Agriculture

Haryana-based Sumer Singh has been farming since 1999 but his switch to organic farming to grow vegetables, pulses, chickpeas and millets has been life-changing.

Started by Harjinder Kaur in 1989, Punjab-based Randhawa Mushroom Farm cultivates 12 varieties of the fungi. Mandeep, Manjeet and Harpreet Singh now continue the thriving business.

Over two decades, Ashok Manwani and Kuljana Dubey Manwani have been popularising pearl farming in 12 states in India.

Maharashtra farmer Sanjay Gandate has braved attacks, theft and even a lack of belief in his ability from loved ones to grow pearls and earn lakhs from it. Here's his story

Chennai-based Anilkumar SG runs Samunnati that provides financial services, the right markets and institutional building for farmer producer organisations (FPOs).

Designed and developed by a team of researchers at the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) led by senior scientist Dr Tsering Stobdan, Ladakhi farmers now have a passive solar greenhouse that allows them to grow vegetables throughout the year.

Dattaraya N Kale of Solapur, Maharashtra, has developed five new varieties of grapes over the years. His latest called the 'King Berry' grows up to 20 mm (2 cm) in length with a 25 mm (2.5 cm) diameter.

Ashok Kumar Vashist from Haryana made the switch from traditional farming and has expanded his mushroom cultivation to make and sell a variety of products, including pickles, jams, sweets and more. He makes over 80 types of products from the fungi.

Swapna James from Kerala is earning lakhs by making a switch from monocropping, and her efforts have earned her the Innovative Farmer Award by ICAR. Here's her success story.

“I remember toiling in the fields barefoot, using my hands to spread the insecticides and pesticides. I could never dream of affording any technology. But those days are gone."