Native Seed Saver and Vermicompost Photographer

Dear Reader,

Why do people cling to a job that drains them physically and emotionally? Because earning money feels like the priority, until the body finally gives way. When health issues surface, the wise pause and follow their inner calling.

Vijay Singh is one of them. When he developed varicose veins while working for Usha International in Delhi, Vijay realised it was time to focus on health. The MBA quit his high-paying job and returned home to Baghapat in Uttar Pradesh to practice natural farming with his father and grandfather. That was in 2019.

Today, Vijay has a food forest over one acre and grows sugarcane over two acres. While sugarcane is notorious for low market rates and high irrigation costs, he applied his MBA knowledge to turn its farming profitable. He earns Rs 4 lakh per acre from sugarcane farming, while other farmers make Rs 60,000 at the upper end.

Vijay told me he moved beyond selling sugarcane to making value-added products, like jaggery, laddus, and sweets. He sells them locally and in Delhi and West Bengal. Vijay has forged partnerships with other natural farmers in Baghpat for value addition and plans to launch his retail outlet this December.

My colleague Anu spoke to Lalu, a farmer who has saved 500 varieties of native vegetable seeds. What drives farmers like him to travel 1.70 lakh km across 20 states to collect native seeds? It is the passion for biodiversity conservation.

Lalu grows wheat and rice for a living, native vegetables for conservation, and fruits for his family’s consumption at his village in Haryana. He shares seeds for free with farmers who have to return them after harvest and sells them to others at a nominal rate of Rs 20 per packet.

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My colleague Niroj spoke to Jitendra Moharana, a photographer turned agripreneur in Odisha. He closed his photo studio during COVID-19 and learned about vermicomposting online. Jitendra invested Rs 2000 to prepare four vermicompost beds on a trial basis and gave the surplus free to farmers in his village.

The results were good, the demand increased, and now Jitendra produces 250 tonnes of vermicompost and organic manure annually. It is sold across Odisha, and he clocks a Rs 30lakh annual turnover.

My colleague Riya has written the weekend piece on five steps to turn your balcony into a mini fruit orchard. Growing fruit trees on your balcony is a smart way to reduce grocery bills, enjoy pesticide-free produce, and green up your home. With the right varieties and simple care, even small spaces can yield an impressive harvest. If you are a home gardener, don’t miss this one.

Happy Reading!

Warmly,

Rashmi

MBA quits MNC job for sugarcane farming; earns Rs4 lakh per acre

Photographer starts organic fertiliser business with Rs2000 investment; earns Rs 30 lakh a year

Haryana farmer saves 500 varieties of native vegetable seeds; sells across India

Five steps to turn your balcony into a mini fruit orchard