Adopting Natural Farming Practices, Surai Maji, a 46-year-old woman farmer of Ratachuan village in Kodipari Gram Panchayat, has broken the barriers in the agricultural landscape. In order to sustain the livelihood of her family – husband Lada Maji and three other members, Surai actively gets involved in both agricultural and non-agricultural activities.

In the kharif season, Surai works as a share cropper alongside her husband. Despite a lack of formal education, Surai has become an active member of Maa Tulashi Producer Group. Her deep involvement in community activities led her to a transformative experience by attending a training session on Natural Farming conducted by the CYSD under the UANAT Project supported by UAIL and BRLF.

In the training, Surai learned about the Natural Farming Practices by applying non-pesticide management (NPM), a methodology that enables farmers to create bio-fertilizers using locally available materials. Realizing the potential of producing homemade bio-fertilizers, Surai could foresee the opportunity to address the high-cost fertilizers challenges, which was not economically viable for a joint family like her.

Mingling cow dung and urine, gram flour, jaggery, and Neem leaves proportionately, Surai started preparing organic fertilizers and experimented NPM on her 3-acre land – used Neemastra in Brinjal crop yielded miraculous results, and the application of Ghanajeevamrit and Jeevamrit in potato crop yield resulted fivefold increase in production comparing to the seeds input weight. Of course, the UANAT project supported High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Vermin bed for Vermi compost preparation.

Surai’s success story in the Beans, Potato and Tomato crop production was impressive. By applying Ghanajeevamrit and Jeevamrit, she not only achieved a bountiful harvest but also reduced the dependency on expensive chemical fertilizers. “The success in natural farming has provided my family a sustained livelihood and I am further inspired to explore the potential of NPM in other crops too,” says Surai .

Surai’s enthusiasm for NPM use went beyond her family’s fields. She had recently sprayed Jeevamrit in her paddy field to observe the results and has started making Ghanajeevamrit for the upcoming kharif crop, being a sustainable practice that can be stored for the entire crop season.

Surai envisages, practicing NPM in future agricultural productivity can further be enhanced. “I see an opportunity to contribute to my family’s income by producing and selling these natural fertilizers to fellow farmers”, shares Surai.   Her entrepreneurial spirit is evident as she contemplates selling homemade fertilizers. Her neighbor, Sinai Majhi, who borrowed Jeevamrit and Vermi compost from Surai for use, has observed positive results in the growth and color of Beans and potatoes.

Surai Majhi’s journey from a traditional farmer to an advocate of Natural Farming Practices exemplifies the transformative potential of sustainable agricultural methods. Through her dedication, Surai has not only achieved remarkable results in her own crops but also become a beacon for her community. Surai’s story showcases the power of knowledge and innovation in creating a sustainable and economically viable future for farmers in rural communities.