Sustainable agriculture is a major concern of the world and to overcome the problem of food security and environmental health in upcoming years, natural farming is one of the best ways as it relies on minimum inputs and minimum harm to environment and soil and also offers high-quality outputs in long term. S. Sukhjit Singh is one of those farmers which emphasize on natural farming practices. It involves his concern towards human health and his expertise in organic farming, hybrid seed production, crop residue management, machinery innovations, involvement in farming cooperatives and experiential learning from a state agricultural university.
As Indian farmers also get attracted towards natural farming, S. Sukhjit Singh Waraich, born in 1969, resident of Village: Diwala, Tehsil: Samrala, District: Ludhiana; epitomizes the fusion of tradition and scientific acumen. Rooted in ancestral soil, he embarked on a quest to elevate agrarian practices beyond convention. He is involved in organic farming, crop residue management, hybrid seed production practices and is the founder of Samrala Farmer Producer Company.
His Expertise and exploration: With his association with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Ludhiana; he explored diverse crop varieties, as trials of new varieties are given to him by the university scientists. Some of the successful trials include:
|
Crop |
Varieties grown by the farmer |
|
Rice |
PR- 126, PR-127, PR- 128, Basmati PB 7 |
|
Wheat |
Unnat 343, Unnat 550, PBW-1 Chapati, DBW 371, 372 |
|
Maize |
Hybrid variety: IMH-222 |
|
Sugarcane |
CoJ -85 |
|
Rapeseed |
GSC-7 |
|
Potato |
Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Chipsona 1, Diamond, Kufri Sangam |
|
Barley |
PL 891 |
|
Oats |
OL 14 |
|
Mung bean |
1142 |
|
Marigold |
Genda No.1, Jafri |
Awards and Trainings:
He has many farmer trainings on fish farming, poultry farming, Nursery seedlings production, hybrid seed production in crops and skill development trainings in agro-industrial sector as organized by state agricultural university and other agricultural organizations.
Notably, his work in curbing stubble burning – a menace threatening our environment – has gained acclaim. He is awarded with state level awards for Crop Residue Management (CRM) and this resulted in stubble burn free village area in his locality.
Sanji Kheti- A Machinery Cooperative:
His ingenuity extends to machinery. An Inventor Extraordinaire - his patented onion seed extractor machine revolutionized seed processing. Through invention, he harmonized tradition with efficiency, ensuring sustainable practices for generations to come.
Organic Farming: He has been doing organic farming from last 8-10 years. His 3 acres of land are under organic farming and has been registered in Punjab Agro. His dedication to organic farming is the increasing awareness among consumers about the importance of healthy and pesticide-free produce.
Samrala Farmers Producer Company:
It is a leading agricultural cooperative in Punjab; is proud to unveil a new lineup of nutritious and sustainable products. The company`s official registration as a Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) took place in 2023, aligning with the Indian government`s initiative to support and uplift farmers. FPO provides 150 farmers with sustainable income and has an impressive turnover of Rs.2.5 crore in its first year. The FPO operate on a 5% profit margin.
Their organic products include:
Rapeseed Oil: GSC-7 variety grown in 5 acres of farmers organic farm, have omega-3 fatty acids, essential for cardiovascular health.
Honey, Pickles and organic turmeric powder are other products of his company.
Way forward: Farmer`s future plans are to expand natural farming through their Farmer Producer Organization. Quality food production will be their main focus.
Conclusion: S. Sukhjit Singh`s passion for natural farming motivates other farmers to adopt these techniques. His practices help to save environment and human health through quality agricultural produce.
Farmer`s Message: He suggests farmers to start from small efforts when adopting new farming techniques. Nothing is impossible if one have correct knowledge in particular field of work.