Success Story: This Telangana farmer achieved lasting success with diversified crops and earned huge profits
Success Story: On October 8, 1956, Sri S. Jayapal Reddy was born in Thallapusapalli village, which is situated in the Kesamudram block of the Mahabubabad district in Telangana. Values like diligence, self-control, and a profound regard for the earth were ingrained in his upbringing on a small farm. These ideas served as the cornerstone of his protracted and consistent agricultural career.
With forty acres of land still in active production, Sri Reddy has forty-six years of practical agricultural expertise. Beyond simple agriculture, he is dedicated to organic, sustainable, and scientific agricultural methods. The farm grows a range of horticultural and field crops with an emphasis on long-term production and soil health.
A Variety of Crops with an Emphasis on Sustainability
On his 40 acres of land, he cultivates a broad range of crops. He cultivates groundnut types like Kadari 36 and Girnar 4, pulses like MGG-295 and 351, maize (DHM-117), and paddy varieties like RNR 15048, KNM-1638, and Telangana Sona.
Along with chillies like LCA-334, LCA-625, and Warangal Chapata, he also grows turmeric kinds including Rajapuri, Rajendra, Solan, and Kasturi. Top kinds, including Baneshan, Himayat, Dasheri, Alphonso, Chinnarasalu, and Peddarasalu, are planted in high-density and ultra-high-density plantings over his six-acre mango orchard.
His emphasis on sustainability is what distinguishes his farming. He has used green manure techniques on turmeric and paddy over the last several decades. It has been shown that green manuring may increase soil carbon from 1% to 2%. He uses Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques for growing cotton and chillies. In order to reduce labour input and increase water efficiency, he has also used mulching, drip irrigation, fertigation, and raised bed and paired row farming.
A Comprehensive Approach to Agriculture: Integrated Farming
An ardent supporter of the Integrated Farming System is Sri Jayapal Reddy. On his property, there are 60 goats, 50 backyard poultry birds, 200 Nellore and Duncan sheep, six buffaloes, and ten native cows (Sahiwal, Gir, and Ongole). All of the animal excrement is recycled and used in organic farming. Additionally, he has an azolla and vermicomposting facility that provides high-quality organic matter and animal feed.
His dairy business and cattle management have won several accolades for their effective farming methods and high milk output. On the farm, manure from the yard is utilised in addition to handmade bio-solutions such as Panchagavya, Jeevamrutham, Neemasthram, Ganamrutham, and Agniastram. For yet another area of sustainability and revenue creation, fish culture in ponds and open wells has been implemented.
Value-Added Scientific Farming Driven by Innovation
Advanced techniques including mulching, raised-bed farming, fertigation, and drip irrigation are being used by Sri Reddy. He controls pests in chilli farms by using solar-powered light traps. Additionally, he has used Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) throughout his farm.
He maximises the use of natural resources by raising fish in open wells and agricultural ponds. His independence is enhanced with an azolla tank and a vermicompost unit. He maintains soil fertility and maximises productivity via paired-row maize farming, crop rotation, intercropping, and green manuring.
Inventiveness with a Vision
Installing solar-powered street lights and solar light traps in his chilli farms to lessen insect infestations is part of his creative farming method. In order to add value to his agricultural goods, he also uses cold-press techniques to prepare spice powders from his harvests of chilli and turmeric, preserving the most minerals and fragrance. This not only increases his profits but also provides customers with high-quality goods.
Setting an Example for the Community
Sri Jayapal Reddy is a community leader in addition to being a single farmer. In his hamlet, he founded the Thallapusapalli Society, which now has 199 active members and brings in Rs 12 lakhs a year. Additionally, he helped create a Farmer Producer Company Limited (FPCL) at the district level and a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) at the Mandal level.
In addition, he continues to participate in policy debates and training as a member of the ATMA district committee. He connects farmers with agricultural experts and offers timely market information and guidance via a WhatsApp group for local farmers. Additionally, his farm has hosted many training sessions, including one on natural farming that was attended by the Mahabubabad District Collector and Magistrate.
Supporter of Technology Transfer and Natural Farming
Additionally, he is a strong advocate for natural and organic farming. With the help of farmers, agricultural officials, and even the District Collector, he has held many training camps on his property. His efforts to promote Panchagavya and natural agricultural methods are transforming agriculture into a more lucrative and ecologically friendly sector of the economy.
Honors and Acknowledgment
Both the state and federal governments have acknowledged his accomplishments. Among the noteworthy honours he has been bestowed with are:
- PJTSAU’s Best Farmer Award for 2021
- 2020 and 2021 Udyan Ratna Awards presented by the Lt. Amit Singh Memorial Foundation
- ICAR-IARI’s 2018 Navonmesh Krushak Puraskar
- All India Sonalika AIFA’s 2017 Progressive Farmer Award
- Certificates of appreciation from the Gujarat chief minister, the state minister of agriculture, and the department of animal husbandry
- 2021’s Best Farmer Award in Ultra High Density Horticulture and Drip Irrigation
Additionally, he has taken part in a number of national and international policy seminars and agricultural forums, such as the International Conference on Organics and Millets and the World Agricultural Forum Congress.
Individual Life and Prospects
Sri Jayapal Reddy is pleased to have a daughter who is a doctor and lives with his homemaker wife. He has four siblings as well. His goal is to attain Rs. 50 lakhs by growing his value-added product line and making his whole farm organic and inventive. Currently, his integrated farming model generates an annual turnover of Rs 20–22 lakhs.
The achievement of Sri S. Jayapal Reddy serves as an example of how a visionary farmer who is dedicated to hard effort and the scientific approach may improve not only his own standard of living but also the standard of life for a whole community. He embodies the innovative, resilient, and earthy qualities that define Indian agriculture. His accomplishments make him a deserving Padma Shri contender and an inspiration to future generations of farmers.
