different fruits and vegetables. The land has been transformed into a tightly packed food forest with wide biodiversity. Lemon, jackfruit, pear, plum, banana, papaya, peach, litchi, turmeric, ginger, seasonal vegetables, wheat, and a few kinds of basmati rice are all grown in the food forest. He is eager to grow a variety of plants. He is a dedicated individual who does not shy away from employing natural agricultural practices.

His motivation stemmed from organic farming. He believes that farming should be done organically, as it was in the past. without the use of additional assistance or hazardous substances. Fertilisers have several negative effects on the human body. During the epidemic, people realised how important their health was and was motivated to switch to organic food.

“My family has always supported me and motivated me to keep going in the right direction,” he says. The consumer who buys once always enjoys the goods and becomes a regular shopper. When he first switched to organic farming, he saw a minor decrease in Farm production, but as time passed, he began to make a profit by selling the products at a higher price than the market.

Not only is his organisation conserving the soil by not using toxic chemical fertilisers, but it is also catching rainwater by building tanks on one acre of property. Aside from that, he pioneered the use of solar panels in their fields to drill water through tube wells and create power. He has been using eco-friendly approaches because he believes that “what you take from the world, you must give it back.” He introduced the idea of sustainable farming to his town. Other farmers in his village are inspired by his organic farming efforts and come to learn new ways.

Challenges

He addresses the importance of working together with others to make sure that everyone has enough to eat. He talks about the traditions and customs surrounding food in India and how they vary from region to region.

Message to the farmers

He believes that chemical fertilizers should be banned since they are damaging to our bodies and cause a variety of disorders. Organic products are becoming more popular, and farmers may benefit from them. Shyam Singh Rod is another nature and environmental enthusiast, who works to follow all natural processes to carry on and expand the agricultural area, as well as to educate others about the value of organic farming.

Navnoor Kaur

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A SPOON FULL OF JAGGERY- Navnoor Kaur

This is a story of a young entrepreneur who is one of those successful young millennials who is setting a new standard for young people today. Before beginning her career as an entrepreneur, Navnoor Kaur worked for a total of three years as an employee in the corporate sector. She has a Master of Business Administration degree from IMT Ghaziabad. She was born into a service family from Ludhiana, Punjab. She is the first-generation entrepreneur in her family & has always been quite enthusiastic about the prospect of contributing to a socially impactful agricultural initiative throughout her career. She planned to take the initiative to go from refined sugar to jaggery with the assistance and backing of her family, friends, and mentors. Jaggery’s heavenly taste is what makes it popular. However, this naturally sweet food has enormous health benefits.

Navnoor’s curiosity led her to visit a number of jaggery plants, where she became aware of the presence of adulterated and unbranded jaggery in the market, which was produced under unsanitary circumstances, as well as the use of chemicals in the process of cleaning sugarcane juice.

But since there has been an abrupt change toward healthy living, she felt the need to add jaggery instead of sugar in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, persuading others that this was the healthier option was the true challenge.

In the year 2019, Navnoor conceptualized her brand “Jaggercane,” and in the year 2021, she started testing the samples of her brand. After an overwhelming response, she began processing and selling her brand. Her plan was to encourage people to switch to jaggery, which is a more nutritious sweetener that, even when consumed in small amounts, may provide more than thirty percent of a person’s recommended daily iron consumption.

Navnoor and her co-founder, Kaushal Singh, who holds an MBA in Agribusiness from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, had the vision to transform jaggery from a “sad packaged good” sitting in the back of department stores into a trendy good that catches the eyes of the people and finds its way into the people’s hearts. Navnoor visited Kaushal Singh’s farm & found it to be very hygenic.

Using jaggery as a base, we boost the advantages of the product by adding nutritious value additions such as nuts and seeds, stated Navnoor and Kaushal.

They do not make any sacrifices in terms of quality and are certain that their goods are superior to those of their rivals due to the sanitary manner in which they are processed and the use of okra roots for the cleaning of sugarcane.

The results of their poll led them to the conclusion that most individuals do not like the taste of jaggery. Jaggercane creates goods that have increased value, are tastier, are stylish and new age, and are suitable for people of all ages. These items may even be consumed on a regular basis as snacks.

The vision of Navnoor and Kaushal is to replace sugar with jaggery.

Both parties noted that there are two avenues via which they generate revenue: business-to-business and direct-to-consumer.

“Selling to other businesses enables us to get immediate payment, as does our practice of white labelling. We use that money to build our brand in the direct-to-consumer market, which is expensive to do on your own.

In addition to this, they said that “even though we would be using better sweetener choices in tea and coffee, the snacks would still include refined sugar.”

In addition, Jagger Cane provides a variety of really delightful snacks that are high in iron and protein and can satisfy your craving for something sweet while still being good for your health.

Featured Products:

Organic Jaggery Cubes
Organic Jaggery Powder
Almond Illaichi Jaggery Crumbs
Pumpkin Seeds Jaggery Crumbs
Crunchy Jaggery Granola
Coconut Jaggery Crumbs

The company operates based on a social impact-driven business model, and its leadership is comprised of purpose-driven women. Additionally, the majority of the workforce that is responsible for producing and packaging the company’s goods is comprised of women.

On the other hand, Jaggercane was recognised by Bhagwant Mann, the Chief Minister of Punjab, as one of the emerging startups in the state of Punjab. Jaggercane is now one of the rising businesses in Punjab.

Challenges

Due to the fact that Navnoor did not come from a business background, she was confronted with a number of obstacles when she began from scratch, and the financial expenditures associated with marketing and processing were significant.

Message for farmers:

There is a great deal of room for improvement in all aspects of agricultural work today. The trend these days is for people to go back to their origins. To meet the ever-increasing demand, farmers shouldn’t put all of their faith in MSPs but should instead concentrate on developing some innovative solutions.

Mahaveer Dhariwal

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“I dream; therefore, I am”—Mahaveer Dhariwal

As his name implies for the man himself, ‘Mahaveer’, which means courageous, since his family was deeply rooted in farming for years. His inner calling was to do something of his own, which gave birth to “Pushkar Food Industry” in Bhavata, Sardhana district, Ajmer. He started by growing different varieties of roses like damask & Chinese on a 12-acre farm to make Gulkand.

Mahaveer Dhariwal is a Chief Life Insurance Officer who’s worked with LIC for over 25 years in Ajmer, Rajasthan. He paved his own path to success and started growing roses to produce gulkand in his own garden. Today, he is the proud owner of the most famous gulkand in Rajasthan “PFI Gold Gulkand”.

Mahaveer Singh believed in serving a greater purpose of feeding people for all the good reasons. He grew roses to produce Gulkand over the years, but on a smaller scale for his personal use. As a farmer, he knew that Gulkand is rich in antioxidants and is an energy booster. Taking Gulkand regularly could relieve people from severe ulcers, constipation, and heartburn. He was aware that Rajasthan is one of the hottest states in India. The use of gulkand in summer helps in preventing sunstrokes, nostril bleeding, and dizziness. Taking a step forward, he started moving ahead without looking back. His family has been supportive ever since they had nurseries for the last 15 years.

While working as a Chief Life Insurance Officer, he turned his odds in his favour by growing roses on his farm. Later, during the pandemic, he developed high-quality organic Amla products. Today he has 3-4 different types of products made out of Gulkand & 6-7 out of Amla.

As we grow with time, so did the Pushkar Food Industry. Entering a new phase of growth, Mahaveer is improvising and working hard every day to come up with new products. Mahaveer’s brand consists of 14–15 food products that are packaged and labelled under his supervision. All the products manufactured by his company are FSSAI approved (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)

List of products:

Amla products such as Murabba, Amla powder & Amla Organic Ladoo.
A variety of Amla candies
Paan, ice cream, and shakes made from Gulkand and honey
Masalas such as Haldi, Kasturi Methi, and Pudina are grown as well.

He recently came up with varieties of passionfruit and dragon fruit, which are only available with him in the entire state of Rajasthan.

His speciality encompasses Amla ladoo, which most people in his locality fondly enjoy. The purpose of coming up with such a unique creation was to cater to health-conscious people.

While talking to him, he stated people are willing to spend Rs 600-700 on Kaju Barfi whereas our ladoos are under the price bracket of Rs 300 and are a healthier option for those who believe in eating mindfully.

To add more, he said it is more of a self-journey where he is progressing and learning every day. He directly sells his products to the users as he believes he can’t compromise on quality.

Previously, the Pushkar Food Industry has been covered and the telecast was aired on Doordarshan TV for their quality products and Mr. Mahaveer’s determination.

Mr. Mahaveer’s story makes us believe that if you have the courage and belief, you can go a long way. As the saying goes, “Faith does not make things easy, but it makes them possible.”

Challenges:

He believes that the most challenging part for farmers is that they are unaware of government policies that are made for them and cater to their needs. The assistance that is required to learn more is missing.

Future plans

Mahaveer’s main agenda is to shift his business across India. & open numerous walk-in stores. To begin with, his first store is opening in Jaipur, and the next destination will be Delhi.

Sangeeta Tomar

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A sibling duo tastes success by selling organic jaggery

You must have surely seen brothers and sisters fighting but have you also seen them working together for running an enterprise towards a business?

Sangeeta Tomar and Bhupinder Singh from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh are perfect examples of siblings who started a Venture together and have successfully reached new heights with their determination and grit.

Sangeeta and Bhupinder were born and brought up in Muzzafarnagar, Sangeeta who got married in the nearby village is well settled with her new family. The proceeding belt of Uttar Pradesh state is known to have the best quality sugarcane, though this crop is grown in other states as well the quality and tastes differ. The duo thought of growing sugarcane on 9.5 acres of land possessed by them and finally in 2019 they started the processing of products made from sugarcane under the name ‘Kisaan Agro- Products’.

List of products

Jaggery
Shakar
Desi Khand
Jamun Vinegar

A total of 12 products are produced from jaggery having different flavors which are made from authentic fruits rather than just the essence of Chocolate, Mango, Saunf, Elaichi, Ginger, Mix, Ajwayin, Dry fruit and Peanut jaggery.

Bhupinder Singh never took any training in this field but his ancestors used to cultivate sugarcane and produce Jaggery mostly in the state of Punjab. He didn’t just start practicing the same but understood the need of today’s consumers who wanted to eat small pieces of sugar after having their meal. He ideated on making flavored Jaggery into small pieces where 1 piece = 22 grams, which was easy to eat at a single time with either food or milk as a barfi and also this was far healthier than that being natural.

The technique of producing quality and tasty jaggery has been passed on from generations in our family- Bhupinder Singh

Sangeeta takes care of the marketing and carries out the regular inspection when he is not physically present at the production plant. A point of consideration is the usage of steel-infused machinery which is covered and no pollution occurs while production. Moreover, the products are machine made therefore there is no change in the taste and the adoption of proper measures the flavor is locked with the perfect taste to give for maximum customer satisfaction. The team distributes their products to 106 government stores and 37 private stores in Delhi.

The amount of sugarcane used per day is 125q and to complete this requirement they need to buy this crop from other farmers in their village. The process of making jaggery generally takes place from September to May but when the yield is affected by climatic factors it takes place from September to April only.

Farmer’s Background

Bhupinder Singh got retired in 2009 as an NSG commando from the Indian Army and then worked in a five-star hotel to attain experience in the food industry. In 2019 he decided to do something big from the traditional practices he learned in his village so that people would respect him. He also generated employment for the labourers working in his production plant and his field and also by buying sugarcane from other farmers.

Sangeeta Tomar who has completed her master’s in English major is now an independent woman. Her children are all settled abroad but she wanted to live in her village and practice farming.

Challenges

A quality product demands a consumer who knows the difference between an organic product and a duplicate product. There are farmers in his village who are making jaggery even in July by using sugar and chemicals. These farmers sell their product at a lesser price which attracts the buyer towards the chemical-made jaggery.

Achievements

Awarded by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh at Lucknow Gud Mohatsav in 2021
Awarded at Muzzafarnagar Gud Mohatsav in 2019

Message

He wants people to come back to agriculture. There are fewer jobs with more applicants and eventually it’s high time to start one’s own business rather than being unemployed. Moreover, agriculture is a diverse sector and there are various fields which one can choose as per their interests.

Plans

Bhupinder singh wants to directly sell his products to the consumers without the involvement of middlemen. Which will eventually lead towards more profit for him and similarly the consumer will have to pay less than what he is paying now. He would be able to buy the organic product at a lower price.

Khushi Ram

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A man eager to learn knows no bounds

Khushi Ram hails from Tehri, Uttarakhand, here we present his journey of becoming a progressive farmer.

The start

His parents used to practice farming using traditional farming and then he added scientific techniques to their old age experience which he acquired from KVK, Ranichauri. Until 2002 he didn’t plan to take up farming as an occupation but due to his parent’s health issues and being the eldest of five siblings he had to take up the responsibility. He later started to like farming and became fond of nature and started experimenting in his field by growing different crops.

Crop production and technology

He owns a total land of 4 acres, in this land, he cultivates a variety of fruits, vegetables and pulses which include tomato, capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, mushroom, wheat, Rajma, Strawberry and Kiwi. He has constructed 5 polyhouse, in two of the polyhouse he grows tomatoes, in one of the polyhouse he has planted a nursery and in the remaining two he cultivates cucumbers and capsicums respectively.

He also grows broccoli and a Japanese variety of Kale, Parsley and Mizuna. other than this he has grown 350 plants of the fruit peach on his land. In addition to this, he practices aquaculture and poultry farming on a small scale. He generally practices organic farming where he uses the excreta of the three cattle present on his farm and biofertilizers such as Trichoderma and Pseudomonas but sometimes he also uses insecticides as an integrated pest management technique as per the need.

Khushi Ram lives in an area where there is shortage of water. However, to battle this problem he adopted improved production technologies including rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, plastic mulching and micro-irrigation.

He never stopped learning and kept experimenting with the new knowledge that he learned in the vast field of agriculture. His main purpose was to increase his income and that is how he initially started with poultry farming which couldn’t be successful and later shifted to mushroom cultivation which gave him profit.

Setting an example

His success became an example for others and motivated others to work hard and succeed. When the workload increases generally in harvesting season he takes help from the ladies of his village. Khushi Ram generates employment for the ladies and makes them independent to work and earn on their own. The women who worked in the previous season are not available in the next season as they don’t get time from their work rather a new group comes and he trains and guides them in the same way.

Supporting Pillars

He is grateful for the government and all the schemes that it introduces and helps the farmers to increase their standard of living. All the five polyhouses and farming machinery are under 80% subsidy and had to pay 24000 ₹/- per polyhouse. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ranichauri has helped him from the beginning in better understanding schemes and agriculture advancements. With the help of the horticulture department, he has planted 500 high-density plants of apples on his farm. As the level of snow is decreasing for a few years in his village he has planted M9 and M26 rootstocks of apple, he being the first farmer to grow them in his area is excited to see the yield in the coming season.

Challenges

First of all, productivity is affected by the destruction caused by wild animals. There has to be a person inspecting the field from monkeys during the day and pigs at the night. Another challenge that he faces is the market linkage as it is smaller and ranges only to Chamba, Rishikesh and Dehradun, the profit earned is less than what is expected. The annual profit goes upto ₹ 7 Lakhs per annum but due to climatic disturbances like flood, cloud burst etc. there is more loss than what is earned in most of the seasons.

Achievements

Recognised as Innovative farmer award by ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in 2022
Appreciated for continuous efforts in the field of mushroom farming by Lt Gen Gurmit Singh, Governor of Uttarakhand in 2022
Awarded with ISHRD Dev Bhumi Bagwani Puraskar (2014-2018) in 2019.

Message to the farmers

He advises farmers to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers which has led to so many harmful diseases in humans. If a farmer uses it in lesser quantity or switches completely to organic farming, the lifespan of humans can be increased.

Future Plans

His main motive will be of increasing the market. And following the Integrated Farmer System to increase his income.

Rajat Salgotra

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An MBA graduate made Lakhs from cow dung

Yes. You read that right, Rajat Salgotra from Jammu makes eco-friendly products such as diyas from cow dung, agarbatti from used flowers, flowerpots and biodegradable Ganeshji for Ganesh Chaturthi.

Although cows are worshipped in India, they still face so much cruelty. Till the cow is lactating it is of value; but as soon as it stops producing milk they are left on the road, where they either die in a road accident or gets choked on plastic. On the other hand, Gaushala dumps the cow dung in drains where they clog and become a breeding ground for chronic diseases. He felt it was high time to resolve this issue and so he started to work towards the welfare of these voiceless beings. He planned to make eco-friendly products while he was pursuing MBA from Jammu University and executed the plan after completing his studies in 2019. The company Samast Eco. Pvt Ltd. was founded in the year 2021, the initial investment was about 2 Lakhs. Until 2021 all the research work was done which included easy availability and handling of raw material i.e cow dung, in large quantity and how numerous products can be made using cow dung. After various failed attempts he found that perfect diyas were made only with the cow dung of Desi cows.

He didn’t straightaway start with the work but first gained knowledge, and experience from UNDP, Jammu in the project Plastic waste management. Where he learned about sustainable development and how resources can be used for our generation as well as can be kept for the use of future generations. Then, with the help of Disha Foundation (an NGO), he started making diyas from cow dung. The usage of cow dung solved two problems; the farmers thought that cows could now generate extra income even after they stoped lactating, and due to the waste management technique the drains of his city are cleaner now.

In the initial days, the family questioned him about his decisions as he had no agriculture background, and why would an MBA graduate reject all the high-paying jobs but rather work with cow dung. But he didn’t doubt himself ever and believed in himself. He faced different challenges at this time; the fragrance of the natural ingredients in agarbatti was not liked by the consumers. And the major issue was the transportation of cow dung from farmers to the manufacturing unit. At every step from the initial days till today, Disha Foundation has played a big role in supporting him.

Jammu like any other city has many temples and there is never a shortage of used flowers from temples. He has selected 2-3 temples of Jammu city which provide him waste flowers from which he makes Agarbatti by drying the flowers followed by processing. The cow dung is firstly powdered by the grinder and then made into a paste for Diyas, which is then poured into moulds for shape while agarbatti is handmade. Then the products are kept in sunlight for drying. He collects a total of 500 kg of cow dung cakes from farmers daily.

The team includes Rajat and 3 more people from the same NGO with an addition of 40 women from self-help groups. The women were given training on how to use the mould to make Diyas and how to give the finished look to Agarbatti and Diyas to make it attractive for the buyer. Rajat’s initiative has generated employment for them. Now, these women are independent and can earn a living for themselves.

All the raw products are provided to these ladies and all they have to do is make beautiful eco-friendly products. The sales and marketing is handled by Rajat himself where his education has helped.

He has been appreciated by the government of Jammu several times. He proudly told Apni Kheti that the DC of Jammu has shown full support for his work and appreciates him always. Other departments which have supported him include the Forest department of Jammu and Kashmir, Municipal Corporation, Pollution Board and Indian Oil.

He also provides cow dung to farmers to start a living for themselves, and he is also interested in opening franchise outlets in different cities as well.

Achievements

First prize in unique idea by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in 2022
First prize in Waste to Art exhibition by Jammu Municipal Corporation in 2021
Third prize in unique idea by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in 2021
Appreciation award by Pollution Control Board of Jammu in 2021

Future Plans

He soon plans to sell his eco-friendly products on e-commerce websites like Amazon and will have a pan-India presence in the market.

Message to farmers

Vision is very important in life. If you believe in yourself, others will believe in you. I always knew eco-friendly products have the potential to stand in the market competition and worked hard towards my goals.

Rajveer Singh

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How working in Europe made a Rajasthan man, a Progressive Farmer

Rajveer, a resident of Ramnathpura, Rajasthan was always inclined towards agriculture from an early age and had this unending desire to know about the new technologies in this field. You will be surprised to know that he used drip irrigation in the year 2000. In 2003 he started organic farming of jojoba plant but then he went to explore Europe in 2006 and worked there in construction line but his heart always belonged to agriculture. He told us about his weekends when he used to drive past beautiful fields of crops in France and he used to miss his homeland. The inspiration behind organic farming came from Europe, he saw that the temperature was cold there but still all the vegetables were available irrespective of the weather conditions with the help of poly-houses. When in 2011 he came back from Europe he religiously started practising organic farming of fruits and vegetables. He then constructed a polyhouse on his farm in 2014 for which he also got a subsidy from the Rajasthan government.

The harmful effects of fertilisers on the human body are countless. People realised the value of health during the Corona Virus pandemic and switched to organic food. – Rajveer Singh

He established Prerna Organic Farmhouse in his village which is located in Jhunjhunu district and got his farm registered by Rajasthan State Organic Certification Agency (RSOCA). The total land under cultivation is 3 hectares out of which jojoba is cultivated for oil production in about 1 hectare, cucumber is cultivated inside the poly-house which is constructed in 4000 m2 and the rest of the area there are 152 plants of dates, 100 plants of red apple and 200 plants of guava. In the summer season, watermelon is cultivated and in the rainy season, sweet corn is sown. Dates are sold in the raw stage as well as after drying as pind khajur.

My father, an ex-army man has always supported me in living my passions and always guided me in the right direction – Rajveer Singh.

He also sells organic honey at a lower price of ₹300/Kg to attract customers and organic Desi ghee of Sahiwal and Rathi breed at ₹1800/Kg. He takes orders from customers through a Facebook page named Prerna Organic Farmhouse and through WhatsApp groups. Only cucumber gets sold in mandi whereas all the other products like watermelon, Dates, ber, and guava are sold directly to customers. He also grows organic black wheat which has numerous health benefits and this too gets sold through direct orders by the customers. The customer who once buys always praises the product and becomes a permanent buyer, the reason behind this is the art of Rajveer’s seed selection and quality organic products. In the initial days when he switched to organic farming, he saw a little decline in land productivity but then as time passed by he started making profits by selling the produce at a more rate in comparison to the mandi.

Although he has 5-6 cows and makes organic manure on his own but the quantity is not enough and so he has to buy manure of ₹50,000 from nearby farmers. He has two labourers to help him on his farm. Rajveer’s father Devkaran Singh, wife Suman Singh and children Prerna and Pratik also help him in his daily chores.

Rajveer is the director of Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) named Chidawa Farmer Producer Company Ltd. which was registered in the year 2016. Lately, they have sold mustard after collecting it from the farmers.

He is not only saving the soil by not using harmful chemical fertilisers but also practices rainwater harvesting by constructing a tank in a hectare of land. Other than this he also uses solar panels for boring water through tubewell on his farm and uses the same electricity for his home. He has been implementing eco-friendly techniques in his since 2001in his village and has set an example for others by saving the environment. Other farmers in his village also get encouraged by seeing such practices and visit his organic farm to learn new techniques.

Achievements

• He was awarded at the district level by KVK Abusar, under ATMA Scheme in the year 2016-17

Future plans

He will now move to kinnow farming, grading followed by processing of this fruit which is in great demand. He is also planning for agro-tourism where he plans to construct small cottages for the tourist who want to enjoy mother nature.

Message to farmers

There is a need to stop using chemical fertilizers as it has only negative effects on our body and leads to so many illnesses. Now there is a boom in organic products and farmers can also earn good profit from such products.

Mukesh Manjoo

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A progressive farmer who changed other farmers’ mindset

Our Country beholds that farming is a career option which cannot generate a decent income. When we talk about farmers the only picture that comes to our mind is of an old man sitting near his barren land, a farmer is always portrayed as a helpless being. In today’s story, you will come to know about a progressive farmer Mukesh Manjoo who wanted to change this mindset of society.

Mukesh Manjoo from Pilani, Rajasthan used to work as a National Security head at Delhi Airport but in 2018 his father was diagnosed with cancer and he had to take VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme). He used to see his grandfather and father practice agriculture for living in his childhood and became fond of this.

He has 20 acres of land under cultivation and started farming in 2014 when he planted kinnow and mausami over 4 hectares of land on his farm and named his organic farm ‘The Manjoo Farms’. Then in 2016, he cultivated olives on 4 acres of land, followed by Dates in 2016, Thai Apple Ber in 2019 and planted Sangri in 2020. In 2022 after watching Pushpa movie he planted Chandan on his land.

He also practices intercropping and cultivates ayurvedic medicinal plant – Ashwagandha and cash crops like watermelon. The main highlight of his farming is the authentic traditional farming he practices, he applies organic manure on his land made of cow dung and cow urine, buttermilk etc. he doesn’t use heavy agriculture machinery on his farm due to two main reasons- he wants to employ the workers and generate employment for the needy and secondly, he believes that the machinery compresses the soil’s internal layer, deteriorates soil health by decreasing water holding capacity of the soil.

The environment and natural resources should be utilised without creating an imbalance in the nature – Mukesh Manjoo

He follows the Integrated Farming System, along with crop production he practices fish farming, poultry farming (Kadaknath variety), beekeeping (50 boxes), and owns several domestic animals like Sahiwal breed cows for milk and related products; camel for agriculture purposes instead of machinery and two horses for his children to learn horse riding.

Most of the regions in Rajasthan are under a dry zone and there is always a shortage of water. Mukesh believes in water conservation and has made space for rainwater harvesting in his field. He also uses different irrigation practices to minimise the wastage at his end, for example, Usage of Drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and Rain pipe which irrigates the field in just 15 minutes and through these techniques he is successful in saving water.

His brother Pramod Manjoo who worked as a vigilance offer in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) until 2018, helps him on his farm and has always shown full support. In the start he faced a few problems in getting the right customers as a person who values health and is aware of the benefits of organic food. However, because of his vast friend list and his hard work, he survived and today enjoys a great profit in organic farming. His main focus was to go for different crops which could generate regular income for him. So along with seasonal crops, he also grew crops which stay in high demand throughout the year.

Whenever guests come to my house I never offer them, Chai, coffee or even juice for that matter instead I offer fresh organic products from my farms such as watermelon, Kinnow and dates. – Mukesh Manjoo

Mukesh doesn’t sell any crop in mandi. According to him for becoming a large-scale farmer, the right market should be set and strategically hard work should be done in the right direction. All his products are cultivated based on customer needs only and his customers are scattered from Pilani, Rajasthan to metro cities like Delhi and Gurgaon. Likewise, he sells olives directly to hotels like Taj Delhi at ₹250/kg and olive oil at ₹1000/litre. The main marketing technique which proved to be a huge success for him is Word-of-mouth marketing. Once a customer has a taste of his delicious organically grown fruits he becomes a permanent consumer. The quality of the organic products and the confidence in his work has made him a progressive farmer.
Achievements

• Awarded at State level by Chief minister of Rajasthan in 2021

• Awarded by Rajasthan’s agriculture minister in 2020

• Awarded at district level under ATMA scheme in 2019

• Awarded for the promotion of indigeneous breeds of cows in 2018

Future Plans

He plans to start Agro-tourism by making cottages on his farm so that people can experience living in nature’s lap once again.

Message to farmers
He wants all other farmers to be as proud of their occupation as any other person working in offices would be. Agriculture in India has changed so much in the last few years and will achieve new heights in the near future.

Abdul Rehman

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Nothing can stop a hardworking person– Abdul Rehman

Where there is a will, there is a way. A person living in an arid region is believed to be confiding in livestock practices and selective crops, but some people find their way to stand out and set an example for others.

In 2009, Government of Rajasthan tied up with Atul Ltd. a company based in Gujarat, and started working on the scope of cultivation of Dates in the western region of Rajasthan and the results were positive. The government then started encouraging farmers to take up this new practice of farming and about the high demand for this product. Furthermore, Date Palm plants were stocked in Jodhpur for the farmers. In addition to this, farmers were given a subsidy of up to 90% due to which the cost of one plant was cut down from ₹2500 to ₹225.

The team from Atul Company used to visit the area for inspection and encouraged farmers to cultivate Dates and create awareness on how they could enjoy the profit in the coming years. This is how they met Mr Abdul Rehman who is a progressive farmer from Tawariwala, a village in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. He has practised traditional farming since 1995 in which he grows castor, mustard, onion and wheat but opting for an entirely new practice wasn’t an easy task.

He was hesitant at first but they convinced him to take the risk and assured him that he had their full support. Then he was handed 465 plants to be cultivated in 3 hectares of land. The variety grown was Khunaizi. This variety has one of the best quality dates and is very authentic in taste. The first harvesting of this fruit is done after 5 years, he cultivated them 100% organically and sold the Dates at the raw stage. This plant also grows offshoot which generates additional income as the single offshoot retails at ₹800-900 and there are at least 10 offshoots in a single plant, annually he earns 8-9 Lakhs from selling offshoots. In 2016 the government send him to Israel to learn about new techniques in Date Farming. In the initial days, he faced quite a lot of struggles as there were fewer consumers because people weren’t aware of dates back then and had to travel to the nearest district Pokhran which was 125km away. Moreover, other crucial and basic resources like water and electricity were not accessible.

Mr Abdul also owns a farm where he practices livestock farming which includes Poultry, Goat and Dairy farming. All the animals are local breeds, there are 4-5 cows that produce 15-20 litres of milk, and there are 70-80 goats and 100 hens. Their biological waste is used as manure for crops which has proved to be very beneficial. This practice also generates 10-15 lakhs of income annually.

Achievements

Awarded Innovative farmer at national level by ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
Best Agri. Entrepreneur Award in 2016 by the government of Rajasthan
Awarded at the state level in Gujarat along with a cheque of ₹ 51,000 in 2013.
Awarded at the district level in 2011-12

Future Plans

Mr Abdul wants to expand Dates farming and experiment by cultivating different varieties.

Message

He wants other farmers to cultivate Dates as this farming requires less labour. The plant doesn’t get affected by changing weather conditions and the only requirement is roots dipped in water and sunlight on the plant.

Smt. Madhulika Ramteke

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A social worker turned entrepreneur who encouraged women to be financially independent- Smt. Madhulika Ramteke

It is believed that only men can financially lead the house but some women break the stereotype and prove themselves that they are no less but equally capable. This is a story of one such social worker from Rajnandgaon, Chattisgarh.

Smt. Madhulika Ramteke comes from a community where caste discrimination is still deeply rooted. She experienced this difference between lower caste and higher caste while she was young and was not allowed to play with other kids. Then her father gave her the example of Dr B.R Ambedkar as how he changed his life through education and earned the respect he deserved. Madhulika then followed his steps and his teachings. She was a bright student throughout her schooling and encouraged other parents to send their daughters to school. She firstly taught her parents how to read and write and then helped other illiterate girls nearby her house.

Smt. Madhulika then took another step where she with other females of her village made a Self Help Group and started serving the village which was highly opposed by the men living in the village but later they realized that the ladies were working for the betterment of the village by organizing camps on serious issues like education, vasectomy, sanitation, drug use, conservation of water etc.

In 2001, she and her groupmates started a bank in which they deposit all the savings and named it ‘Maa Bamleshwari Bank’. This bank was fully run by women which made them feel empowered and used this money whenever they were in need. The total amount today in this bank accounts to ₹40 crores.

Unity is very powerful, it is difficult to survive alone but in a group there is power. Whatever I am today is because of my group – Madhulika

In the year 2016, Madhulika and her Self Help Group made 3 societies. First included milk production of up to 1000 litre which they started to sell locally and to hotels and restaurants. Another society was for the cultivation of Hara Bahera which is an ayurvedic herb that helps in curing cough, cold and builds immunity, along with this they also cultivated rice but in smaller quantities. And the last society commenced with the cultivation of Sitafal and processing ice cream through it. The main objective of her behind all this was to make other women independent and increase their standard of living. She always thought of not only empowering herself but also women around her.

Under the NABARD’s scheme Livelihood and Enterprise Development Programme (LEDP), 10 women including Madhulika founded a company with a contribution of 10,000 ₹ each and named it Bamleshwari Mahila Producer Company Ltd. The company now holds a share range of ₹100-₹10,000. This company manufactures vermicompost and vermiwash, these tw2o are the biological manures that increases soil fertility, increased yield and have no side effect on the environment. Madhulika once experimented on 2 patches of fields where she had put chemical fertiliser in one patch and vermicompost in another and she noticed that the product quality and taste was better in the field which had vermicompost. Other products are also manufactured here but hold a small production quantity such as agarbatti, herbal gulal made from Palash flower which is 100% herbal.

As quoted by Smt. Madhulika Ramteke “We are earning for ourselves but by eating chemical sprayed food all the nutrients are lost, and our hard-earned money gets wasted on the medicines which are caused by the overuse of fertilisers”

Achievements

Awarded Nari Shakti Puraskar, 2021by President of India, Mr Ramnath Kovind
Akhil Bhartiya Mahila Kranti Parishad – 2017
Rajya Mahila Sammaan – 2014

Future plans

She wants to open a new brand named ‘Gaonwali’ in which she and the self-help group will firstly manufacture haldi, Mirchi, dhaniya and then move on to manufacture other spices on a larger scale.

Message to farmers

Looking at today’s farming practices which include nothing but the use of chemicals should be avoided but rather the use of organic manure should be opted by other farmers. She also talks about children putting their old parents in old age homes which is morally wrong. These are the same parents who took care of us when we were young and now when they need help in their old age, they shouldn’t be left alone but caressed the same way as we were by them.

Harbhajan Singh

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A farmer who succeeded in running 5 different professions on a single platform and therefore is recognized as Shaktiman of Farmers- Harbhajan Singh

Diversification is a vital process to achieve successful outcomes in this rapidly changing, fast-paced world. It is hard to adopt but very necessary these days. Everyone in the universe is born to do something unique and distinctive. However, many people are afraid of the change and hence, they hold back their thoughts on diversification. Only some people can realise their uniqueness and reach the stars to change the world. This story is about one such person.

Where most farmers go with the traditional way of cultivating Wheat and Rice, Harbhajan Singh, a farmer from Malakpur village, Mansa, contributes his efforts towards the multiformity in Agriculture. He is successfully running an integrated farm on 11 acres of his land in which he rears fish, pigs, hens, goats and quails. Moreover, he has also taken 55 acres of Panchayati land on rent in which he rears fish.

After completing his graduation in 1981, Harbhajan Singh started a mechanical workshop and along with that, he was helping his family with agricultural work. At that time, his friend suggested him to start rearing fishes. So then, he began researching the fish rearing process and soon took a village pond on rent to nurture fishes.

I made a significant profit by rearing fishes and hence, decided to work on my private land– Harbhajan Singh

He was benefited from this work, therefore, in 1995 he decided to get training from Punjab State Fisheries Development Board, Mansa and started working more effectively on his own land. Harbhajan Singh prepared a pond on 2.5 acres on his own land and later bought additional 2.5 acres of land adjoining his pond. His fish production at that time was 6 tonnes per hectare. Later, he decided to get training from the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha and bought 6 breeds of fish (Rohu, Katla, Murakh, Grass Carp, Common Carp and Civil Carp) and 3 aerators to increase the fish production. The government provided these aerators with a half subsidy. The productivity of the fish rose to 8 tonnes per hectare after the use of aerators.

I had to buy fish seeds from the government hatchery, which was a costly process; therefore, I prepared a hatchery of my own– Harbhajan Singh

Along with fish rearing, he prepared a hatchery to produce Fish Seeds as it was costly to buy seeds from other hatcheries. Generally, the hatcheries are government-made, but Harbhajan Singh was so hardworking and dedicated that he prepared his own hatchery with a large initial investment. The hatchery provides artificial rain to the fishes to help them breed. He produced about 20 Lakh finger-sized fish seeds in the hatchery and sold them for 50 paise to 1 Rs per seed.

Over time, he initiated Pig farming in 2009 with 50 pigs of large white Yorkshire breed and decided to sell them as live weight. This type of marketing was not effective enough, so he decided to start processing pig meat. He gained training in Meat products from CIPHET, PAU, GADVASU and processed pig meat into pickle. Marketing the meat pickle was a great success; his income almost got doubled.

At present, Harbhajan has around 150 pigs and he uses pig waste to feed the fishes. This saved him 50-60% of the cost, and the fishes’ production rose about 20%. And, now he produces 10 tonnes of fish per hectare.

He started a Fish Pork Processing Self Help Group of 11 members. This gave employment to many people and added to their incomes.

Harbhajan Singh was also awarded by the Chief Minister of Punjab for his success in integrated farming.

Things did not stop here! He had a long way to go.

As there is an increase in water scarcity, Harbhajan found a way to save nature by recycling the water. He reuses water by first using it for bathing the pigs; then, the same water is released to flow into the fish pond and the wastewater from the fish pond is used to irrigate the crops in the field. This water is organic and provides fertilisers to the crops; hence the only half amount of fertilisers is required to be added artificially. The Punjab CM, Parkash Singh Badal was very impressed with Harbhajan Singh’s efforts and visited his farm.

I got training from KVK, Mansa, to initiate Goat Farming– Harbhajan Singh

Furthermore, he decided to include goats in his farming; hence, he got training from KVK, Mansa and started working with 30 goats, including Beetal and Sirohi, in the beginning and at present, Harbhajan has 150 goats. Later in 2017, he started visiting Kisan Mela at PAU, from where he got the inspiration to rear Quails and Hens. Hence, he bought 2000 Quails and 150 Kadaknath Hens from Chandigarh. These hens are allowed to roam openly and find their feed on their own from the leftovers of other animals’ feed. Currently, he rears 3000 Quails at his farm.

All the feed for the animals is prepared at the field by him with the help of machines. Today, Harbhajan runs his farm successfully with his two sons, who help him in the farm works. He manages all the farming with the assistance of only one helper. He sells fish seeds for 2 Rs per seed. Besides, he sells the goats in Malerkotla on Bakar Eid’s occasion and prepares Goat pickles from the meat. The eggs of Kadaknath hen are sold for Rs 15-20 and the chicken meat is sold for Rs 700- 800. Harbhajan then got training from ICAR-CIFE, Kolkata, for making fish pickles, fish soup etc and marketed the product in the home market. He sells his product under the name “Khiala Pork and Fish Products”.

Marketing of the products is done at my farm itself– Harbhajan Singh

All the marketing process is done in his field itself; he does not need to go anywhere to sell his products. He motivated many young farmers and they visit him for taking his advice regarding integrated farming. He became an inspiration for others and encouraged many other people to run an integrated system of farming.

Future Plans

Harbhajan Singh wants to increase his income and take his farming to a higher level. He wants to be more successful in integrated farming and teach people about the benefits of organic and diversified farming.

Message

Harbhajan Singh advises young farmers to pursue organic farming. If any farmer wants to start integrated farming, he should begin from a base level and gradually add other aspects to their business.

Navjot Singh Shergill

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A young farmer from abroad made a name for himself in Punjab by cultivating strawberries- Navjot Singh Shergill

Every person certainly thinks about progress and distinction in their field. This mindset can lift a person from earth to the skies. The success of each farmer depends upon his passion for doing innovative things that deviated from traditional methods.

This story is about one such farmer who deviated from standard farming and chose his own way in agriculture, which very few people were aware of. The name of this young farmer is Navjot Singh Shergill. He lives in Majal Khurad village in Patiala. The practices adopted by Navjot inspired many other farmers.

I always dreamt of doing something different in farming so that people should know me by my innovative work and not by my name. Hence, I decided to work on something new- Navjot Singh Shergill

Navjot Singh was born and raised in the UK, but as he grew older, he started to feel a lack because he missed the fragrance of the soil of his homeland. Therefore, he returned to his village in Punjab, India. Navjot pursued his MBA and then decided to get into agriculture on a large scale. He started Emu farming, but he did not succeed as there is a very low demand for Emu in Indian markets. He was disappointed by this failure but did not lose hope. He was encouraged by his elder brother Gurpreet Singh Shergill, a farmer in Punjab and known as The King of Flowers. Gurpreet bought a revolution in the cultivation of flowers in Punjab and proved what others could not even think of.

Navjot Singh followed his brother’s suggestion and started gaining information about strawberry cultivation. He gained enough knowledge from social media and informative websites and then decided to start practising in the fields to have more practical knowledge.

I then went to Pune, Maharashtra, for acquiring more understanding of strawberry cultivation and visited various fields and met many farmers- Navjot Singh Shergill

There he obtained all the information about Strawberries like, the climate in which they flourish, making more plants from a single one, its primary plant and from where did strawberries come in India.

In India, the mother plant is imported from California, and then the following plants are made from this mother plant- Navjot Singh Shergill

After returning from Pune, he investigated the environmental conditions in Punjab for strawberry cultivation. He then brought 14-15 thousand plants from Pune and cultivated them in a half-acre land. The total cost summed to Rs 2-3 lakhs. He felt great but was also afraid to fail because of the market issues. However, when the fruits ripened, and Navjot took them to the market for sale, the demand for this fruit was sky-high. All his fears were converted into happiness.

I was very much delighted by the fact that all the people who stopped me from doing this business were now praising me; it was a moment of realization and pride as it took a lot of my money and time- Navjot Singh Shergill

After the continuous success of strawberry cultivation, Navjot realized that some of the fruits remained small while others were fully ripened, and therefore their prices were significantly lower in the market. He felt the urgent need to solve this problem.

There is a saying, “When a person falls and rises, he achieves success on higher levels.”

Then, he started processing the small fruits.

I acquired training from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Patiala in fruit processing and started making 2-3 items- Navjot Singh Shergill

The harvesting of strawberries required labour; hence, Navjot hired people from his village for harvesting, sorting and processing. By doing this, Navjot created employment opportunities for the people living in his village. Further, he installed machines for processing and therefore started making processed items in the field only. He named the brand Coco-Orchard.

He made the following items-

Strawberry Crush
Strawberry Jam
Strawberry Barfi

All the procedures from processing to packing are taken along under the supervision of Navjot. The Crush and Jam are packed in glass bottles, and when the products are exported to the other states, the bottles are packed in cardboard boxes. The trays of 2 kg cost at least 500-600 Rs and contain sections, each weighing 200-250 gm.

I then started visiting Kisan Mela’s and set up my own stalls there- Navjot Singh Shergill

The stalls gained Navjot a lot of marketing and recognition. People started to wait for his products in the upcoming Melas. He met a doctor from the agriculture field during the Mela; this is a very precious moment of his life. The doctor praised him because he is making processed items out of strawberries, while most people do not know anything about strawberry cultivation. Navjot has a Facebook page named Coco-Orchard, where he provides all the information about strawberry cultivation and markets his produce.

Navjot is now acknowledged enough by the people that he does not have to go to any market to promote his products.

FUTURE PLANS

He wants to grow his strawberry business to an extent where he can grow this delicious fruit in a 4-acre land. Navjot wants to export his produce to foreign countries like Dubai as there the demand for strawberries is higher.

MESSAGE

Farmers who wish to grow strawberries must acquire complete information regarding the same before they start cultivation. Strawberry cultivation requires a lot of money and time and cannot flourish without supervision.

Jyoti Gambhir

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A woman who not only dreamed about her goals but also dared to pursue them and achieve success — Jyoti Gambhir

Jyoti Gambhir is a lady who not only had ambitions but also had the courage to pursue them and succeed.
If directed in the right direction at the right moment, your passion can help you reach the sky. Each and every one of us has goals and desires, but not everybody has the courage to pursue them. A person is hindered from achieving their goals by their fear of failing. Nevertheless, there are some who never give up.
One such woman, Jyoti Gambhir from Ludhiana, not only succeeded in turning her pastime into a business and achieving her goals, but also established herself as a role model for others.
Jyoti was always fond of cooking and thoroughly enjoyed it, but she exclusively did it in her kitchen at home. But there always comes a point when it’s time to start afresh.

Cooking was my hobby, and I tried cooking different food items at home for my family— Jyoti Gambhir

As they say, ”Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Jyoti’s daughter suffered from lactose intolerance and would often fall sick after she consumed outside food. Her daughter’s sickness made her resilient, and she started baking fresh biscuits for her daughter, as her biscuits were gluten free and delicious. They were well-liked by her daughter and family, who complimented her.
She became inspired and started working towards her lifelong quest of starting something of her own. She made the decision to prepare additional biscuits to distribute to her family and friends. After an overwhelming response, Jyoti gave her a ray of hope and a pair of wings to fly. She felt motivated and thought she could provide quality biscuits and bakery items for those who suffer from gluten allergies, lactose intolerance or those who prefer organic food items.

I was overwhelmed & excited to see my family’s response to my new venture— Jyoti

Her husband gave his full support to her decision. She was on cloud seven after receiving the go-ahead signal. She was optimistic about it. She thought she had overcome all the challenges and she could see her path steered clear.

Then she considered taking culinary classes. As she began her research, she made the choice to start labelling her products under the name “Delicious Bites”. The ideal choice for her, given that she resided in Ludhiana City, was to get training from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). She didn’t waste a second in starting her training at PAU.

I started my training at PAU and then, later on, worked from home to prepare fresh batter for cakes & cookies. —Jyoti Gambhir

After completing her course, she started working part-time. Meanwhile, she came across Dr. Ramandeep Singh, Marketing Head at PAU, who has guided numerous farmers in finding success and is always willing to assist them in prospering. Dr. Singh was greatly impressed with Jyoti’s work when she gave him a detailed overview of her ambition and her lifelong quest to start something of her own. He saw the determination in her. So, then he introduced Jyoti to the PAU social media team and gave her strategic marketing ideas.

Dr. Ramandeep then considered promoting Jyoti’s initiative on the Apni Kheti app and then the Apni Kheti team crafted Jyoti’s story to highlight her for better reach and support.

Jyoti had countless responses to this, and she soon began to receive calls from customers all over the city who wanted to place orders.

She started expanding her business as she garnered more marketing knowledge, using resources from Punjab Agricultural University amidst this process. After a few weeks, when her business of baking cakes and cookies was well established, she took the decision to produce more products. .

I started my Training at PAU and then, later on, worked from home- Jyoti Gambhir

As Delicious Bites began a new phase of growth, Jyoti began to package and label her products.
She makes 14–15 different kinds of bakery products out of these listed products:

Biscuits
Cakes
Bread
Jaggery
Sugarcane
Jam
Squash

The ingredients required to make biscuits are completely organic. Other goods that include jaggery are cakes, bread, and a variety of biscuits. She took a step forward, then built connections with other organic farmers and started purchasing the required ingredients directly from them.

Dr. Ramandeep made all of this possible by assisting Jyoti in establishing her career.

Currently, Jyoti manages all marketing and promotion of ‘Delicious Bites’ on Instagram and Facebook pages, which she also owns.

In 2019, she was rewarded with Rs. 16 lakhs from The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) for taking up a great initiative of preservative free products.

Jyoti Gambhir then became a partner with Celebrating Farmers Edge International (C.F.E.I.) PVT LTD in 2021, where she is assisting many farmers in the processing of naturally grown sugarcane into healthy products such as cane jam and alkaline cane juice tea. C.F.E.I. has already established two Farmer Interest Groups (F.I. G) through this company, and their goal is to establish 100 F.I. Gs by the end of the year with the assistance of SBI Coimbatore and IIT Mumbai, their technology partners. These farmer groups support, educate, and help them learn how to market their own products.

“Do not follow where the path may lead.” “Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

We all have dreams, but not many fulfil them. Mrs. Jyoti Gambhir is the proud owner of Delicious Bites and has managed to fulfil the quest of her lifelong dream by opening her first outlet in Maharashtra under the partnership with C.F.E.I. She plans on expanding her business further this year and is opening another outlet in her hometown, Ludhiana.

It all started with a home bakery, baking cakes and cookies and delivering orders. She gradually learnt about the various types of preferences people have and began baking vegan and gluten-free products. She went from selling 15 units per day to selling 1,000 units per day and launched her own brand. As they say,

“Dreams don’t work unless you do.”

In 2021, Delicious Bites, a preservative and chemical-free bakery, was the only bakery from Punjab selected by the Govt. of India to showcase their products in the Dubai Expo India Pavilion.

FUTURE PLANS

She wants to grow her business to the extent where she can afford to package and be able to market her own products under one roof.

MESSAGE

Every woman should chase her dreams; there are no limits to fulfilling those goals if a person is fully determined and passionate.

Paramjit Singh

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A farmer who conquered high ground at an early age- Paramjit Singh

Living according to nature is a big thing in itself. Whatever we eat or drink today is all given to us by Mother Nature. It is upon us to keep it this way only. If we follow its fundamental rules, we will never get sick and lead a healthy life.

A farmer, Paramjit Singh, residing in Katahri village near Ludhiana, tends to preserve the gift of nature and nourish it. It is not easy to connect with nature, but it is essential to protect it for the future.

He fell in love with nature so much that he quit his job to serve it in the right way. He used this to cure a lot of diseases such as Blood Pressure, Diabetes, etc.

A person, who truly loves his work and is passionate enough, starts doing it in a fun way to enjoy himself. Therefore, he got training in various courses and decided to work with Indigenous (Desi) seeds. Working with indigenous seeds such as Ragi, Kangani, etc., took him to a platform where he became an inspiration for others.

While I was working in a Millet research centre, I came to know about the seeds of Ragi and Kangani. I then started doing research on these seeds- Paramjit Singh

He started growing Ragi and Kangani on the fields as an experiment. Later, he was so impressed by the results that he decided to grow indigenous seeds at his own level and pursue business in the same.

As the business started to grow, we started visiting Mela, and from there, we got a lot of recognition- Paramjit Singh

His friends helped him in the process; they worked in a group and visited different places for marketing. He had 3 acres of land near his village, where he also grew vegetable seedlings. He has a Pannu Natural Farm named business there and various farmers visit it for buying the seedlings.

The problem arose when Paramjit had to make people aware of the indigenous seeds and organic farming. Most of the people from his village had the mindset that they are doing cultivation for a very long time, and Paramjit is not capable enough to tell them anything about the farming culture. Even after such obstacles, he never gave up and started to grow his business and promote it to a higher level.

He imported the seeds and a Ragi plant when he started the business, and now that plant is being grown on several acres. Paramjit went to Hyderabad for training and, after that, started working on seeds in Punjab. He did research on the seeds and started to produce new seeds, making new products out of them. Starting from the production to the packaging, everything is done by him alone. While Paramjit does this work, his friend has his own machine for making designs for his products.

When we started producing various items, we made a group and registered it through ATMA- Paramjit Singh

He made the following products:-

Pearl Millet flour (Bajre da atta)
Pearl Millet biscuits (Bajre de biscuits)
Pearl Millet porridge (Bajre da dahlia)
Finger Millet flour (Ragi da atta)
Finger Millet flour (Ragi de biscuit)
Biscuits of Green Ragi (Hari Ragi de biscuit)
Beetroot Powder (Chukandar da powder)
Desi shakar
Jaggery
Suhajana da powder
Desi kanak diya seviya, etc.

Paramjit does everything with his own hands, from sowing seeds to selling the products. He believes that the work done by ourselves gives us more satisfaction than relying on others. He can do marketing from his home through social media platforms, but he chooses not to and goes outside and does everything on his own.

Today, Paramjit Singh is on such a stage that everyone comes to him to get information about the indigenous seeds. Apart from that, he guides people about natural farming also. People know him by his work more than his name.

He is awarded various awards, such as the Young Farmer award on district-level and more, from different universities for his work and passion. Paramjit Singh also gets multiple opportunities to visit exhibitions and is more prevalent in South India as he is the only farmer in Punjab who started indigenous seed cultivation and also educates others.

The plants get the natural fertilizers from the soil itself. I have never used chemical fertilizers- Paramjit Singh

He has proved that we should not waste the gifts of nature. If you eat organic food, you will never need to have medicines. The people who have bought products organically farmed by Paramjit cured diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, etc.

FUTURE PLANS

He wants to grow his business to the next level and have a processing machine in the field. Additionally, he wants to make everyone aware of the benefits of organic farming; this would conserve nature and make people healthy.

MESSAGE

To become successful in agriculture, one should be more focused on organic farming. To practice organic farming, one should always start with a small scale of land. The young farmers should be well educated about organic farming so that the cultivation could be done chemical-free and health issues can be prevented.

Mota Ram Sharma

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A Farmer Who Treated Chronic Cancer-Like Illness With Mushrooms

All farmers do farming, but the farmer whose story we are going to share with you is different from others. Hardly any farmer would have thought about treating patients along with farming. And Mota Ram Sharma is one such farmer who became a doctor because of mushroom cultivation.

Mota Ram Sharma, famously known as Mushroom Man, used to do mushroom cultivation in his 5 Bigha land along with dairy farming almost 24 years ago. Mushroom farming was not in trend in Rajasthan at that time. He started growing oyster mushrooms in the beginning. Most of the farmers only knew about button mushrooms at that time. So, Mota Ram prepared powder out of mushrooms and started feeding the cattle, as he was unable to market the large quantity of oyster mushrooms he had grown. After feeding on this powder, incurable disease like Mastitis in cows was even cured. Mota Ram started growing oyster mushrooms on a large scale after this achievement. When agriculture authorities came to know about this, they advised him to take training. He went to Solan and Jaipur to take the training. And after acquiring all the skills and information, he started growing button and shiitake mushrooms. He started selling button mushrooms in Delhi Mandi, from which he started earning well. Presently, he is doing mushroom farming without using an air conditioner.

As the time passed, I came to know on the basis of my discovery that we can also use mushrooms to prevent many different diseases. There are many varieties of mushrooms that are nothing short of lifesaving panacea for humans. – Mota Ram Sharma

While farming mushrooms, Mota Ram also started preparing mushroom seeds and now he is farming 16 different varieties of mushrooms.

In 2010, he became the first farmer to grow Ganoderma Mushroom in India, due to which he received the Mushroom King of India Award. He uses this ganoderma mushroom variety to make cancer medicines.

“We treat heart and cancer patients with medicines prepared by us. So far we have achieved success in 90% of the cases.” – Mota Ram Sharma

Many people are surprised due to this inspiring feat of Mota Ram Sharma, who has passed only fifth class and has no college degree. During the time of his discovery, he came to know that the cause of cancer in humans is due to deficiency of Vitamin B-17 in the body and this vitamin is present in the Ganoderma mushroom. Presently, he is making different medicines from mushrooms, from which he is treating cancer patients.

Around his farm, he has planted Ashoka trees, Aloe Vera, Asparagus and Giloy plants, which he uses to make medicines.

Both the sons of Mota Ram Sharma are doctors, but now they also do mushroom farming with their father.

Mr. Sharma grows 16 different exotic varieties of mushrooms, whose names are as follows:

Ganoderma Mushroom
Reishi Mushroom
Pink Mushroom
Sajar Kaju Mushroom
Kabul Anjai
Black Ear Mushroom
Button Mushroom
Oyster Mushroom
Dhingri Mushroom
DJ Moore Mushroom
Citro Mushroom
Shiitake Mushroom
Sagar Kaju Sarikhi Mushroom
Paneer Mushroom
Florida Mushroom
Codechef Mushroom

Mota Ram Sharma has received many awards because of his efforts and discoveries made in the field of mushroom farming, which are as follows:

Best Mushroom Farmer Award (2010)
Krishi Ratna (2010)
Krishi Samrat (2011)
Mushroom King Award Of India (2018)
Member Of Rashtriya Mushroom Board
Many farmers visit Mr. Sharma’s farm for mushroom farming training

Future Plans

In the coming future, Mota Ram wants to help farmers and solve their problems with his experience and do more innovations in the field of mushroom farming.

Message

“Farmers should take advice from experts to solve their difficulties faced in the field of agriculture and should look forward to making new discoveries in every field.”

Sandeep Singh and Rajpreet Singh

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They set a new example for farmers, successful story of two companions who took their goat farming business at International level

Goat Farming is a very profitable occupation because it requires very little investment. If we talk about livestock farming, most of the farmers are practicing Dairy Farming business. But now-a-days, Goat Farming is considered as the most successful profession in livestock farming and many young people are also getting successful in this profession. This is the story of two such young men who started practicing Goat Farming after completing their studies and in addition to achieving success, they are also training other farmers in this regard.

Sandeep Singh and Rajpreet Singh, residents of Taruana, a village in Sirsa district, Haryana, wanted to do business instead of doing job after graduation. Rajpreet has completed his M.Sc. in Agriculture, so on his suggestion, the two friends decided to pursue agriculture or livestock farming business. For this purpose, they first thought of setting up a polyhouse but due to some reason, they did not succeed.

After that, they decided to start livestock business. For this, they met with the veterinarians and they advised them to adopt Goat Farming.

With the advice of experts, they got training for the Goat Farming before starting. They went to CIR Mathura for training and after 15 days of training, they started SR COMMERCIAL Goat Farm at 2 kanal land in Taruana village.

Now-a-days, it is very common that if you want to start a business, it can be easy to get a loan from the bank but Sandeep and Rajpreet started the Goat Farm in 2017 with the help of their family members without any financial assistance.

As the saying goes, the paths are met with one’s advice, but to achieve the destination, one has to work hard.

So, both of them started working hard to achieve success in this business. They wisely started the Goat Farm with only 10 goats on a small scale, all of which were of the beetle breed. They brought these goats from the mandis of Ludhiana, Raikot, Moga, of Punjab State. Gradually, they became aware of the problems that arise in Goat Farming. Then they started looking for solutions to these problems.

Most difficult task for Goat farmers is the identification of the breed of goats. Therefore, information should always be taken from experts to identify the goats. – Sandeep Singh

Their steadfast determination and support from family members led them make the Goat Farming profitable. Sandeep and Rajpreet then started working on improving the goat breeds in the farm. Today, due to their hard work, the number of goats in their farm has increased from 10 to 150 within 2 years.

In goat breeding, one should never be dependent on labor. If we want to succeed in this profession, we have to work ourselves. – Rajpreet Singh

Knowing the difficulties that goat farmers face, they started providing Goat Farming Training to help other goat farmers so that they could make more profits. Sandeep and Rajpreet provide practical training on their farm, which provides the trainees more information and they are making good profits from the goat farming business using these techniques.

Apart from providing Goat Farming Training, SR Commercial Goat Farm sells goats to the farmers not only from Punjab and Haryana but also from other different states of the country.

Planning the future

In the coming time, Sandeep and Rajpreet want to start their own Goat Farming Training School and go ahead with the field of agriculture as well. In addition, they want to make goat’s feed products and do self-marketing.

Message

“Goat Farmers should start this business from a very small level. If anyone faces any problem in Goat Farming, they can always visit SR Commercial Goat Farm for information and advice.”

Baijulal Kumar

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How This Bihar Based Farmer Amazed Everyone With His Progressive Farming Skills

Earlier, farmers used to think that we should follow the same agriculture practices that have been followed by our ancestors. But today’s youngsters believes in the passion of trying & implementing something new, which is good as it could influence others farmers towards progressive farming.

This is a story about a farmer who used to do something additional along with conventional farming.

Baijulal is a Bihar based young farmer, whose father used to cultivate paddy and wheat in 3-4 acres of land and rear cattle including 2 cows and 1 buffalo for dairy farming purpose. After graduating in B.Sc. Physics, Baijulal started helping his father in the fields, as his family’s financial conditions were not good. But he always wanted to do something different, so in the free time he used to watch agriculture videos on YouTube. One day, he came to know about mushroom farming and this is how it started.

To gather more information about mushroom farming he contacted a few mushroom producers, and this is how he gained more interest and enthusiasm towards it. But when Baijulal discussed this with his family, they disagreed with him, as no one has ever done it before in their village. But Baijulal had thought that he would do something unique because of his strong will power.

“No one accepted my decision of mushroom farming. Everyone was suggesting me that I should not try something about which I have no knowledge or skill.” – Baijulal Kumar

To begin with the mushroom cultivation, he brought 5 KG spawn from PUSA University and for this he started boiling the waste stubble. Seeing Baijulal doing this, villagers started making fun of him. But he never cared about anyone and even started working harder.

“After seeing this work of mine, villagers use to call me mad and even asked me to leave it. But my decision was definite to do something different from the villagers.” – Baijulal Kumar

For farming information he took help from YouTube videos and sometimes he used to ask the experts for their advice. With the time when he harvested the mushroom, then his hard work was really appreciated by everyone. His relatives tasted the mushrooms produced by him and everybody liked it.

When Baijulal sold his produce for the first time in the market, even the customers also admired the quality of the mushrooms and gradually the demand increased. Achieving this milestone inspired Baijulal to start mushroom farming of larger extent.

To become successful, one has to do struggle and the result of this struggle is success. Similarly, after getting success due to hard work, Baijulal started his company named as “Champaran The Mushroom Expert Pvt. Ltd. Company”.

Presently, he is farming Milky and Button mushrooms and is making good profit from it. Now Baijulal has become proficient and skilled in his work and he also provides training to the other men and women. He provides 2 Kg Spawn, PPC Bag, Formalin, Bevastin and Spray Machine to the farmers who get training from him for Mushroom Farming.

Apart from this, Baijulal also purchases fresh mushroom from the Mushroom farmers that are not sold, dries them and prepare their products such as Soup Powder, Mushroom Pickle, Mushroom Biscuit, Mushroom Peda, etc.

“The people who used to call me insane, now appreciates and inspire me to do good work.” – Baijulal Kumar

Future Plans

In the future, Baijulal wants to form a group of farmers and sell products made using mushrooms on a larger extent.

Message

“Instead of burning stubble, farmers should use it in the mushroom cultivation or animal feed. And farmers should do other agri-allied activities with conventional farming to gain more profit.”

Balwinder Kaur

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Story of a women, who is doing great with her talent

“After marriage, every women is to take care of her household”, this is the thinking of our society. But a women is the one, who can do anything to solve the critical conditions of her family.

This is a story of a woman, Balwinder Kaur, who belongs to a middle class family and her qualification is in M.A (Punjabi). After completion of her studies, she got married to Mr. Gurwinder Singh, who was working in a private company. Due to some reasons, he gave resign to his job and this led to poor financial conditions of the family. For improving the financial conditions of her family, Mrs. Balwinder Kaur decided to offer a helping hand to her husband, and he also supported Balwinder in this decision. As it is rightly said, If your better-half walks along with you every obstacle becomes easier to handle and with her husbands’ support, she started a PG(Paying Guest) in the house. The work flourished in the starting, but later on she decided to shut it down because earning was very less. Then she thought of opening a boutique but again dropped the idea of same. In 2008-09, she did a course of beautician but she was not interested in this so she never thought of taking over it in her career.

From the very beginning, my interest was in cooking. All my relatives and friends knew that I am a very good cook, that’s why they always appreciate my cooking skills. Finally, I thought of opting this hobby as my career. – Balwinder Kaur

Pickle prepared by Balwinder Kaur is all time in demand from her relatives because of its deliciousness.

For polishing her talent, Balwinder Kaur got a training of making pickles and chutneys from Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology Liaison office, Bathinda. There she met Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Dhillon, who guided her and encouraged her to expand her work.

Now-a-days, people are having health issues due to consuming adulterated food from outside. So I thought of serving people by making pure home made food products. – Balwinder Kaur

As she knew the importance of marketing and labelling in any business, so with the help of Dr. Satwinder Kaur and Harinder Kaur, she got the training in packing and labelling of the products.

After getting the training in Squash manufacturing from KVK, Bathinda, she started her work at home. She made a Self Help Group (SHG) in which there were 12 women. These women helped her in cutting the material and in packing of the prepared products.

This SHG helps me in my work and also it provides employment to other women which gives me a huge satisfaction. – Balwinder Kaur

The training was the key to sharpen the inborn skills of Balwinder.

Products prepared by Balwinder Kaur:

Pickle- Mix, Sweet, Salty, Amla
Chutney- Amla, Tomato, Apple, Lemon, Bottle-gourd, Mango
Squash- Mango, Guava
Sharbat- Apple, Litchi, Rose, Mix

We sell our products in the village only and outside the village we deliver them free of cost. – Balwinder Kaur

Balwinder Kaur manufacture and sell her products under her Brand name “Zebra Smart Food” She has also made a whatsapp group (7589827287), where she directly take orders from the customers and deliver to them.

Future Plans:

She want to sell her products worldwide so that people should come to know the taste and quality of her self-made products.

Message:

“We should use organically prepared products only that will help us and our children to remain fit and healthy.

Those women who want to do something, must come forward with their ideas. They should not waste their time in thinking at home. Not only cooking, whatever their passion is. They should make efforts to fulfill their dreams. Have faith in God and keep working hard.”

Khushpal Singh

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Farmer Reaping Profit by Giving a Healthy Twist to Jaggery

In our country, most of the agriculture-based families choose traditional farming methods over modern. But still, there are some farmers who are changing with time and are turning agriculture into a profitable business and are also setting a great example in the society with their significant efforts.

Sardar Jiyun Singh, father of Khushpal Singh, a farmer based in Punjab’s Maana village of district Sangrur, used to do conventional farming on 22 acres of land.

Being born and brought up in a farmer’s family, Mr. Khushpal Singh’s interest was also towards agriculture. And after the sudden death of his father, all the family and farm’s responsibilities came onto his shoulders. He started growing other crops like mustard, turmeric, paddy, potatoes and maize along with wheat. As time progressed, he also started beekeeping and dairy farming. For beekeeping purposes, he used to take the honey bees to other states and places like Rajasthan, Afghangarh and so on, but after some time due to some reasons, he had to quit the beekeeping business.

Later, he thought of adding something additional to his farming routine. So, he decided to start sugarcane farming. To start with a strong base he gathered all the information from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana and took training from KVK Rauni, Patiala. Steadily and systematically he began taking his steps forward, and from farming sugarcane, he started processing it into jaggery.

Jaggery prepared by him was liked by everyone. On people’s demand, he also started preparing powdered jaggery and other products. After achieving this small but appreciable milestone, he never turned back and started working hard to fulfill the customers’ demand. People from the nearby village started recognizing him because of his work.

“We use fertilizer in sugarcane farming as recommended by PAU, and the jaggery prepared by the cane juice is completely chemical-free. No color or preservatives are added in it.” – Khushpal Singh

List of products produced by Mr. Khushpal Singh:

Jaggery
Powdered Jaggery
Jaggery with fennel seeds
Flax seeds powder
Sesame seed bar
Jaggery with dry fruits
Medicated Jaggery
Turmeric Jaggery

To sell the produce he is running a ghulad by the name “Zimidara ghulad Sarao & Gill” at Patiala-Sangrur road. People come from far & wide to buy jaggery and other products from him.

Most of his customers order & purchase jaggery from him on the basis of their demand. He also put up his stalls in Kisan Melas, other than ghulad. The admiration and praise that he receives from his customers motivate him more to produce quality and natural products.

In this whole venture, Mr. Khushpal Singh gets full support from his family, especially from his brother Mr. Harbaksh Singh, who always stands with him in all the good & bad times.

“Anyone can come to ghulad and order jaggery based on their choice and demand; in the meanwhile, they can stand nearby and see the product getting prepared themselves.” – Khushpal Singh

Future Plans

In the future, Mr. Khushpal Singh is planning to extend his product list, and also to introduce his products in the market with great packaging with good marketing and promotion.

Message

“Youngsters should also try contributing to the agriculture field along with their studies, job and career. We should drop out this thinking from our minds that agriculture is a work which is done by the backward and illiterate people.”

Jaskaran Singh

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This farmer has proved that even a common farmer can do something innovative, something new

Walking in a crowd never creates an identity for an individual, something new has to be done to create an identity. Where everyone was working on some old things, a farmer took the decision to do something different. This farmer, Jaskaran Singh, son of Baldev Singh, is a resident of village Kauni, Tehsil Gidderbaha.

Baldev Singh used to practice conventional farming in 27 acres. Due to the family farming business, Jaskaran Singh started working with his father at a very young age, due to which he was unable to look after his studies and for that reason he dropped his studies. The moment when he stepped up in the field, an invaluable relationship was built up with soil. From the very beginning, his father used to cultivate wheat and rice, but Jaskaran Singh had something else in his mind.

When I saw people growing crops other than rice and wheat, it was struck in my mind to do something unique- Jaskaran Singh

Keeping this thing in mind of doing something different, he decided to cultivate strawberries. This decision of Jaskaran disappointed his father very much. His disappointment was natural because planting a crop that is not familiar is a big step. But after assuring his father, he along with his 2 friends set up a strawberry farm in 8 acres. Due to insufficient information and lack of studies, there was a fear of getting failed but passion was on the top of head and a belief that hard work never goes in vain. Hence, he took a training of horticulture and started his business.

He did not face much hindrance in starting strawberry cultivation. Initially he bought seeds from Delhi with his friends’ advice. Farmers avoid strawberry cultivation as it is labour extensive and demands a hard work. Meanwhile, his friends decided to drop this business after realizing that knowledge about strawberry cultivation is not enough. One of them started doing business to secure his future and another is still in hardship for going abroad. But, this enthusiastic person was not going to drop this idea at any cost.

Young blood is coming in trap of colourful lifestyle of abroad and no doubt they are moving there for securing their future. Instead of moving out of country, I wanted to do something innovative in Punjab so that new generation would get motivated and they could secure their future here – Jaskaran Singh

The fruit of his hard work was even more than his expectation, due to which he turned his full attention towards this farming. After this, he planted Himachali variety of strawberry and now he buy seeds from the ‘Hub of Strawberries’ Pune. Jaskaran Singh sells his strawberries at the Mandis of Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Malout.

Along with strawberries, Jaskaran also practice farming of muskmelon and cucumbers. He has made a good profit in just 4 to 5 years. Jaskaran Singh has developed his own vegetable nursery and is planning to make his own strawberry nursery.

The Water level is falling drastically so farmers should move towards drip irrigation system – Jaskaran Singh

Future plan

Jaskaran wants to do processing of strawberries and marketing of self-processed products in the future and to inspire other farmers for doing the same.

Message

“I want to say that the expenses of the farmers are increasing but there is not much difference in the price of wheat and paddy, so the farmers will have to do something different along with the conventional farming. In today’s time, we need to bring crop diversification in Punjab.”

Surinder Singh Nagra

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A farmer, who started medicinal plants’ farming as his hobby and now has become a Doctor

Surinder Singh Nagra is a resident of Village Kohala of Jalandhar District, Punjab and now-a-days, he is running a medicinal nursery at Kartarpur Sahib. Mr. Nagra has made his popularity among people by cultivating different varieties of medicinal plants.

Surinder Singh is singleton of Pehlwan Nasib Singh and Ramesh Kaur. Besides doing farming, Mr. Nasib Singh used to carry goods from aadtiya and unload it at Jalandhar on the cart from where he got the financial support for family. Due to financial hardship at home, Surinder Singh started driving a taxi for offering a helping hand to his father at the age of 18. When family conditions were getting propitious, he got married. But due to some issues with his wife, he got divorced. After a while, he again got married to Nashatar Kaur. He began working as a supervisor on a liquor shop in order to fulfil his family responsibilities more effectively. But after a while, he realised that the liquor trade is a crime and so Mr. Nagra left this job. Meanwhile, sudden dismiss of his father was a great mislaying for him, as the burden of whole family was now on his shoulders. For the sake of his family, he inaugurated a fertilizer and chemical shop. But there also, he faced a great loss because of thievery at his shop.

Because of theft at my shop, everyone was woeing, but I smiled and said, it was earning of my sins which went out, so everything happens for our good – Surinder Singh Nagra.

After this loss, he started working as an agent (aadtiya) and side by side, he also started transportation work. The thing of concern is that, he never charged any sort of interest to the farmers, instead he provided money to the farmers. This was somehow benefiting the farmers but greatly effecting the finances of Surinder Singh. Considering these things, he focused on the transportation business and due to his hard work in this, he owned 4-5 luggage carries at the end.

Besides the family responsibilities, he have a unique interest which made him popular amongst people. From the very young age, he was fond of learning about medicinal plants and spend most of his time in the same.

Interest of learning about medicinal plants arose from my fast friend Shiv Kumar, who is now working as Kanungo at Jalandhar – Surinder Singh Nagra

When the life was coming on its track, at the eleventh hour, a mishappening occurred due to which he lost his one leg. The moment his friend Shiv Kumar got to know about this misery, he straightway went to meet him. Shiv Kumar was diabetic and at that time, he had blisters and ulcers but still he came to see his friend. He gave him Rs 10,000 and a watch as token of love.

Due to diabetes, Shiv Kumar had a horrible death, which shivered my inner soul. For that reason, I decided to do something in favour of society so that people need not face such a painful situations – Surinder Singh Nagra

Afterwards, he started illuminating himself about medicinal plants with more conscious mind. For this purpose, he went to the hills of Kerala, along with his son so that he couldn’t face any sort of problem in language which is not native to him. For completion of this work, all his luggage carriers were sold. Bank officials started insulting him as he was unable to pay the bank loan which he took for initiating a shop business.

Then I came to know about joining of a new manager in Bank. I met him and told about my state of affairs. He helped me as a noble person and gave me sanction for loan of 12-13 lacs to pay off my earlier loan- Surinder Singh Nagra

Getting liberty from this, he planted stevia plant, which he bought from Palampur. After this, he started planting more medicinal plants. His kids helped him a lot in this business.

Gradually he started making medicines from the medicinal plants, which benefited a lot to the patients. He feels glad for having success in such a business. This is handled by his daughter Ms Gurdeep Kaur. Younger son of Mr. Nagra is running business of dairy farming. He make products from milk and sell them in the market. Every member of the family is serving their potential in making powder from medicinal plants and taking care of it.

Medicinal herbs grown by Nagra:

Isoline
Stevia
Swajna
Small cardamom
Large cardamom
Brahmi
Bankshap
Bamboo
Camphor
Arjun
Tez patta
Magh
Geranium
Hadd jod buti
Sada Bahar
Ashwagandha
Satawar
Ajwain
Odomas
Sita Ashoka
White sandalwood
Rudraksh
Putranjeeva
Garlic vine
Camphor basil
Rose Marie
Indian snake-root
Mount Atlas Daisy
Night-flowering jasmine

We also provide free medicines to patients who cannot afford medicines. – Surinder Singh Nagra

Due to his efforts in this stream, many a times he has been honoured by Shromani Vaidya Committee and he has built a good relationships with ATMA. Now, he along with Central Government is working on projects for enlightening people about the medicinal plants.

Future plans

Surinder Singh wants this business of medicine to be handled by his saplings as well as the treatment and help of people should go on the same track.

Message

“Youngsters should get knowledge about the medicinal plants so that every home should have one doctor and people need not to pay heavy pockets to the doctors for medicines. It is belief of Mr. Nagra that no one else is a better doctor then a farmer. For that reason farmers should step up towards organic farming.”

Japinder Wadhawan

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Japinder Wadhawan, a young engineer, engrossed in Farm machinery

It is said that if you are determined to do something, then success runs back and forth and this truth is shown by a young engineer named Japinder Wadhawan.

Japinder connected his engineering studies with the field of farming because the farmer and farming have a huge contribution to society. The need for farm machinery also changes from time to time. With the help of latest technology, the work from sowing to processing can be done easily within a short span of time. But not every farmer is investing in these expensive machines. This problem was easily understandable to engineer Japinder Wadhawan, also known as ” Raftaar engineer. This young engineer is famous in Mohali for creating farm machinery at a low price. Japinder Wadhawan, who studied mechanical engineering, was completely unaware of the field of farming at first. He first worked as an assistant professor and maintenance engineer. Fortunately, he got an opportunity to attend the “Make in India” event in Delhi.

In this event he met a farmer, Sardar Harpal Singh Grewal, who had come there for rotavator. Japinder, realized Harpal’s need, and promised him to make a 10 foot rotavator. Harpal also got 40,000 rupees deposited in Japinder’s bank account for the preparation of machine. But Japinder had never designed any such machine, but at the same time he did not want to break his promise. So, realizing his responsibility, he started preparing the rotavator. With great hard work along with his colleagues, he prepared the rotavator in a month. This new attempt made by Japinder was successful and he got a lot of encouragement from the farmers. After this, Japinder started meeting the farmers in his spare time and came to know about the difficulties related to the machinery used by farmers in farming. During this time, Japinder met Dr. Ramandeep Singh, an expert and professor of farming business, Punjab Agricultural University and Mr. Sukhi Longia, a progressive farmer. With such personalities around him, Mr. Japinder encouraged himself to know more about the difficulties faced by farmers in farm machinery.

“Today, a number of farmers are committing suicide in our country, which is a shameful thing for our country. The major cause of farmer suicide is the pulsesost of farming machines. Very few farmers buy these expensive machines. Therefore, we understand the need of the farmer and try to manufacture machines at low prices” – Japinder Wadhawan

He got another project for a turmeric boiling machine. He got this project too by luck. In a bus, he met a farmer who wanted to make turmeric boiler machine. Within a month, Mr Japinder prepared turmeric boiler. After this, Japinder decided not to look back. Whatever projects he got from the farmers, he tried his best to meet the expectations of the farmers with his hard work, in which he was successful. After the success of these Projects, Mr. Japinder formed a team with his fellow colleagues and this team was named – Raftar Engineering Professional Company. Their team consists of engineers and college students from about 15 different disciplines, who have done a master in their respective fields. To make his skills accessible to other farmers and people, Japinder shares videos of machines prepared by his team with other farmers through social media.

This platform of social media has been very helpful for them to join more people. “If we put it in simple words, we understand the difficulties of the farmers. We make machines as per the requirement of the farmer, so that they can adopt new technology and increase their earnings” – Japinder Wadhawan

Out of about 300 farmers associated with the Raftar Engineering Team, 120 farmers practice organic farming and Japinder himself motivates farmers to adopt for organic farming. Not only from Punjab but farmers from many areas including Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh comes to Japinder to get the machinery ready. It is said that in human life, success comes along with failure. The Raftar Engineering Team has so far worked on 20 projects, out of which 17 projects got success and 3 projects failed. But this failure did not break their courage and made them to work more efficiently. He has a team of 15 associates with him, who helps him in everything.

Machines made by Japinder:

Rotavator
Garlic Onion Peeler
Jagery processing frame
Turmeric steam boiler
Turmeric pulverizer
Turmeric polisher
Power weeder
Pulses mill
Pulverizer Irrigation scheduler

Along with preparing machines for the farmers, Japinder also helps the students studying engineering to complete their projects, which will prove beneficial for the farmers in the coming time. In order to motivate the farmers to go for organic farming, Japinder also gives huge discounts to the organic farming farmers for machinery.

Future

In the future, Japinder wants to take his company to a larger level, set up his own industry and start working for import and export of his own made machinery.

Message for farmers

“Farmers need to focus on organic farming instead of going for chemical/pesticide farming. Farmers should invest thoughtfully. No decision should be taken under the influence of others rather always invest the money wisely.” – Japinder

Milan Sharma

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Nothing is impossible for a woman, if she is passionate… Milan Sharma proved this by her dedication

It is often believed that dairy farming is mostly done by less or uneducated people. But now the educated youths are also joining this business by seeing other people making more money in this work. Nowadays, men as well as women are getting ahead in dairy farming. In this story we are talking about a woman who succeeded in the dairy farming business and is now becoming an inspiration to other women.

Milan Sharma, a resident of Haryana, has studied M.Sc. Biochemistry. While studying, she was married to Chetan Sharma, an Electronic engineer. After getting married she gave birth to two sons and got busy in her family chores. After the sons started going to school, she started learning German language in her leisure time and later got a job as a German teacher in a school. In addition, she worked with the German Cultural Centre as a project manager for many years. This project was designed to teach children in German and then help them to move to Germany for higher studies.

Later on, both our children got good jobs so we both thought about doing something better for the environment and society – Milan Sharma

Milan’s father-in-law had 4 cows in the village and he always did everything himself. Unfortunately he died in 2017, so Milan and her husband started looking after the 4 cows kept by their father and with it they bought 2 more Sahiwal breeds. With the passing time, their dairy business started to grow and Milan had to leave her job. But she didn’t know much about dairy farming, so she got training from the NDRI Karnal, LUVAS and GADVASU to increase her knowledge. Number of cows increased to 30. She then started a farm named as “Revanar” in 6 acres of land. Revnar is the combination of Revati and Narayan – names of her husband’s grandparents. She get this farm registered from FSSAI. At present they have 140 cows of Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Rathi and Gir breed.

I used to be scared getting near to the cows before, but now I spend all my day with the cows. Now the cows live with me as if these are my best friends. – Milan Sharma

With the increase in number of cows, the amount of milk production also increased. Earlier, only relatives and some people in the village purchased milk from them, but later on others also started buying milk from them because of the good quality. At first, they used to put milk in the drums and give it to the customers, but after a while they realized that there should be some change. Now they sell milk to customers by putting milk in glass bottles. Customers return those glass bottles in which milk is sold to them. The next day, milk is then given to the customers in the same glass bottles. They also sell milk and milk products (cheese, yogurt, butter, lassi, desi ghee) online. Milan sells her dairy milk to customers in Delhi, Noida, and Faridabad.

Along with the dairy farm, she cultivates 15 acres of land in Mathura. Here in the crops she grow wheat, paddy and mustard.

She also use cow dung and urine from dairy. They has set up a bio-gas plant, which produces gas from cow dung and urine, which is further used to produce food for cows such as porridge (dalia).

In addition to this, Milan has grown various types of fruit trees, medicinal plants and heritage trees on her farm, such as Neem, Tahli, Kadam, Papaya, Gillow, Amla, Guava, Bel Patra, lemon, tamarind, etc. By adding the leaves of all these trees in the cow’s urine, she produce the Jeev amrit which is used for the crops. In addition, she use buttermilk in the fields as the replacement of pesticides.

Millan’s husband, Chetan, works in solar panels installation in homes and companies. He has also installed 800 kW solar panel on his farm.

Achievements –

Following are the achievements made by Milan’s determination and hard work:

Animal Husbandry Department, Haryana has given her the status of Progressive Farmer.
2 cows of Revnar Farm won prizes at the Faridabad Pashu Mela.
She has increased the number of cows from 30 to 140 cows in just one year and added more than 200 customers starting from 5 houses only.

Future planning:

Milan wants to give her entire village a chemical free environment. Going forward, she want to prepare her dairy farm as a skill centre and provide training to the veterinarians. She want to start a project with the government to set up a community biogas plant in their village. The project will provide free gas to all the villagers, where they will also know about the proper utilization of cow dung. By doing this, they can use the waste of the bio gas plant as organic manure in the fields and thus can reduce cost on the fertilizers

Message

“Youth should come forward in the field of dairy farming. There are many job opportunities in this area too. We should also encourage our children to get involved in this work from the very beginning.”

Amarjeet Singh Dhillon

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Leaving M. Tech in middle of his studies, why this young man started farming?

Every parents’ dream is that their children should get a good job so that their future is secure. Similar was the dream of Amarjeet Singh Dhillon’s parents. So they taught him in a good school for his good future and got him enrolled in higher education for B.Tech mechanical. After completing graduation in Mechanical Engineering, Amarjeet decided to pursue his Masters in M.Tech. and also got admitted. But he was not having any particular interest in the study of M.Tech., so he decided to leave the studies in between.

Amarjeet’s family had 12 acres of land on which his father and brother used to practice conventional agriculture. For one year Amarjeet also used to do farming with his father, but due to being a young man, Amarjeet did not want to get enrolled himself in the traditional agriculture. To further increase his knowledge in agriculture, he started visiting Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.

He joined the Young Farmer Course in PAU. After the completion of course, he decided to do horticulture. He first started fruit farming at his farm named “Green Energy Farm”.. Later on, he also started vegetables cultivation, flower farming and beekeeping.

Within one year, I decided to grow only fruits and vegetables leaving all other kinds of farming, because the marketing of fruits and vegetables is easily done in the same local market. It helps in getting daily living like a shopkeeper – Amarjeet Singh Dhillon

Amarjeet has set up a time-table for the whole of the year, according to which he harvests the crops sown in different months.

Amarjeet does not do organic farming. At first he tries to control insect-pests and diseases using organic methods only but if further needed, he use sprays as recommended by the PAU in recommended amount. Even today, Amarjeet participates in all KVK, university and district level training programs. Whenever he gets in trouble, he always seek advice from PAU experts only.

According to me, fruits or vegetables should be plucked before spraying and there should be a minimum of 24-48 hours gap between fruit plucking and applying spray – Amarjeet Singh Dhillon

Achievements

Amarjeet has received many honors at the state level and national level, some of which are mentioned below:

Chief Minister Award from PAU (2006)
State level Award from ATMA (2009)
State Award in Agriculture Summit, Chappadchidi
Zonal award from International Institute of Vegetable Research (2018)
National Award from PUSA (2018)
Innovative Farmer Award from IARI

Future Planning

In the future, Amarjeet Singh Dhillon wants to focus all his attention on the self marketing and processing of fruits and vegetables.

Message

“Those young people who want to get themselves enrolled into horticulture, should first get proper education and training in agriculture. They should start farming at very small level rather than investing huge lump-sum in the starting. They must read agricultural related books and should always keep learning.”

Priyanka Gupta

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A talented daughter … who is working hard to fulfill her father’s dream

In today’s world, where most of the children consider their parents as burden, there is a girl , Priyanka Gupta, who is working hard day and night to fulfil her father’s dream.

Priyanka, who has done MBA (Finance), spent her childhood in a small town of Punjab , Nangal. Her father, Mr. Badridass Bansal, was an employee in Bhakra Dam’s Electricity department and he loved farming in his agriculture fields. He had a small patch of land in his backyard where he usually practiced vegetables farming. After staying in Nangal for long 12 years, he got transferred to Patiala and started living there with his family. They had some spare land in Patiala and so started farming there. Also, they purchased a plot in Sangroor to build their house.

Mr. Bansal retired from the electricity department as Chief Engineer. Due to this period, they got to know that Priyanka’s mother , Veena Bansal, was suffering from cancer . She bravely fought the disease for a long time and later bid the world goodbye.

After Veena Bansal’s death, Badridas devoted all his leisure time to farming. As there was no construction near the plot that he purchased in Sangroor, he cleared all the land and started to do farming there. In the next 10 years, he gained great experience and knowledge in farming. Looking at his farming methods and the end products he started gaining popularity among his relatives as well, who became his regular customers. Realizing his capabilities Mr. Bansal took up farming as his occupation.

Unfortunately, later he started facing some health issues. To help her father Priyanka enrolled herself in farming. Gradually, her interest in farming also increased.

Initially, they started working with Punjab Agro, where they were really doing well and their sales were at its peak. Eventually, they opened a shop in Sangroor with 4-5 farmers, but due to some problems they had to shut down their shop.

At present, they have a 4 acre farm in Sangroor but it is not registered because the farm land is taken on lease and the owners are not ready to get it registered.

Priyanka faced various problems in her farming journey but always overcame them with the help of her education. This father and daughter duo spent most of their time on farm and practice pure organic farming.

They faced various problems during the marketing but due to her studies, she managed do it . They spent their most of the time on farm and they did purely organic farming.

Training:

Priyanka is professionally not only trained in biscuit and squash manufacturing (Punjab Agricultural University) but also in bee-keeping.

Priyanka got a training of biscuit and squash manufacturing from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. She also got training of bee-keeping from which she learned a lot.

Priyanka’s husband Mr. Kuldeep Gupta who is an architect, all of his friends and relatives buys products prepared by Priyanka.

“People’s perception is that organic products are costly but it doesn’t make much difference. Crops grown using insecticides and other chemicals are very dangerous for human health. So instead of eating such products all should prefer organic products because nothing is more valuable than our health.” – Priyanka Gupta

Product profile:

Biscuit (without ammonia)
Pickle
Vaddiyan
Black chickpeas
White chickpeas
Red lentil (Saabut masar)
Turmeric
Besil
Flax seeds (Alsi)
Nigella
Fennel
Mustard
Garlic
Onion
Potato
green gram
Jowar
Bajra
sesame
Desi Maize
All vegetables

Trees

Brahmin
Stevia
Harar
Moringa
Mango
Guava
Cranberry
Mint
Tulsi
Lemon
Bael
Neem
Khas
Shehtoot
Amla
Ashoka

Except making these products, Priyanka also manages to do bee-keeping and poultry. Her husband also helps her in this work.

She said, “ We do not practice monocroping (cultivating paddy and wheat) but also grow Jowar, Bajra and Maize. We grow number of different crops in a year.”

Future Plans:

She is planning to sell all the products to a single person who can further market her products because she wants to devote all the time in improving quality of the products and fulfilling her father’s dream.

Message To Farmers:

“We need to work hard in every field. But you will get real satisfaction when after this hard work, you will see your crop standing tall in the field and when your customers will praise you for your work.”

Mandeep Verma

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How a Farmer is earning Lakhs of money from barren land

Land is everything to a farmer. Yield of the crop will directly depend on how fertile the land is. But if the land will be barren, then there would be no hope left for a farmer. There is a farmer from Himachal Pradesh who is earning good money by doing farming on barren and unproductive land.

Mandeep Verma, after completing his MBA, served 4-5 years in Wipro Pvt. Ltd. But he was not satisfied with his job and returned to Solan with his wife. He decided to do farming on his land, in Solan, which was not productive. He didn’t want to do conservative farming like all the farmers generally do. He decided to do something different from others and ended up at choosing horticulture.

To make this view a reality, he first got complete information about the weather in his area, then he met the doctors at Agricultural University and got the knowledge about horticultural crops cultivation. Then he decided to do Kiwi farming.

To know everything about Kiwi, i went to the university library and read a number of books on Kiwi farming. I also met University professors and then i started the Kiwi farming – Mandeep Verma

After meeting with Horticulture department of Solan and professors in Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University, he decided to prepare Kiwi orchard in 2014. He made the Kiwi orchard in 14 bigha land.

In this garden, he planted the Alicene and Hayward varieties of kiwi plant. He invested about 14 lakh rupees on his kiwi farm and then in 2017, he made a website to sell the kiwi fruit.

The attempt made to bring fruits directly from orchard to the customer was successful – Mandeep Verma

The supply of Kiwi is done after the online order is received from the website. The delivery is available in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

All the information regarding harvesting and packing of the fruit is given on the box. A packing of 1 kg fruit is prepared and sold at Rs 350 but price of kiwi in Solan is Rs 150/kg.

According to Mandeep, kiwi cultivation in India is originated from Himachal Pradesh. But now Arunachal Pradesh contributes 60% of the total Kiwi production in India.

Mandeep cultivates the kiwi using organic methods only. He knows the importance of organic farming that’s why he prepares the vermicompost himself.

The kiwi that we grow in our farm, does not get perished for 2 months – Mandeep Verma

After successful results in Kiwi farming, he started Apple farming in 2018. He believes in “Zero Budget Farming”

Achievements

Due to getting success in Kiwi farming, in 2019, Mandeep was awarded with “Progressive Farmer Award” in Kisan Mela, HP.

Future Planning

Currently Mandeep Verma has two nurseries and he want to increase the number.

Message

“Before doing any type of farming, weather related information of the place should be obtained. Every type of information is available on social media, so we must use it properly. To get more profits, we should go for organic farming and Zero Budget Farming.”

Rishab Singla

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Haryana’s 23-year-old young boy is emerging as an example for other youngsters

In this era of unemployment, our young generation is either becoming a drug addict or settling down abroad. But on the other side, there are few youngsters like Rishab Singla, who are doing miracles by their innovative ideas in the field of agriculture. This is the story of a 23 year old young boy Rishab Singla from Haryana, who wants to achieve something different in his life. He has pursued BBA and wished to do his own business. As we all know, now-a-days, each and every person, from a small child to old ones, everybody likes chocolates a lot. So, Rishab started to think about chocolate manufacturing. During his studies, he came to know that organic farming of cocoa plants is done in Karnataka. But he was not much aware about this because his father was a trader of intense sticks. In order to know more about cocoa plants, he went to COORG (Karnataka). After getting proper information about cocoa plants and their cultivation, he decided to start chocolate manufacturing.

In February, 2018, Rishab purchased organic cocoa beans from the farmers of Karnataka and for the first time with the help of mixer-grinder, he prepared a chocolate at home. In the starting, he faced a number of problems in doing this work but he never lost hope. He made a variety of different flavours chocolates successfully. In this way, he started to manufacture chocolates at his home. His family members also helped him in making chocolates, but as the work load started to increase, he hired 8 labourers in manufacturing process, resulting in employment of the unemployed.

“According to me, it is okay to earn low profits in a business but it is not okay compromising on the quality of the product. We focus more on increasing our quality rather than increasing profits. Because, currently people only get adulterated food products due to which health problems increase.” – Rishab Singla

Rishab Singla always purchases only organic cocoa beans and manufacture chocolates from them. Now Rishab has started to procure organic cocoa beans from Bengal also. After gaining complete knowledge about cocoa beans and preparing chocolates from them, now he has started packaging of the chocolates himself. He does the packaging of chocolates in such an effective manner that customers can get the idea of the quality from the outside itself. His customers feel extremely delighted after tasting the chocolates.

Being a young boy, he understands the importance of social media in everybody’s life. By using social media as a tool, he started online marketing of his brand ‘Shyam Ji chocolate’. By doing this, his business got a new direction.

“Manually, the work can be done with more accuracy and perfection rather than using machines. But efficiency of work can be more using machines and also it becomes easy to do with the help of these.” – Rishab Singla

Products by Shyam Ji Chocolate:

85% Organic Dark Chocolate Bar
75% Organic Dark Chocolate Bar
55% Organic Dark Chocolate Bar
19% Organic Chocolate Bar In So much Different flavors
Sea salt Organic Chocolate Bar

Invention

Mind Booster Chocolate Bar
Jaggery Chocolate Bar
Chia Seeds Chocolate Bar
Fiber Booster Chocolate Bar
Black Pepper Chocolate Bar
Flex Seeds Chocolate Bar

Festival Item

Festive Celebration Assorted 15 pieces Chocolate Box

Future plans:
As Rishab has been into chocolate manufacturing for a year , he plans to continue his work only in high quality chocolates.

He also has plans to establish his own chocolate company which will be equipped with all the latest technology.

Message:

“Rishab prepares only organic products and he wants to spread his message that we must use only organically prepared products because we cannot have happiness, peace and success without good health.”

Amarnath Singh

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How organic farming left a positive impact on the life of Amarnath Singh and is cheering him to never stop!

The desire to eat healthy and live chemical free life is leading many farmers towards organic farming. One such farmer, Amarnath Singh from Bathinda has also turned towards organic farming and is successfully reaping profit out of his farm.

Before stepping into the agriculture field, Amarnath was an ICICI life adviser for 5 years (2005-2010), and the land which comes from ancestors in inheritance to him was given on rent to other farmers earlier. Well, this is not the only background story of this land. Everything was going smooth, his father – Nirbhai Singh used to cultivate the land until 1984. In 1984 conditions got worse and matters got escalated in many regions of Punjab. At that time Amarnath’s father decided to leave Rampura Phul – a city in Bathinda district, and they shifted to Tapa Mandi – a town in Barnala district and also the maternal home of Amarnath’s father.

Nirbhai Singh was very attached to his land, so even after leaving the Rampura Phul, he used to daily visit his farm from Tapa Mandi. But, one day, when Nirbhai Singh was coming back from his farm, he met with an accident and he died (2000). Since then, Amarnath has been taking care of that land and other family responsibilities.In 2010, income source from the rented land reduced, as he got no fair deal that could offer him the land’s right price. So, he decided to switch to farming. Moreover, in 2007 one of his friends, Nirmal Singh Ghootna told him about many progressive farmers in the field of organic, in case if he thinks of switching to farming.

Rajiv Dixit is the person who inspired Amarnath Singh towards farming. To get more help Amarnath also joined Kheti Virasat Mission in 2012 and started attending their camps from where he extracted the most knowledgeable information required for farming.

Cotton & Paddy were the first commercial crops reaped by Amarnath Singh and some veggies for home purpose too. In 2012. He grew Kharif crop Guar in 11 acres from which he didn’t earn much profit, but income was enough to satisfy his home and other farming expenditures. Gradually with the time, Amarnath reduced pesticides use and in 2013 he completely stopped it. In 2015, he also started reducing fertilizer in his fields. Out of total land (36 acres), he is doing farming on 26 acres and has given rest of the land on rent.

Amarnath – I can myself feel the positive change in me and my family’s life after boycotting the use of fertilizer and pesticides.

Eventually, Amarnath decided to shift to his native village in 2017 and today he is leading a happy life with his family. He has named the farm on the name of his father – Nirbhai Farm so that he could be remembered always through it.

To promote organic farming, Amarnath himself prepares decomposer and natural pesticides at home and also distribute it among the farmers free of cost. Today, whatever Amarnath Singh has achieved, it’s all because of his own hard work and determination.

Future Plan:
In the coming time, I am planning to encourage my children towards adopting farming. I want them to stand by me and help me in the fields.

Message
My message is for the younger generation, nowadays younger generation is very much influenced by the social media sites and apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Whats App, so they should take useful information related to agriculture from it, instead of wasting time.

Narayan Lal Dhakad

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How This 19-Year-Old Boy Is Using YouTube & Facebook to Teach Farmers Sustainable Farming Practices

Young farmers are the future and this 19-year-old boy has proven it right by showing his passion towards farming. Narayan Lal Dhakad is a young boy from Rajasthan- the land of Kings, Legacy, Tourism, Heritage and Rich Culture, and his personality is also very distinctive like his homeland.

Nowadays, we are seeing many examples where educated people of India are choosing agriculture as their working place and are coming up as an independent agri-entrepreneur, same is the case with Narayan Lal Dhakad. Despite, lacking the basic facilities and enough resources, this boy chose the medium of YouTube and Facebook to disseminate knowledge to help the farming community. Currently, he has 60,000 YouTube subscribers and 30,000 Facebook followers. You will be shocked to know that this boy doesn’t have any laptop, personal computer system or any kind of video editing equipment for editing the videos. With the help of his smartphone, he is making informative farming videos.

“My father died some days before my birth and it was a very dreadful situation for my family. My family was facing a severe financial crisis, but even then my mother raised us well by doing farming and labour work. Perceiving the family conditions, I started farming at a very young age and also learned it well very soon.” – Narayan

Living a hand-to-mouth life, Narayan realized that utilizing the resources well and innovating new ideas with simple hacks to deal with daily common pest and farm issues, is the best thing. Narayan also recognized that the big part of the farming expense is just because of the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and this is the only reason which builds a big mountain of debt over the farmers.

“When it comes to adopting organic farming, then every farmer cannot successfully do it, because its productivity is low; and in distant locations, organic spray and products are not easily available.” – Narayan

Understanding the problem of his area, Narayan invented many easy techniques to control termite, Nilgai, pest and crop disease. All the techniques developed by Narayan were successful and were very cheap that any farmer can easily follow. And to make his techniques available to every farmer he makes videos with his phone, explain everything in it and share it on YouTube and Facebook.

Despite facing difficulties in making videos through his phone, he never dropped his idea of helping the farmers. Narayan has reached out to many farmers in his area and has solved their problem by reaching out to Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s and Agriculture Scientists.

Message:

“Farmers should adopt organic farming because using chemicals and pesticides on their farm not only harm the environment but also their own people. Moreover, by following organic farming farmer can take healthy yield without doing expenses on the pesticides and insecticides.”

Narayan Lal Dhakad has written a success story at just the age of 19. By seeing his passion and determination to work harmoniously towards sustainable agriculture practices, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has nominated him for Krishi Award in 2018.

Today, Narayan Lal Dhakad has become an emerging voice in India which has the capability to change worsening circumstances of farmers.

Do check his YouTube channel & Facebook page, for more inspiring stories of farmers download Apni Kheti app from Google Play store.

Ravi Sharma

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Tailor Turned Beekeeper Creating a Medicinal Powerhouse by Expanding Apiculture

Apiculture is rising industry which is not only attracting the people of agrarian society but also people from other different communities because of the future gain. One such a person who is creating a medicinal powerhouse in his village by expanding apiculture is Ravi Sharma.

Starting from 1978, till 1992, Ravi Sharma used to tailor the clothes and also guide 10 other men under him, in the same profession in his small village Gudana of district Mohali. His tailoring business was going well in a small village shop until he visited Rajpura, Patiala and met Dr. Walia (Agri Inspector).

For Ravi Sharma, Dr. Walia acted as a pathfinder towards beekeeping; he was the one who inspired Ravi Sharma towards beekeeping and helped him in adopting it smoothly.

In the beginning, Mr. Sharma got 50% subsidy and himself he invested Rs. 5700 on 5 honeybee boxes, from which he obtained 1 ½ quintal honey and earned good profit. First earning encouraged Ravi Sharma to expand his work to 100 honeybee boxes and this is how he switched to beekeeping and dropped the profession of tailoring completely in 1994.

Visit to Rewari, Haryana in 1997 in an agricultural event, boosted up Mr. Sharma’s fascination towards beekeeping and then he decided to increase the number of honeybee boxes. Now, the bee boxes number varies from 350-400 in his farm.

In 2000, Mr. Ravi also gave a try to dairy farming with 15 cows, but it was not as successful as beekeeping. Due to labour problem, he has to end it. Now he has only 4 HF breed cows and one Murrah buffalo for home purpose and sometimes he also sells their milk in the market. In the meanwhile, beekeeping work was going smooth.

But the journey towards successful beekeeping was not that velvety. In 2007-08, a mite attacked was encountered in his beehives colonies due to which only 35 honeybee boxes were left unaffected and the rest were destroyed. This incident completely shattered the beekeeping business of Ravi Sharma.

But this fall made Mr. Ravi stronger and he rose more powerfully and established his honeybee farm successfully within a short span of time. After seeing his success many other people consulted him to start their own beekeeping business. He started distributing 20-30 honeybee boxes to his relatives and friends also and in this way he created a medicinal powerhouse.

“Once there also came a time when honeybee boxes count reached up-to 4000, and all those people who owned it, started beekeeping after seeing my success in beekeeping venture.”

Today, Ravi Madhu Makhi Farm has two workers for managing the bee farm work. Marketing is also smooth, as Ravi Sharma has a tie-up with a person who buys all the honey from him, and sometimes Ravi Sharma also sells 4-5 quintal of honey on the roadside shop near Anandpur Sahib from where he earns well.

Beekeeping is the only source of income for Ravi Sharma through which he is supporting his family of 6 members, which includes wife, mother, two daughters, and a son.

“My wife- Mrs. Gyan Devi, was the main supporting pillar in my beginning beekeeping years. Without her, I would not have reached this level in my life.”

Currently, honey and bee wax are the two main product of Ravi Madhumakhi Farm.

Future Plan:
Till now I have expanded the beekeeping work in my village and few relatives only, but in future, I want to expand beekeeping to a much larger area.

Message:
“A person should do his work with complete dedication and include these three words in his efforts “Imaandaari (Honesty), Gyan (Knowledge), Dhyan (Care)” then only he can achieve what he wants.”

Because of Mr. Ravi’s effort today Gudana village has become a powerhouse for honey production and he will keep his work in progress to make beekeeping more impactful business in the future also.

Ankur and Ankita Singh

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Graduated From Symbiosis This Husband-Wife Duo, Giving a New Definition to Agribusiness with Their New Concept of Dairy Farming

What life do you imagine after doing MBA in Agribusiness from a prestigious university of India, maybe an Agricultural Analyst, Farm Appraiser, Market Analyst, Quality Controller, or Agribusiness Marketing Coordinator?

Well, all these are dream job profiles for MBA Agriculture graduates and it will become cherry on the top if you have done your MBA from an esteemed university like Symbiosis, Pune. But there are very few people who instead of being part of a multinational organization, prefer to emerge as a start-up which gives true meaning to their skills and adequacy.

Urban Dairy- An initiative taken by a power couple- Ankur and Ankita with the mission to redefine the concept of dairy farming with their distinctive idea of selling milk in raw form. This farm is located in district Unnao, 55 kilometres from Kanpur city.

Before starting this milk venture, Ankur was working as a Bio-technologist and Agriculturist in different companies (total work experience 2 years). In 2014, Ankur tied love knot with his friend Ankita, who also did MBA from Symbiosis, Pune with him.

Well, this idea of selling raw milk came into accomplishment after Ankur’s nephew came from abroad to visit him. As this was the first experience of Ankur’s nephew in India, so he decided to make it special.

Ankur especially bought an indigenous breed of cow- Shahiwal and started rearing her for milk purpose. Although the purpose of raw cow milk was only for Ankur’s nephew as he had realised that unpasteurized cow milk is more healthy and tastier than packed milk. Slowly, the whole family started drinking the cow milk and everyone liked it.

Ankur was fond of animals since childhood, but after this instance, he thought why to compromise with the health, and in 2015 both husband and wife (Ankur & Ankita) decided to start their own dairy farm. Ankur attended a short training at NDRI Karnal before starting dairy farming and in the meanwhile, his wife Ankita looked after all the construction work of the farm. They began with 6 Holstein cross breed cows, and now it has been 3 years and they have 34 Holstein/ Jersey cross breed cows and 7 indigenous cows (Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparker) at their farm.

Urban Dairy is what they thought of naming their brand, blending the rural theme with the city, a fusion of two regions, which are completely opposite to each other. From managing dairy farm to product marketing & development, they did not leave even a single step to reach where they are today. The whole farm is build-out in 4 acres of land and there are 7 workers for its maintenance. Bathing, feeding, maintaining hygiene of cows and other farm-related work are done manually by the worker and milking is done by the milking machine as well as manually by hands as per the comfort of cow. Both Ankur and Ankita make it a point to visit the farm once daily without fail. They not only like to spend most of their time at the farm but also it helps them supervise the workers in a better way. The entire milling and bottling and transport is under strict supervision of the founders.

“Ankur: We also prepare the cow feed ourselves, because milk yield & cow’s health totally depends on the feed and we never compromise on this. The cow feed formula that we follow is- 33% protein, 33% industrial waste (choker), 33% grains (maize, chickpea) and extra minerals.”

Other than dairy farming they are also actively involved in organic farming of vegetables. They have leased an extra 4 acres land. Earlier Ankita used that land as a kitchen garden. She never used any fertilizer/pesticide on that land other than cow dung. Now the land has totally turned into an organic piece of fertile acreage which they are using for farming wheat, chickpea, carrot, garlic, chillies, coriander, and seasonal veggies. They use farm crops for the cow’s feed and home purpose.

“In the beginning, my HF crossbreed cow was giving 12-litre milk, after second pregnancy she started giving 18-litre milk and now she is pregnant the third time and we are expecting 24-litre milk. There is a possibility of increase in milk production imminently.”

Marketing:

Instead of carrying milk in large milk containers to the customers and using primitive milk measuring ladle, they have come up with an innovative concept to enhance their product image. They pack the raw milk directly into glass bottles after filtration process and then deliver it to the door of the customers.

People have accepted their product with open arms. Till today, i.e. 3 years and they haven’t used a single marketing strategy or advertising to allure the customer to use their product. The entire market they are catering to, has been formed through word-of-mouth publicity by their existing customers. The response has motivated them to a level that they have started with the production of paneer, ghee and other milk based dairy products. The positive response from customers has increased their sale.

They have their own distribution network in the city for milk sale and by seeing their advancement slowly with the time it will increase to manifolds.

Future Plan:

Indigenous cow breeds milk production capacity is not that high, and he wants to develop a new cow breed by cross-breeding indigenous cows which have good milk production capacity as the milk of our Indigenous breeds is considered better in quality and proven to have multiple health benefits for humans.

According to him, milk can be kept at 2 degree centigrade for one week in healthy condition, and for that purpose, he wants to invest in chiller storage in the coming time, to store the milk for long time and use it for multiple purposes.

Message:
“Dairy farmers should never neglect the hygiene and care of their cows, they should care about them as they care for their own health. And before starting dairy farming every farmer must acquire knowledge and keep themselves updated with the current dairy farming trends for better future. Dairy farming can only be profitable if the animals in your farm are happy. The selling price of your product wouldn’t get you to earn profits, but a happy animal can definitely help you earn good profits.”

Jagdeep Singh

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HOW THIS FARMER’S THRIVING INITIATIVE IS HELPING PUNJAB TO SAY NO TO STUBBLE BURNING

Burning straw and using pesticides in an age-old practice, whose severe affects we can see today in our environment. Due to stubble burning in Haryana & Punjab, the northern parts of India is facing a drastic rise in air pollution. Air quality has worsened in the past few years and this is giving rise to many serious breathing and skin problems.

Although the government has taken many major steps to curb the problem of stubble burning, still they are not able to stop farmers from doing it. Stubble burning is becoming a huge issue in Punjab, because of lack of knowledge and awareness among the farmers. But one such a farmer who not only stopped farmers from burning their field in his region, but he also encouraged them towards organic farming is Jagdeep Singh.

Jagdeep Singh is an emerging farmer from Sangrur district of Punjab. His fondness towards his motherland and the soil, enhanced when he was just a kid. His journey as a soil lover started from his childhood. Just after his birth, his uncle adopted him, and farming was his occupation. His uncle used to take him to his farm, and this is how jagdeep’s interest increased towards farming.

With his growing age, his mind was also developing and the first priority in his mind was to pursue farming after completing his studies. After completing his 10th standard he decided to quit his studies and start helping his father Mukhtiar Singh in farming. His curiosity towards farming was escalating day-by-day, so to satisfy his needs, he started visiting Punjab Agriculture University in between 1989 to 1990. After visiting PAU, Jagdeep Singh came to know that the basic level of his farm soil is very high which is giving rise to many soil and crop issues; And to make the soil more fertile there were only two solutions either to use farmyard manure or use green manure in the fields.

To deal with this problem Jagdeep came up with a better solution, as investing in farmyard manure was costly for him. In between 1990 to 1991, he started using happy seeder with the support of PAU. By using happy seeder he was able to implant the seed in the soil, without removing the paddy straw from the field. He started using paddy straw in the form of manure in his field to increase the soil fertility. Slowly Jagdeep gathered 37 farmers under his initiative and encouraged them to use happy seeder and avoid stubble burning. He is running this drive throughout the Sangrur, under which they cover more than 350 acres of land.

“In 2014, I received an award by IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute) and after that, I formed a group in my village by the name ‘Shaheed Baba Sidh Sweh Shaita Group’. Under this group, we encourage farmers to stop stubble burning to deal with the deteriorating air quality problems.”

These days, he is doing farming on 40 acres of land, out of which 32 acres land is on rent. On 4 acres he is doing organic farming and on the rest of the land, he is using pesticides in very minimum quantity. His main motive is to go organic. Currently, he is living with his father, mother, wife and two sons in his village – Kanoi.

The most tempting thing about Jagdeep Singh’s personality is that he is so down to earth person, and he is always curious to learn new thing about farming. He is also very interested in rearing livestock and he has 8 buffaloes for home purpose. He uses the buffalo milk only for the home purpose and sometimes he sells them to the neighbours or villagers. With his farming and milk sale he is managing his family expenses very well and in the future, he wants to start marketing his produce himself for better profit.

Message:
“Jagdeep Singh’s message for other farmers is that they should teach their kids about farming and don’t add negative thoughts about farming in their mind, otherwise they will forget about their roots.”

Baljit Singh Kang

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TEACHER TURNED ORGANIC FARMER BRINGING REVOLUTION IN THE FIELD OF ORGANIC FARMING

Meet Baljit Singh Kang from – a teacher turned into an organic farmer. Organic farming was not the principal idea for which Mr. Kang get early retirement from his teaching profession. It was his kids for whom he took early retirement and along with that he also started farming.

Baljit Singh Kang always wanted to do something different and not be a part of monotony and old traditions, and he found that something different in organic farming. Farming was not the primary occupation of his family, as his father and brother were already settled in abroad. But Baljit wanted to do something great by staying in his own country.

Just after completing his M.A. in Punjabi, Baljit got a job in school as a teacher. After working for some times as a teacher he opened his own restaurant from 2003 to 2010. In 201o he decided to quit restaurant business and start organic farming. In 2011, he got married and after some time he was blessed with two beautiful children, a daughter and a son. Daughter is now 4 year old and son is 2 year old.

Earlier he was using chemicals on a low scale, but in later he turned towards organic. He sowed maize crop in 1-acre of land. But everyone in his village was making fun of him because he planted maize in winters. Baljit was so determined and confident that he never let the bad words and negativity affect him. When harvesting time came, at that time he harvested 37 quintals of maize and that was above his imagination. The harvested produce encouraged him to expand the framing work and he took 1.5-acre land more on the lease.

Shifting from chemical to organic farming was a huge step for Baljit, but he never looked back. He started growing vegetables on 6 acres of land. On his farm, he grew every type of fruit trees and he has also established vermi-compost plant which benefits him a lot. He hires no extra labour for his work and is earning well from organic farming.

Future Plans:
Currently, he is growing mustard, basmati, wheat, and vegetables at his farm in 6 acres of land. In future, he wants to partner with Kheti Virasat Mission to market his products on his own.

Message to farmers-
“Farmers should start working themselves and stop depending on the third person for marketing. The second thing that farmers should understand is for better future organic farming is the only solution. Farmers should stop using chemicals and start adopting organic farming.”

Raja Ram Jakhar

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The Futuristic Farmer of Rajasthan Bringing Changing Tides in Conventional Farming Trend with Aloe Vera Farming

Even today also Rajasthan is known for its conventional farming methods, and the main crops that are grown there are Bajara, Guar, and Sorghum. Many farmers are progressing but still, many farmers are there who just don’t want to come out of their stereotypical conventional farming trend. One such a person who is trying to do something out of the box and bring a changing tide in agriculture field is Raja Ram Jakhar.

Born and brought up on the land of Rajasthan, Raja Ram Jakhar is a B.Sc. Agriculture Graduate who left his government job just to pursue his passion towards farming. He learned to take advantage of the opportunity and gain profit from it. And today he is a successful aloe-vera farmer in Rajasthan, who is not dependent on anyone for marketing because his produce is sold to the consumers from his farm only.

Rajaram Jakhar’s family was associated with agriculture from the beginning. And all his childhood, he had seen all his family members doing farming only. But after completing his B.Sc. Agriculture degree from the DAV College of Sangaria, Rajasthan in 1980, he got a chance to pursue a different profession (Supervisor at Central State Farm, Suratgarh). However, he wasn’t able to work there more than 3-4 months, because it doesn’t interest him and he chose to come back and continue his ancestral occupation, farming.

He started farming in the same way his ancestors were doing and there was no major profit that he achieved. Slowly it was getting difficult for him to manage his family livelihood, they were just living from hand to mouth. But then he heard about Patanjali brand and its aloe vera products, and to manufacture those products Patanjali needs aloe-vera produce in bulk. So he took advantage of this opportunity and started aloe-vera farming by making minimum Rs. 15000 of investment in 1 bigha of variety “Babie Densis”.

During all this, once his family also went against his decision of aloe-vera farming, because they were unsure of what he was doing, and at that time he was the first one to start aloe-vera farming in his area (Ganganagar District). But he never changed his mind, because he was confident of himself. After one year, when finally aloe-vera plants were ready, few buyers contacted him for buying his produce, and since then he is selling his produce without making any extra effort from his farm only and is earning 1 Lakh from 1 Bigha in 1 Year.

As there are many factories in Rajasthan for Aloe-Vera processing, so every after 50 days two trucks are sent to his farm by the buyers to purchase his produce and he just has to load the produce in the truck with the help of the workers. Now he has started inter-cropping and has planted moringa tree in the aloe-vera field to take advantage in a better way.

Currently, he is living happily with his family (wife, three daughters and one son) and is managing the whole farm on his own. He has one tube well and tractor for framing. He strictly follows organic farming in his farm for aloe-vera, moringa, and cotton. Along with aloe-vera, moringa and cotton he has also planted vegetables like okra, ridge gourd, cucumber, bottle gourd, guar beans and other seasonal vegetables for home use.

Rajaram Jakhar chose Moringa for inter-cropping because of its medicinal properties and it is easy to grow with little care. Now he has also started selling plants and giving free training to farmers who want to start aloe-vera farming. Rajaram Jakhar with his futuristic views is trying to bring a new revolution in the agriculture field. Till now he has taken no help from government or any other source, he has done everything on his own. His upcoming plans are to expand his work and make more farmers aware to start aloe-vera farming.

MESSAGE TO FARMERS
“Before starting any new thing, a farmer should search the market first and then start farming. There are many opportunities from which farmers can take advantage and they should never miss that.”

Harnam Singh

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Story of a Man Who Chose To Stay in His Own Country and Do Something for His Motherland Instead Of Going Abroad

In Punjab, youngsters are besotted by foreign shores and migrating to abroad have become a status symbol and trend in the society. Despite having enough resources in their own motherland, today youngsters have foreign attraction and they prefer to go abroad and get settled there. For most of the people in Punjab, relocation to foreign countries has become a question of identity, even if they do not know what their goals are after going there. Yes earning money is easy in abroad, but not that easy.

With the same dream, a young man of Ludhiana, Mr. Harnam Singh was also planning to go Canada like his other friends, but in the middle, he dropped his idea. After the conversation with his friends, Harnam came to know that, life in abroad is not that easy, you have to work day and night, if you want to make money, moreover you have to stay away from your family. So after knowing their friend’s experience, he thought that, even after going abroad, if he has to face hardships in managing a simple living, then it’s better to live here with family and start doing something in his homeland only. He decided to continue his studies and also help his father in farming.

After that decision, he never looked back or let any second thought enter his mind. Today, Harnam Singh owns Namdhari Strawberry Farm which is stretched in 3.5 acres of land in his native place and is earning profits in lakhs. It all started in 2011 when his father went to PAU for the training of mushroom farming and while coming back he brought 6 seedlings of strawberry for the kitchen garden. And it is when the idea of the strawberry farming came in the mind of Harnam Singh. Gradually with the time 6 seedling became 20, 20 became 50, 50 became 100, 100 became 1000 and 1000 became lakhs. Today, they have around 1 lakh of strawberry plants in their farm. Moreover, to maintain the number of strawberry plants, he has also started cultivating strawberry seedlings in Shimla, by taking an area on rent. Mostly he avoids using chemicals and fertilizers in his farm and prefers natural way of farming. And for packing the strawberries he has packing machines and rest of the work is done by the workers (20-30), which he hires mostly in the season of strawberries. Their yearly production of strawberries is very huge, due to which Harnam has to sell some of the produce himself and the rest he sells to the shops or vegetable market of big cities.

In the meanwhile, Harnam never stopped studying and today he has a good list of academic degrees. He did Graduation in Arts, Diploma in Software Engineering, Diploma in Networking Engineering, and presently, he is pursuing Diploma in B.Sc Agriculture. He also helps the farmers by teaching and guiding them about the strawberry farming without charging them.

Currently, Harnam Singh is living in Ludhiana with his happy and small family (Father, Wife, One Daughter and One Son). His future plan is to expand the strawberry farm to a greater extent and make other farmers aware about the strawberry farming.

Message By Harnam Singh
“Harnam wants to convey the same message that he himself experienced in his life that if you have enough resources with you, then start utilizing it efficiently rather than searching it elsewhere. The youngsters of Punjab should start contributing to their motherland instead of going abroad because they can also earn good profit even by staying here.”

Amandeep Kaur

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Story of a Young Girl with Budding Skills Trying to Stand on Her Own Feet & Make Her Identity in the Society with Her Culinary Skills

It is said that those who want to achieve something in their life, for them only a small motivation or inspiration is enough. God has sent everyone with a gift box, only a few of them open their package and identify their hidden talent, and most of the people never dare to do that due to lack of confidence. But a girl from Moga dared to recognized her talent and stand on her own feet to become independent.

Amandeep Kaur a 25 year old girl from Lande ke Moga is a budding entrepreneur, who is trying to make her own identity in the society. As we know that behind every leader, there is a struggling experience which provokes them to reach that spot, same is with Amandeep. She is a young and enthusiastic soul similar to other girls, but her determination is what makes her stand out from others. Currently, she lives with her brother and mother, her father passed away quite a long time ago. And due to the financial crisis, she stopped studying after 10th. But as we all might have heard, those who are meant to do something great and stand out from all the crowd, they cannot be stopped by any kind of difficulties.

Today, Amandeep is leading a group of 7 girls known as Swati Women Cooperative Society, and under this brand name she is taking little steps towards success. Behind the formation of this group, there is hand of female philanthropist Mrs. Sundara, she only gave a small inspiration and that was enough for Amandeep to gather the rest of the girls and start up with their own business of homemade pickles and chutneys.

Amandeep Kaur explained that how Mrs. Sundara herself visited their village (village name) in 2003, gathered them (group members) and make them aware that what capabilities they have and how they can make their skills useful to themselves, instead of sitting idle. She also help Amandeep and other girls by enrolling them in the training of making homemade products like pickles, chutney and many other food products and also motivated them to study further.

Amandeep is not only working to earn and support her family but also to make her own identity in the society. She is very passionate about the work she is doing and she has also planned to pursue her education in the field of home culinary so that she can come up with different food products to sell it in the market. Name of the other girls’ are- Parminder, Baljeet, Ranjit, Gurpreet, Channi, Manjit, Pawandeep; these girls are very young, in their early twenties or below, but due to some circumstantial situation, they all have dropped out of their education in the middle. But they still have the zeal and enthusiasm to continue their study, explore new things, earn their own livelihood and be independent. All the girls are very fervent about their work and are interested in continuing their study along with SWCS business.

Amandeep and all her group members are very hard working and know how to manage their work efficiently. They buy all their raw material from the market (sabzi mandi) themselves for making pickles, chutney and fragrant waters. They make more than 10 variety of pickles, 2 types of chutney, 3 types of fragrant water and candies also.

Everything is handmade by them and is purely natural without any preservative. Pickles, chutneys, and candies made by them are very delicious and original in flavor and will remind you the taste of your grandmother’s hand.

Some of the most selling products are Mango Chutney, Lachha Nimbu Pickle, Ginger Pickle and Garlic Pickle. They visit as many exhibitions and events as they can to sell their handmade natural products; and other than that they personally visit different societies and committees of different districts to sell their product. Till now they have covered Fategarh, Firozpur, Ludhiana, and Moga, and in the coming time, there will be more cities. Usually, they use to make nearly 100 boxes of each pickle containing 1 kg each per day.

Currently, the group total income in only 20000 per month and it is very difficult for them to manage in such a tight cash flow. The reason behind this problem is they don’t have any proper platform to sell their product and also very few people know about Swati Women Cooperative Society. Well, according to them this is just the beginning and these types of hardships are never going to demotivate them or stop them from what they are doing.

Message by Amandeep Kaur (PRESIDENT OF SWATI WOMEN COOPERATIVE SOCIETY)
“Every girl should recognize their skill and use them wisely to be independent on their own. Today, women should not be dependent on others, they should be self-determining and self-regulating. Because it feels good when you have power in your hand to fulfil your own wishes. And education is very much necessary in enlightening and guiding the correct path. Working and being independent makes you feel special and confident of what you are. So, every girl should complete their education and choose the path which interests them and can help them to earn a good living.”

S. Bharpur Singh

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Bharpur Singh Chose Floriculture Blossoms to Reap Profit from Farming

Agriculture is a diversified field and farmers can reap good profit out of it even in less land, all they need to be aware of is the modern way of farming and the right way to do it. This is the story of Bharpur Singh an ordinary farmer from Kheri Mallan village of Patiala, who always wanted to do something different than the cultivation of wheat and paddy.

Mr. Singh after completing his studies (school) decided to help his father- Sardar Ranjeet Singh in farming, but he was never satisfied with the trend that other farmers were following (wheat-paddy cycle). Although he helped his father in the fields, but his mind and soul wanted to do something different.

In 1999, he visited Gurdwara Rara Sahib with his family and bought some flower seeds of Chrysanthemum and that was the time when he entered in the field of floriculture. In the beginning, he started growing Chrysanthemum on a small piece of land and slowly with the time he found this venture profitable, so he increased the flower farming area.

With the time, as his sons grew up they also started taking interest in his father floriculture business. Now both the sons of Bharpur Singh is equally engaged in the floriculture.

Floriculture
Currently, they are growing four types of flowers in their farm- Chrysanthemum, Marigold, Jafri and Gladiolus. They use all the modern implements on their land. Floriculture is spread in 10 acres and sometimes they also take land on lease for farming other crops.

Seed Preparation
Other than farming they have also started preparing seeds of Jafri and Chrysanthemum flowers by themselves, and they import Gladiolus seeds direct from Holland, and Marigold seeds from Kolkata. Seed preparation helps them make a good profit, sometimes they also provide seeds to their friends and relatives just to promote floriculture.

Investment & Profit from Floriculture
Rupees 2 lakhs is the investment cost for Gladiolus in 1 acre and in return he gets Rupees 4 – 5 lakhs from one acre of Gladiolus, which means almost 50% profit or more.

Marketing
They are not dependent on the third person for the marketing. They market their produce themselves in the mandi of Patiala, Nabha, Samana, Sangrur, Bathinda, and Ludhiana. Their brand name is Nirman Flower Farm. Several camps related to agriculture are also organized by horticulture department at their farm in which many progressive farmers participate and training is provided to the regular farmers about floriculture.

Sardar Bharpur Singh gives most of the credit of his successful farming venture to Dr. Sandeep Singh Grewal (Horticulture Department, Patiala), Dr. Kulwinder Singh and Dr. Ranjeet Singh (PAU) because without their help and advice he would not be able to reach this stage in his life.

He gives a message to the farmers that they should not opt agriculture as to compete with other farmers but they should do it for themselves and with full interest then only they will be able to earn profits as desired.

Starting from a small level and achieving this much success in life, Bharpur Singh sets an example as a role model for the farmers who are looking towards adopting floriculture.

Message
“My message to farmers is that they should seriously think about the benefits of diversification. The vicious circle of wheat and paddy farming has left farmers in a bad shape and under lots of debts. The fertility of the soil is decreasing and farmers are being forced to use more and more chemicals to increase production. Diversification is the only way by which farmers can achieve success and gain more profits and raise their standard of living. Moreover, farmers should not opt agriculture as to compete with other farmers but they should do it for themselves and with full interest then only they will be able to earn profits as desired.”

Yadwinder Singh

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This Farmer from Punjab Opted Best Alternative Over Conventional Wheat-Paddy Cycle and Is Making Double Profit from It

Where rice & wheat cultivation continues to rule in Punjab, some farmers still lack alternatives. Farmers having small land holdings and less awareness are still stuck in the conventional cycle of wheat and paddy. But this young lad- Yadwinder Singh from Chak Bakhtu village of Bathinda district has shooed away the old practices of farming with nursery preparation and organic vegetable farming.

Yadwinder Singh, a boy aspiring to fulfil his millions of dreams, completed his diploma in Hotel Management after his graduation and then placed as a reputed chef in Singapore for two years. But he was not happy with his work and he was feeling that something was missing in his life. So he came back to Punjab and very strong-mindedly he decided to enter the farming field.

In 2015 he started his organic venture but before that he acted wisely to avoid future losses. As being a nimble-witted person he took help of internet and attended farmer fairs and begin with nursery farming of organic vegetables. To promote his brand, Yadwinder also designed a logo for his business.

In the first year of his farming venture, he earned up to 1 lakh and today he is making more than 2.5 lakhs from just 2 canals (5 acres). Along with farming he also started nursery management which includes seed preparation, soil management. He even does not need to go to the market to sell the seedlings, because farmers themselves visit his farm to buy the seedlings.

Today Yadwinder Singh is very happy with his occupation and income. In future he want to expand his domain and grow some more crops to reap good profit.

Message:

“We know that government does not make enough effort to support the ordinary farmers. But farmers shouldn’t feel discouraged, because with strong determination and smart approach they can achieve what they want.”

Gurdev Kaur Deol

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Story of a Woman Who Is Leading a Change in the Women Society through Entrepreneurship

Over the years, women in India, have made a substantial impact and achieved success in most of the sectors, but still, there are many women who are way behind and are just confined to the household work. Today, we need to promote women to be a great part of the workforce and develop their skills. Because women have the power to accelerate the growth of country’s economy. And the best way to empower the women is by entrepreneurship not by charity. There are many people working voluntarily to promote women empowerment, but the best person who can empower a woman is a woman herself. One such woman who is working in the interest of womankind and encouraging them to be independent is Mrs. Gurdev Kaur Deol.

Gurdev Kaur Deol is a progressive farmer and president of Global Self-Help Group. Born and brought up on the land of Punjab, she was a strong-willed girl from the beginning. She was very active and enthusiastic, and always wanted to take initiative in helping her female counterpart and make them feel empowered.

Like other women, she was also married after completing her studies (MA- B.Ed. from G.H.G. Khalsa Colleges, Gurusar Sadhar, Ludhiana). But after her marriage, she realized that this is not all, for what she is meant for. In 1995 she started beekeeping with 5 boxes and 1999 she also started marketing self-made products like pickles, chutneys, etc.,

In 2004 she came in connection with PAU, and then she comprehended that, so far she had only theoretical knowledge, so she gained practical knowledge from PAU. She also became a member of Beekeeper Association of PAU. After doing this much on her own, she realized that she has to make other women of her society aware of their capabilities. So, in 2008, she formed a cooperative society by gathering 15 women of her village and named it Global Self-Help Group. She helped all the women of her group get enrolled in the PAU training program so that they can learn proper skills.

In the beginning her group started making pickle, chutney, jams, honey, sauces, squash juices and murraba. Soon her group started earning a good profit and after 6 months, the bank offered them the loan for their work. They expanded their work bit by bit and also started organic farming and added more products to their collection.

In 2012 she partnered with NABARD and got her group registered with them and turned it into an NGO, and after that, her group members started processing their work. After registering up with NABARD she was assigned a target to form 100 self-help groups more, to promote and encourage women to develop their skills and be independent. Till now she has made 25 groups and PAU is also helping her in making more groups. In 2015 she registered Global Self Help Group with Farmer Producer Organization. Till now she has connected more than 400 women and men and formed separate groups of them.

Today NABARD is also supporting her group by providing funds, so that she can provide practical training free of cost to unprivileged and needy women and make their groups. She always approaches a woman by telling her to start making recipes for her own family, children, and relatives. Because she thinks, if a housewife cannot meet the needs of her home, then how will she do the same thing outside.

Currently, Mrs. Gurdev Kaur Deol is living in Village Dasmesh Nagar, Ludhiana with her husband Mr. Gurdev Singh Deol, and is successfully running her group and guiding other women and farmers to do better. Till now she has total 32 products including organic pulses, lentils, squashes, and spices. Beekeeping is one her favourite hobby and now her group has 450 boxes of honey bee boxes. She also does dairy farming and makes milk products for selling purpose. They also purchase organic pulses from the farmers, pack them and sell them. She sells all the products made by her group under the name of Global Agro-Food Products. She is earning good profits by Global Self Help Group.

In future, she is planning to open a shop in the name of her group, so that she can establish a proper platform to sell her products, and she also wants to connect the farmers from Himachal Pradesh for the trade of organic pulses, vegetables, and maize etc.,

Till now she has achieved many awards and achievements for her work. Some of them are listed below-

• Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Award in 2009
• State Award from Agriculture Department under ATMA Scheme in 2010
• National Award for Dairy Farming in 2011
• State Award To Global Self Help Group from NABARD in 2012

Message by Gurdev Kaur Deol
“Gurdev Kaur has a special message for the farmers who have less land. If a farmer has 3-4 acres of land, then they should start growing vegetables and pulses on it by following natural farming method, instead of wheat and paddy. Because organic farming can help them earn more profit in a safe way. And every woman should start using her skill and be productive.”

Kanta Desta

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THIS WOMAN FARMER REALIZED HOW SHE IS SPREADING DISEASES TO THE PEOPLE, BY DOING CHEMICAL FARMING AND MADE WISE DECISION BY SWITCHING TO ORGANIC

It is said that we should always be thankful to farmers because if you ate today something, it just because of a farmer’s hard work and the sweat that he sheds in the fields. But what if the farmer himself becomes the diseases distributor instead of food!

Today, chemical farming has become a trend to boost the agricultural yield. Agriculture has more become a business rather than fulfilling the basic food necessity. Producers and consumers of food, both have forgotten the basic purpose of farming.

In this situation, a well-said line by a famous agriculturalist- Masanobu Fukuoka explains the true purpose of farming-

“The ultimate goal of farming is not growing crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”

By going through the same situation, a woman- Kanta Desta, realized that how she has become a disease distributor and then she made the wisest decision of her life by switching to organic farming.

Kanta Desta from Samala Village was a common farmer who use to grow vegetable and fruit and many time she used to distribute it among her relatives, neighbours and friends. But one day, she came to know about the harmful effects of crops grown by using chemical fertilizers and pesticides and then she felt very bad. From that day, she decided that she will stop using chemicals and will adopt organic farming.

To make her step towards organic farming more effective she joined a program which was being run by Morarka Foundation and the Agriculture Department in 2004. She started growing many types of fruits, vegetables, grains and spices like apples, pears, Plum, peach, Japanese Apricot, kiwi fruit, nuts, peas, beans, eggplant, cabbage, radish, coriander, red pepper, onion, wheat, maize, urad, barley, beans and Baladi crops are also grown.

Her switch to organic farming positively affected her income and it was increased to 4 to 5 lakhs annually. Not only this, but with the help of Morarka Foundation, Kanta Desta created a group of women in her village and provided them with knowledge about Organic Farming, and also got them registered under the same foundation.

“I believe that providing knowledge to people in a group is better because it costs less and we can impart knowledge to more people at a time.”

Today her name come across the list of successful organic farmers. She has 31 bighas irrigated land through which she is being productive and is earning the profit in lakhs. Later she also visited NONI University, Delhi, Jaipur and Banglore to get more information about Organic Farming. And for her fervent effort, she has been honoured twice with state honours by the Himachal Pradesh Government. Other than this she has been awarded as the Best Farmer Award in Shimla on 15 August 2008 and she also got appreciated and awarded for her contribution in the field of organic farming on 13th June 2013.

Despite getting so much appreciation on a huge level, this woman never takes the whole credit to herself and she believes that all the credit for her success goes to Morarka Foundation and the Department of Agriculture who guided her on the right path.

Other than farming, Kanta also rears 2 cows and 3 buffaloes and use their dung and farm residue in small vermicomposting plant established in the area of 30x8x10 at her farm. She also use herbal spray aperture wash, jivamrit and NSDL in the place of pesticides, to improve the land conditions and reduce the expenses.

Now, Kanta feels happy and privileged while distributing vegetables and fruits among her relatives and friends, because she knows that what she is growing and giving to her closed ones is free of harmful chemicals and they will stay healthy by eating this.

Message

“Organic Farming is very important to if we want to keep our environment clean.”

Avtar Singh Ratol

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53 Old Year Farmer Scaling New Heights and Harvesting Double Profit in the Field Of Horticulture

Agriculture is not just cows and plows…its more than that!

Today agriculture field has many new things to do, about which normal city people are not aware of. From planting improved variety of seeds to implementing new enhanced farming techniques and implements, farming is not less than any rocket science. And very few farmers are there who understands that changing farming practices with the changing time can help them alleviate the future risks. One such a farmer from Sarod village of Sangrur district who understood the fact of changing with the time very well is S. Avtar Singh Ratol.

32 is a great number of experience for a farmer, and S. Avtar Singh Ratol has used it well in shaping his horticulture career in the right direction. He started cultivating vegetables in 50 acres in the beginning and slowly expanded his farming reach to a greater area. For better irrigation he implanted underground pipeline in 47 acres which benefited him a lot in the future.

To boost up his farming productivity, he took training from Agriculture Science Centre and Farm Advisory Service Centre in Sangrur. From the knowledge that he gained during his training, he built two high-tech poly-houses in 4000 square feet and started cultivating cucumber and gerbera flower in it. Currently, his annual income from the cultivation of cucumber and gerbera is around 7.5 lakh rupees which are more than enough to manage his farming inputs.

Horticulture became S. Avtar Singh Ratol’s full-time passion and to give a kick to his arousing interest he went abroad to learn advance horticulture techniques. Abroad visit had positive results on the farm productivity and S. Avtar Singh Ratol achieved huge success in the crop cultivation of potatoes, pepper, melon, capsicum, wheat, etc. Besides this, he also started preparing the vegetable nursery and selling it to other farmers.

Counting on his achievements…

Adopting drip irrigation to save water, developing a small Trans-Planter to plant the vegetable sapling and perform many other tasks and using low tunnel technique, are some of his achievements which helped him doing successful cultivation of capsicum and many other vegetables. He faced no difficulty in implementing all these modern farming techniques at his farm, which encouraged him to progress more.

Awards

• Awarded with “S Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award”.
• Awarded by “Chief Minister Award” for his success in horticulture.

Message

“Horticulture is a profitable field with lots of new farming methods and cost-effective techniques that farmer must try to give a great boost to his income.”