Farming

Bay leaf cultivation in North Dinajpur, West Bengal, has grown into a Rs 400 crore industry in 20 years. Women are key in sorting and drying, earning dignified incomes and reshaping agricultural livelihoods. Learn how this spice boom is changing lives.

Former journalist Hitarth Pandya left his newsroom career to start Kids for the Environment Development Initiative (KEDI) in Vadodara. Through farming, skits, and hands-on activities, he has introduced over 20,000 children across five Vadodara schools.

Mushroom farming is one of the easiest ventures to start at home with little space and low investment. This beginner’s guide walks you through the basics of setting up a small-scale farm, choosing the right variety, and ensuring a healthy harvest.

Discover how ex-scientist Kamini Singh used her research to build Doctor Moringa Pvt Ltd, creating 22 moringa products and transforming incomes of rural farmers across UP.

Kerala farmer S P Sujith Swaminikarthil cultivated a ‘pookkalam’ on six cents of land in Alappuzha, featuring over 25 varieties of flowering and edible plants. Blending Onam tradition with sustainable farming, his 24-metre-wide floral creation has drawn hundreds of visitors.

A senior medical officer from Barmer, Dr Jogesh Choudhary, turned a failed experiment into a flourishing sandalwood farm. Inspired by Karnataka’s plantations, he blends science, patience, and passion to grow a forest in the harsh desert climate.

From slash-and-burn slopes to a thriving green sanctuary, Dharana at Shillim shows how one family’s decades-long eco-restoration is blending science, tradition, and community for a sustainable future.

Harsh Patil, from Nandurbar, Maharashtra, turned to innovative farming techniques after climate change affected his family's traditional crops. He started growing saffron using aeroponics in a small room, earning lakhs. He shares a step-by-step guide.

Bees do far more than make honey — they’re the hidden force behind farming. By pollinating crops, they boost harvests, improve food quality, and sustain biodiversity.

Meet five extraordinary changemakers transforming Indian agriculture with bold ideas, indigenous wisdom, and innovations that are quietly reshaping the way India farms, eats, and thrives. This September, Optum Presents The Better India Showcase, supported by the M3M Foundation, is honouring their impact.