Success Story: This woman farmer from Maharashtra earned a profit of Rs 1 lakh from natural farming

Success Story: Like many farmers in her area, Chaitrali used chemical farming for more than 25 years without considering its long-term effects. The cost of doing business was seen to be high input prices, dwindling soil fertility, and the health risks associated with chemical pesticides. Her farm’s employees often had rashes and gas releases from the pesticides, making farming a dangerous and difficult job.

But in May 2024, Chaitrali went to a natural farming training session conducted by Prabhakar Rao, the natural farming specialist from The Art of Living’s Sri Sri Shetkari Munch project, and everything changed. This marked a sea change in her life. Chaitrali gained knowledge of the advantages of natural farming methods under the direction of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision, which seeks to establish a farming community that is both financially secure and healthy.

The fact that one Desi cow could fertilize up to 20 acres of fields, significantly lowering expenses and raising the quality of agricultural yields, was a crucial lesson learned. She was motivated to act right away and convert her property to a natural farming paradigm by this finding. She stopped using conventional pesticides and fertilizers and switched to organic ones like mulching, intercropping, and Jeevamrut, a fermented bio-fertilizer created from cow dung and urine.

Benefiting from Natural Farming

Chaitrali’s choice has the following astounding outcomes:

• Decreased Input Costs: Her costs went down dramatically, which raised her profitability per acre. In stark contrast to the erratic revenues of chemical farming, she now makes Rs 1 lakh from only half an acre of land.
• Better Soil and Crops: After being drained by chemicals, the soil started to replenish and breathe. The crops—coriander (coriander), bitter gourd (bitter gourd), tomatoes, spinach (spinach), and bottle gourd (bottle gourd)—became more durable, healthier, and chemical-free.
• Better Health for Farmers and Consumers: Her farm’s employees and the people who bought her products were unaffected by dangerous chemical exposure, which guaranteed everyone’s safety and well-being.

Agro-Tourism: A Novel Approach to Sustainable Farming

Chaitrali’s enthusiasm for sustainable farming extends beyond only transforming her own property; it also involves raising awareness and motivating others. She started her own agricultural tourism project at her Baneshwar farm after realizing that education is essential to change. Visitors from all over the globe, including those from Germany, the US, and other regions of India, are invited to participate in this program.

The experience is instructive and immersive for guests:

• Customary Welcome: Fresh, farm-to-table snacks prepared with products cultivated on the property are served to guests.
• Guided Tour: During a tour of the fields, guests may see the glaring disparities in crop quality, soil health, and sustainability by going through both natural and chemical farming areas.
• Experience of Culture and Spirituality: Visitors also go to the Baneshwar Temple, which provides a strong link to the country’s spiritual and cultural legacy.
• Between 150 and 300 visitors visit Chaitrali’s farm on weekends, and local schoolchildren take part in interactive farm tours called the “Shet Shivar Feri,” where they can learn about sustainable farming in an entertaining and hands-on approach.

A Ripple Effect: Creating a Revolution in Farming

The majority of farmers in Nasrapur still use chemical-based farming, but Chaitrali’s farm is a shining example of transformation. Her narrative has, nonetheless, caused a stir and inspired others in the area to reevaluate their approaches. Because of Chaitrali’s farm’s shown success, many farmers are now expressing interest in switching to natural farming.

Her success story is about changing farming for the better, not simply about her own accomplishments. Chaitrali is setting the standard for a more wealthy and healthy agricultural community by demonstrating that ecological and lucrative farming can coexist.

She has a definite vision for the future:

• Educate More Farmers: In order to encourage more farmers to adopt this transformative approach, Chaitrali intends to raise knowledge of the advantages of natural farming.
• Increase Agro-Tourism: She wants to use her farm as a model to teach people all around the world about the long-term effects of natural farming on the environment and public health.
• Establish a Self-Sustaining Model: Chaitrali wants to establish a farming model that is self-sufficient and replicable in other communities, constructing a more robust agricultural system for the future.

The tale of Chaitrali Fadatare is proof of the strength of innovation with a traditional foundation. She is evidence that nature has the solutions; we simply need to pay attention and take action in a world where chemical farming rules. Her experience serves as a reminder to all of us that farming has a bright future ahead of it and can be both lucrative and sustainable. She continues to inspire and teach.