September 2025
Sannayamanappa’s journey is an inspiring example of how determination, innovation and traditional wisdom can transform small-scale farming into a viable, profitable and sustainable livelihood option.
Vegetable cultivation
Sri Sannayamanappa’s vegetable cultivation is highly efficient and well-organized, focusing primarily on four key leafy vegetables. He cultivates pudhina (mint), palak (spinach), basumati leaf, and pokala or lala bhaji (local leafy greens).
Mint is a star crop of Sannayamanappa’s farm known for its refreshing aroma and medicinal properties. It is cultivated extensively in one acre on his farm since three years. The mint beds are carefully nurtured with organic manure and regular irrigation. He uses cow dung and compost from his dairy unit to enhance soil fertility. He sells around 1,800 to 2,000 bundles per day at ₹3 per bundle, catering to local markets, street vendors, and nearby towns. “Every bundle of mint carries the scent of the success”, says the farmer.
Palak is another mainstay of the farm, grown in well-prepared furrows of about thirty guntas with adequate sunlight and moisture. Its quick harvest cycle allows for continuous production throughout the year. Hand-weeding and minimal pesticide use make the crop clean and healthy. It fetches ₹5–6 per bundle, and he manages to sell hundreds of bundles every market day.
Basumati Leaf, a lesser-known yet locally valued green is grown in ten guntas. It is often used in traditional recipes and as fodder. With limited input cost and minimal care, it adds an additional stream of income and sold in bundles of 50 leaves for ₹1. It is mostly sold in bulk to local households and traders.
Locally called “lala bhaji,” this reddish green leafy vegetable thrives in warm weather and is rich in iron. It is grown in patches between other crops in about thirty guntas and on the bunds of the farm too. It is popular for its flavor and health benefits. It is sold in small bunches, mainly during the early morning hours.
Optimal resource management and integrated farming
The bunds for the farm are also well utilized. Palm, mulberry and diancha are grown on the bunds. Mulberry and diancha are used as the cattle feed and about two quintals of palm is harvested every fifteen days.
The farm’s irrigation system utilizes a combination of canal water, a well and two bore wells. His cultivation methods rely on traditional techniques passed down through generations, combined with careful observation and field knowledge rather than formal training.
Resource management is maintained as a closed loop system integrating various components, creating a sustainable and profitable integrated model farm. The model farm avails various components to improve fertility of the vegetable farm besides providing additional incomes.
In addition to vegetable farming, Sri Sannayamanappa has also diversified into several allied agricultural activities. With a small herd of livestock like thirty goats, two buffalos and two cows , the dairy unit not only provides milk for family use and sale but also supplies dung for composting. The slurry is used for biogas generation and also as a nutrient-rich input in his fields. This reduces dependency on chemical fertilizers.
The poultry shed houses around fifty desi chicken which are reared naturally. These birds are sold for meat and eggs in local markets. Poultry waste is used in vermicomposting, making his farm a closed-loop system
Rabbits with their tiny paws are a big attraction of the farm, drawing curiosity and interest from visiting children and families. Rabbits are reared in bamboo cages and fed with vegetable scraps and green fodder. Their manure is used as organic compost.
A colorful attraction at his farm is the aviary of love birds. These are bred and sold to pet lovers. Their presence not only adds to income but enhances the aesthetic appeal of the farm.
The dung from dairy farm and manure from poultry and rabbit rearing keeps the farm fertile. Chemical fertilizers are rarely used, may be only during the peak festive seasons to boost the growth of the crop.
Family support and community involvement
His large family of 3 sons and 6 daughters support him and are engaged in various aspects of the farming activity. While the sons handle marketing and logistics, the daughters help with bundling greens, feeding livestock and managing accounts. Most of the work in the farm and market is taken care by the family members with assistance of two hired daily wage labour. The labour gets paid around Rs. 400 to 600 per day, while the family members are also paid for their service through direct deposit to their respective accounts.
Serving as an agro-tourism model
Sri Sannayamanappa’s farm feeds the soul, not just the stomach. Recognizing the growing interest in farm visits providing wholesome rural experiences, the farmer has opened his farm to visitors. He charges a ₹50 entry fee. This small entry fee helps him to maintain the farm infrastructure and motivates the family to keep innovating. His farm draws visitors from nearby towns, not just for the fresh produce, but for the experience itself. Local school groups and agricultural students visit his farm for hands-on learning.
Sri Sannayamanappa’s journey is an inspiring example of how determination, innovation and traditional wisdom can transform small-scale farming into a viable, profitable, and sustainable livelihood. His ability to blend vegetable cultivation with dairy, poultry and recreational components like bird rearing and farm tourism has not only improved his income but created a model worth replicating.
Geeta Channal Associate Professor Dept. of Extension Education and Communication Management College of Community Science, UAS, Dharwad.
Rajeshwari Desai
Senior Scientist,
AICRP-Women in Agriculture, UAS, Dharwad
