Chandi Bai hails from Arjun Nayak Thanda, a village in Zaheerabad Mandal, Sangareddy district. This is an arid region with barren lands that makes farming challenging. She lives with a family of 13 members, including 3 sons, 3 daughters-in-law, and 6 grandchildren. Agriculture is the primary livelihood for her family. Chandi Bai owns 5 acres of land, where she cultivates crops primarily during the Kharif season. Chandi Bai used to grow two crops, namely soybean and maize, by procuring seeds from private dealers. She would borrow ₹20,000 from them at an interest rate of 3%. She purchased hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides from Zaheerabad.
In 2016, Deccan Development Society (DDS), an NGO started working with the communities in Arjun Nayak Thanda. DDS helped formed a sangham (a community group) four months later to address their issues. Chandi Bai along with Raji Bai were chosen as group leaders by the members. Starting with 20 members, the sangham grew to 60 members by 2024. Chandi Bai along with other members received training and guidance on various aspects such as seed management, preparation of organic manures, plant extracts, and other natural methods for pest and disease control, as well as value-added products.
With the valuable guidance, support and backing from DDS and KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) she is cultivating more than 20 crops in one acre which includes Millets (eg., bajra, finger millet, 2 types of foxtail millet, little millet, proso millet etc.), Pulses (eg.,red gram, green gram, black gram, Cowpea etc.) and Oil seeds (eg., Sesamum, Flax seeds) in her farmland. She has been nurturing her farm through various organic farming practices. Approximately 10 tractor loads (20 tonnes) of manure is applied during final ploughing. Enriched compost (a mix of vermicompost, dung cake, and goat manure) at a rate of 100 kg per hectare is incorporated. Crops are sown in alternating rows, ensuring a diverse cropping pattern. Traditional organic formulations like Panchagavya and Jeevamrutham are applied for crop growth and neem leaf extract, neem seed kernel extract, jaggery water, and cow urine are used for pest management.
The average cost of cultivation on Chandi Bai’s field is ₹25,050, with a net income of ₹36,580. In addition to farming, she also raises 4 goats and 2 cows. From her agricultural activities, she earns a net income of ₹36,580, and every two years, she generates an additional ₹30,000 to ₹35,000 from selling livestock. Fodder for the livestock will be sourced directly from her farm and supplemented by the naturally available flora in the village.
After witnessing the remarkable outcomes on her farm, Chandi Bai became an ardent advocate for change, inspiring her fellow farmers to follow similar farming practices. ‘Our fields reflect health, nutrition and abundance’, says Chandi Bai. Now, more farmers from the village are now eager to join the sangham and engage in organic farming under the guidance of DDS and KVK, inspired by the positive changes in the lives of fellow farmers and villagers.
Note: This has been compiled by Dr. N. Snehalatha, V. Ramesh and E. Swamy,of DDS-KVK, Zaheerabad, Sangareddy, Telangana, India, 502228. Dr. N. Snehalatha can be contacted at snehalatha.ddskvk@ddsindia.org