A journey of struggles, transformation, success
Vijayawada: For four years, V Rani from a remote village in Guntur district, has been cultivating land with dedication and perseverance, but her journey into farming was not an easy thing. Before this, she and her family were engaged in farming elsewhere, but life took an unexpected turn. Due to some personal stress, she accidentally consumed poison, leading to severe health complications. She underwent treatment at NRI Hospital and as a result, had to abandon her previous farmland, which was located far from their new place of residence.
During this uncertain time, Uma Devi, a working community resource person from APCNF (Andhra Pradesh Community-managed Natural Farming) introduced Rani to a new farming opportunity. Initially, it was a barren dryland filled with weeds, and not suitable for cultivation. However, driven by dire financial necessity, she took the decision to take the land on lease for Rs 12,000. She began natural farming with pre monsoon dry sowing (PMDS) seeds, sowing paddy first, followed by intercropping with green gram. Unfortunately, the yield was poor, as the land was still infertile.
Uma Devi then suggested planting red gram along the bunds and marigold flowers to support biodiversity and pest control. In the first year, despite planting PMDS seeds, the primary crop did not flourish. However, Uma Devi provided alternative seeds, including sorrel, spinach, and Amaranthus, which fared better. Rani managed to earn Rs 5,000 from these crops. Over time, she received an increasing plant growth PMDS seeds from 17 types in the first year, 27 in the second, and 30 in the third year. While larger crops like maize and green gram took time to succeed, smaller crops such as jowar and ragi showed promise.
Despite initial failures, Rani remained steadfast. There were moments when she thought of giving up, especially when maize crops failed entirely in the second year. However, Uma Devi reassured Rani, that natural farming would yield long-term benefits.
Natural farming methods played a key role in her farming success. She adopted techniques such as spraying bio stimulants like Drava Jeevamrutham to enrich the soil and using growth promoters like fish amino acid during plant growth and applying natural botanical extracts like Neemastram and Agniastram which were cost-effective when compared to chemical pesticides. When pest infestations increased, she prepared Agniastram using small onions, green chilies, neem leaves, cow urine, and Calotropis leaves. She tested its effectiveness by pouring the mixture over pests, witnessing their immediate demise.
She adopted seed palletisation, which involved coating seeds with ash and cow urine before sowing to ensure better germination even in dry conditions. Over time, she also introduced intercropping with pigeon pea along the field borders, maximising productivity and soil health.
Through persistent effort, Rani increased her yield from 10 bags per acre to 40 bags using natural farming methods and drastically reducing expenses. While chemical farming required Rs 40,000–Rs 50,000 per acre, Rani's naturalfarming methods cost only Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000. She followed bio-stimulants, botanical extracts, and yellow sticky traps in pest control.
Previously, she suffered from gastric issues, which improved significantly after switching to food that produced from
natural farming.
Rani's journey showcases the power of resilience, adaptation, and belief in sustainable natural farming practices. She is an inspiration for farmers to embrace natural farming, proving that with determination, even barren land
can also flourish.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
4L ex gratia for landslide victims' kin
1 2 3 Guwahati: Following the death of a man in a landslide in Paschim Rupnagar on Friday, urban and housing affairs minister Jayanta Mallabaruah visited the area, interacted with affected families and provided Rs 4-lakh ex gratia to the family of the deceased. The minister, Guwahati East MLA Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Guwahati Municipal Corporation mayor Mrigen Sarania and Kamrup (Metro) DC Sumit Sattavan visited the family of the deceased and handed over the financial assistance. Later, Mallabaruah visited the displaced families living in relief camps and reviewed the situation. GMC ward councillor Rintu Moni Brahma said, "Currently, eight families are staying here, while a few others have either returned to their hometowns or are temporarily living with relatives. These families were initially shifted to Rupnagar LP School on Saturday. However, since the school has upcoming examinations starting Monday, we have decided to relocate the relief camp to the Rupnagar Ganesh Mandir community hall. The families will continue to stay there until they are able to find suitable accommodation." He further added that food supplies and medical teams have been dispatched to the camp to tend to the needs of the displaced families. "We are ensuring that they have access to proper meals, clean drinking water, and basic healthcare. Our priority is to make sure they are safe and well cared for during this difficult time," he also said.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
State to work hard on improving primary health services: CM Fadnavis
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the state government will lay more emphasis on improving the network of primary health in the state. He also criticised Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha over his allegations of an election scam in Maharashtra. 'The Maharashtra Government has taken a decision to overhaul the primary health services in the state. We will focus hard on improving the primary health network in the State,' Fadnavis said, adding that his government will invest heavily in health. He was speaking during the inauguration of the Pushpalata D Y Patil Hospital in Ambi-Tarangwadi in Maval taluka of Pune district. MP Shrirang Barne and MLA Sunil Shelke besides Vijay Patil, chancellor of D Y Patil University, Navi Mumbai, Sanjay Patil, chancellor of D Y Patil University, Kolhapur vice-chancellor Shivani Patil were present. Fadnavis said, 'Patients get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under Mahatma Phule Janarohya Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Janarogya Yojana. The poorest of the poor are getting treatment…Besides focusing on primary health, the government is also working on strengthening secondary level health service.' Fadnavis said the state has with the help of the Central Government started 10 medical colleges in Maharashtra. 'We are going to set up medical colleges in every district,' he said. Fadnavis also visited the state-of-the-art laboratory of 'The John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group (ISG facility)' in Sanaswadi area ahead of its inauguration, where he reviewed its pioneering technological innovations and capabilities. Criticising Rahul Gandhi for his allegations of an election scam in Maharashtra, Fadnavis said ,'Rahulji you kept making mistakes… Dhool chehre per thhee aur aap ayina pochhte rahe… (The dust was on the face but you kept wiping the mirror).'
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Indian Express
Tender process for cold chain equipment: Maharashtra health dept orders probe into ‘irregularities'
Maharashtra's Public Health Department has ordered an inquiry into the allegations of irregularities in the Rs 62-crore tender process for cold chain equipment for the storage of vaccines. The Indian Express had reported last week that the Union government has asked Maharashtra's Public Health Department to conduct a probe and submit a report on the allegations. This is the second inquiry ordered by the state's Public Health department in the span of one week. Last week, the department had directed Maharashtra Medical Goods Procurement Authority (MMGPA) to probe and submit a report on the alleged irregularities in awarding a tender of Rs 56 crore for the purchase of medical equipment. In the cold chain equipment case, it is alleged that while the process for the same was completed days before the announcement of the Assembly polls last year, the tender guidelines were violated and the equipment were purchased at four to five times above the market rate. Based on the complaints received, Nipun Vinayak, Secretary 1 of the Public Health department, directed the Commissioner, Health Service on June 2 to 'undertake a detailed inquiry and take action on the basis of the inquiry report'. On April 18, the complainant, requesting anonymity, had complained about the alleged irregularities through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS). Following the complaint, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (immunisation section) on April 25, wrote to the complainant that the state purchases cold chain equipment by using state funds and not central government funds. The ministry had also sent the letter to the Maharashtra government. 'However, a copy of your grievance is being transferred to the Mission Director (NHM) and SEPIO, Government of Maharashtra with the request to take appropriate action in the matter. Action taken may be communicated to the petitioner directly, under intimation to this ministry,' the letter sent to the complainant and the state government read. The complaint alleged that the officials and contractors collectively cheated the government of Rs 40 to 50 crore. It stated that not only the equipment were purchased at four to five times the open market price, but also alleged that the terms of the tender were framed to benefit two specific contractors to ensure cartelisation. It further said that despite bringing this matter to the notice of the senior officials, the contractor's bill of Rs 22 crore was paid by the end of March 31. Deputy Director, Health Services (Transport), Maharashtra, Pune had issued tenders for the purchase of Ice-Lined Refrigerators (ILRs) and Deep Freezers on July 4 and 5, 2024, just before Assembly polls. 'The process was found to have flagrantly violated the eligibility criteria and mandatory conditions of the tender. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines, General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017 and Maharashtra State Procurement Policy were flouted,' the complaint said, adding irregularities such as incomplete and fake documents were provided and it was found in the technical evaluation process. Both the tenders were awarded at unrealistic prices compared to the market and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) rates. The national policy objective was also compromised by removing the 'Make in India' clause. The alleged irregularities include: original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and its reseller participating in the same tender; import license date of the contractor was post-tender deadline; the mandatory Make in India condition under the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017 was removed by the technical committee after the pre-bid meeting; despite Maharashtra State Procurement Policy giving preference to local supplier if he or she matched L1 (lowest) price by giving 50 per cent order was kept aside; service network issue was sidelined and no legal service agreement for Comprehensive Maintenance Contract; Annual Maintenance Contract and availability of spare parts for 10 years was presented and state's legal opinions had gone against the contractors twice. The complaint mentioned that the contract worth Rs 33 crore was awarded to the contractor company Ashoka Sthapatya Pvt Ltd for the supply of Ice-Lined Refrigerators (ILRs) and a contract worth Rs 29 crore was awarded to the company 'Rahul Distributors Pvt Ltd' for the supply of Deep Freezers. 'The purchase order prices of Rs 3,04,995 for ILRS (90,110 litres) and Rs 2,45,440 for Deep Freezers (200 litres) are much higher than the market rate and GeM portal price (approximately Rs 80,000). This indicates financial mismanagement and collusion,' the complaint added.
