National Farmers' Day: Eminent Farmers Share Inspiring Stories and Insights at KJ Webinar

To commemorate National Farmers’ Day 2024, Krishi Jagran hosted a special webinar with the tagline ‘Kisan Ke Saath-Kisan Ki Baat’ on December 23, 2024, celebrating the incredible contributions of farmers to the nation's growth and development. This day, observed annually on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, pays tribute to India's farming community's hard work and resilience.

During the webinar, progressive farmers, industry leaders, agricultural experts, and other prominent figures from the sector shared their experiences, discussed their journeys, and explored prospects for agriculture.

Mamta Jain, Group Editor and CEO of Agriculture World, extended her warm greetings for Farmers' Day, expressing gratitude to the participants for joining and dedicating their valuable time. She highlighted the success of Krishi Jagran's bold initiative, the Millionaire Farmer of India (MFOI) Awards, which was launched last year. She mentioned that this year, the winner of the richest farmer of 2023, Raja Ram Tripathi, along with Nituben, the MFOI Awards winner this year, were present at the event, alongside several other notable farmers.

M.C. Dominic, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Krishi Jagran, moderated the entire webinar and emphasized the importance of recognizing farmers' contributions. He highlighted the need for every farmer to adopt the title "Fmr." as a mark of distinction and pride. Similar to titles like "Dr." for doctors, "Er." for engineers, "Adv." for advocates, and "Prof." for professors, "Fmr." acknowledges the vital role of farmers in feeding the nation and driving agricultural progress.

This initiative not only aims to honor their dedication and instill pride in their profession but also seeks to elevate their status to that of other respected professionals. Furthermore, M.C. Dominic emphasized the importance of every farmer having a business card that identifies them as a farmer and highlights their specialization in core farming activities. 

Apart from this, he has launched a series of transformative initiatives to honor and empower the farming community, reaffirming its commitment to recognizing the invaluable contributions of farmers. These include #FarmerFirst, which prioritizes farmers in programs and events; #VVIF (Very Very Important Farmer), recognizing exceptional innovators in agriculture; and #FamilyFarmer, highlighting sustainable farming practices and fresh, locally sourced food.

Other initiatives, such as #GFBN (#GlobalFarmersBusinessNetwork), create global opportunities for farmers, while #FTJ (Farmer the Journalist) and #FTB (Farmer the Brand) empower them to share their stories and build strong product brands. Finally, #StarFarmerSpeaker provides a platform for accomplished farmers to inspire others and positively influence the industry. Through these initiatives, Krishi Jagran's aim is to secure farmers' rightful place in society and provide them with tools and platforms to share their innovations, amplify their voices, and enhance their livelihoods.

Insights from Farmers During the Webinar

In his address, Dr. Rajaram Tripathi, CEO of Maa Danteshwari Herbal Group, remarked that the MFOI event established a new standard for agriculture awards. He highlighted the success of the Brazil agro-study tour, which provided invaluable insights to enhance Indian agriculture. Emphasizing the importance of communication among stakeholders, Dr. Tripathi highlighted the gaps between farmers, traders, experts, and policymakers. On Kisan Diwas, he urged the establishment of a national forum to bridge these gaps and effectively advocate for the needs of farmers.

Nituben Patel, the 'Richest Farmer of India' at the MFOI Awards 2024, shared, "For the past 25 years, I have focused on farming. With sustainable practices, farmers will one day earn as much as professors. Coming from a small village, I aspire to share my knowledge and technology, inspiring farmers to proudly say, 'I am a farmer,' and for their children to follow in their footsteps."

Sandeep Sabharwal shared the vision of Sanjeevan and Nituben, who have dedicated their careers to making farming a first-choice profession. Trained under Guruji Dipakbhai Sachade, fondly known as Rishi Krishi, they continue his legacy of natural eco-farming. This model proves farmers can earn as much as professors through sustainable practices. Nituben’s efforts have impacted over 60,000 farmers across Gujarat, MP, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, showing that farming can lead to a dignified and prosperous life.

Puneet Singh Thind, Founder & Director of Northern Farmers Mega FPO, emphasized the need for policy advocacy and a platform for farmers to voice their issues to policymakers. He highlighted the importance of state-wise and region-wise discussions to address agricultural challenges. Thind also noted that showcasing regional success stories would inspire farmers to adopt progressive practices, focusing on micro-climates and crop cycles before scaling to national levels.

Monika Mohite, an organic farmer from Maharashtra, emphasized the need to break the stereotype of farmers being poor and change the perception of farming. She stressed that the chemicals, sprays, and fertilizers farmers use are often seen as medicine for crops, but they pollute the soil, water, and environment, and are unsafe beyond certain consumption limits. She urged farmers to recognize this and gradually shift towards organic farming.

Ashok Manwani, Pearl farmer shared his journey as an innovative pearl farmer. Having left his home in Kohla, Maharashtra, 27 years ago, he pursued pearl farming at BHU. He specializes in organic pearl farming using mussels/oysters, which help filter water and improve river bodies. Each oyster produces two pearls, and Ashok has patented seven innovations related to pearls, including creating tools from oysters and designing oyster-shaped diyas.

Kulanjan Dubey Manwani has been involved in pearl farming since 1999, a unique practice in India. Along with pearl farming, they create handicrafts from mussels and offer training in Varanasi. Due to water pollution, pearl production now takes 2-3 years instead of 7-9 months. She stressed the need for recognition of Indian pearls, as many people currently wear imported Chinese and Japanese pearls despite the potential for high-quality pearls in India.

Harpal Singh Grewal, Founder of Heavenly Farms, shared his inspiring journey of establishing a successful organic farm. With valuable support from government officials and APEDA, he was able to set up a thriving natural farming enterprise. He highlighted the use of organic farming practices on his farm, which have significantly enhanced productivity while promoting sustainability. Grewal’s experience underscores the importance of collaboration and innovation in achieving success in organic agriculture.

Adam Shamsudeen, Founder of GrowtheFunGuy, shared his journey in mushroom farming and highlighted its benefits as a profitable and sustainable practice. He mentioned working with over 3,000 farmers across India and developing an organic medium for mushroom cultivation, supplying it nationwide. In the past year and a half, they have generated Rs 15 crore in income for farmers.

PN Subramanian, Director of the India Vetiver Foundation, urged MFOI and KJ to advocate for farmers, emphasizing the critical role farmers play in sustaining life and ensuring safe food. He highlighted the need to restore pride in farming, suggesting the prefix "Fmr." for farmers. Subramanian also underscored the potential of vetiver as a miracle plant for carbon sequestration, water table replenishment, and global demand, calling for increased production in India.

JACS Rao, CEO of the State Medicinal Plants Board, Chhattisgarh, highlighted the potential of medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation to boost the income of small and marginal farmers. He emphasized addressing the knowledge gap among farmers and advocated for scientific methods like seed sowing and plant treatment to protect and enhance these resources.

N Parasuraman said, “Farmers play a vital role in food security. He urges everyone to empower and save farmers.

Dr. CK Ashok, Chairman of First World Community and President of the India Vetiver Network (INVN), advocates for the use of Vetiver grass in sustainable farming. He praised the MFOI Awards initiative for recognizing progressive farmers. He noted that the agriculture sector is often overshadowed by the industrial and digital revolutions, but the MFOI's efforts help improve the image of farmers and restore their pride, making them feel valued and respected.

Yash Padhiyar, an organic farmer and CEO of Gujarat's NABARD-supported SDAU Rural Business Incubation Center, emphasized the need for farmers across India to unite, with Krishi Jagran serving as the right platform. He highlighted the challenges of land fragmentation and stressed the importance of sustainable farming models for rural India. Padhiyar also called for government policies that support small and marginal farmers, enabling them to compete in both national and international markets.

Pallavi Vyas, Managing Director of ShantaFarms, said, "It’s a privilege to be a farmer and work with moringa, along with many other medicinal plants in India, which have global demand. India, with its cooperative model, has become the world’s largest producer, and I, with 2,000 small farmers, aim to do the same. I believe every farmer can become an MSME, ensuring fair prices for farmers and quality products for customers, creating a path for farmers to become millionaires."

Balaganadharn Perumal emphasized the importance of promoting young farmer awards and supporting women farmers to encourage greater participation and recognition in agriculture.

Sandeep shared his efforts to make farming more interesting for students at his college. He noted the changing attitude towards farming, with students showing more enthusiasm. He emphasized the need to focus on school-level education and foster more startups to address agricultural challenges.

Sameer Sachdeva expressed his desire to change India's perception in the international market, emphasizing that every product from India should be seen as premium, not discounted. He stressed the need to gradually reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides to protect the soil, which has become degraded. Sachdeva also proposed celebrating Farmers' Day as an occasion akin to Valentine’s Day, encouraging students to thank farmers for their contribution to food production.

The webinar concluded successfully, highlighting the transformative potential of sustainable farming practices and the need for greater collaboration among stakeholders. Speakers emphasized the need for bridging communication gaps, adopting innovative practices, and fostering policy advocacy. As the nation celebrates National Farmers’ Day, the insights shared reaffirm the commitment to empowering farmers and shaping the future of Indian agriculture.