Success Story: This farmer from Madhya Pradesh earns lakhs annually through sustainable farming
Success Story: The creative idea of multilayer farming, in which many crops are grown concurrently on the same piece of land, was first presented by Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, farmer Aakash Chaurasia. This method gives farmers a model for financial stability while increasing productivity and advancing sustainable agriculture. Aakash has transformed his 25-acre field into a prosperous business through hard work and creativity, bringing in an astounding Rs 40–50 lakh a year and motivating many people to follow in his footsteps.
The Background of Multilayer Farming
His goal was to become a doctor since he hailed from a family of betel farmers, but he was inspired by the issue of declining soil fertility, dwindling cropland, and rising agricultural cultivation costs because of unanticipated circumstances. He experimented with producing many crops on a single plot after being challenged by metropolitan multi-story building designs. After years of trial and error, he finally implemented multi-layer farming in 2014, which completely changed the local agricultural sector.
Aakash harvests 40–45 crops simultaneously using this method. This includes seasonal crops like watermelon, fruits like papaya and lemon, and vegetables like spinach, radish, and beetroot. In addition to drastically reducing input costs by using organic manure, his creative approach uses drip irrigation methods to save up to 80% of water.
Encouraging Farmers Through Information Exchange
Chaurasia is committed to educating other farmers about his expertise. He has taught multilayer farming to over 1.4 lakh individuals in India and elsewhere via free training workshops. Increasing agricultural yields, minimizing environmental effects, and optimizing resources are the main topics of the seminars. Nearly 90,000 acres of land have been converted into sustainable agricultural systems thanks to his effort, which also provides a lifeline for farmers using conventional techniques.
The Malwa Green Platform
Chaurasia has also established Malwa Green Platform to assist the larger agricultural community. This makes it easier to provide the farmer access to low-cost seeds, fertilizer, and cutting-edge agricultural technology. It provides a shared platform for cooperation where farmers can work together to address issues of market accessibility and crop diversity.
Sustainability and the Profit Model
Multilayer farming is groundbreaking in the field of agriculture. Long-term sustainability is ensured by reducing water usage, improving soil health, and optimizing land use. Chaurasia promotes the usage of cow dung manure because it boosts output and adds organic carbon to the soil. An acre of his agricultural produce is valued between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1,00,000 a year, with production expenses as low as Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per acre.
Recognition on a National and International Level
Chaurasia has received several distinguished honors and commendations. He has inspired farmers all across the world, from receiving the Krishi Ratna from our former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to receiving international acclaim via groups like JCI Japan. Additionally, his approach results in a 20% boost in agricultural yield. In addition to enhancing soil biodiversity, it has raised milk output.
The promise of agricultural innovation is shown by the Chaurasia narrative. By incorporating sustainable practices into conventional techniques, he has shown that farming can be both commercially and ecologically sustainable. His efforts to promote crop variety, resource efficiency, and knowledge sharing provide Indian agriculture the best course for the future.
