From Cancer Counselor to Organic Role Model: Hanumanthappa Belagumpi's Journey to Sustainable Farming

Hanumanthappa Malleshappa Belagumpi, a 58-year-old educated farmer from Hasargundagi in Afazalpur Taluk of Kalaburagi District, has transformed his farming practices and achieved remarkable success. For the past 15 years, he has been cultivating horticulture and foodgrain crops on a total of 22 acres, consisting of 15 acres of dry land and 7 acres of irrigated land. By adopting organic sustainable farming methods, he is earning an impressive income of over Rs 14 lakh per year.

Driven by his passion for producing poison-free food, Hanumanthappa decided to quit his job as a counsellor in a cancer hospital after witnessing the detrimental effects of consuming poisoned food. Alongside his wife Jagdevi, he conducted numerous organic farming experiments on his land and gained recognition as an organic saint and a role model for farmers in the region.

Hanumanthappa's farm boasts a diverse range of crops, including 100 mango trees of different varieties like dashahari, Kesar, mallika, 100 sapota trees of kalapati variety, 500 guava trees of Allahabad and Taiwan varieties, 50 custard apple trees of Balanagar variety, 100 coconut trees, 100 lemon trees of Balaji variety, and 200 sago trees. These trees have been nurtured for 13 years, with deep pits dug to enhance soil fertility using organic fertilizers such as Jeevamrita, Panchgavya, Gopajal, waste decomposer, and earthworm fertilizers. Proper spacing of 20x20 feet is maintained while planting saplings.

The remaining land is utilized for cultivating food grain crops such as sugarcane and others. Hanumanthappa received subsidies from the agriculture and horticulture departments for constructing farm ponds and implementing drip irrigation. The crops are irrigated once a week through drip irrigation, effectively utilizing water resources. To protect his crops, he utilizes cost-effective methods such as Agniastra, Brahmastra, Nemastra, Dashaparani, fish oil, and neem oil.

With his well-planned and sustainable farming practices, Hanumanthappa achieves impressive yields each year. He harvests around 40 quintals of mangoes, 20 quintals of sapota, and 40 quintals of pears annually. He sells all the produce, including fruits and food grains, directly in the Aiwan-E-shahi area of Kalaburagi. Despite an annual maintenance cost of Rs 3 lakh, his net income amounts to Rs 14 lakhs.

Hanumanthappa's farm is not limited to crop cultivation alone. He maintains five cattle and 17 sheep, which enable him to produce Jeevamrut, an organic fertilizer. Additionally, his eight units of earthworm composting generate 10 tons of earthworm manure each year, which he not only uses in his own fields but also sells to other farmers. Beekeeping is another aspect of his farming enterprise, with four bee boxes producing 100 kg of high-quality honey per year. The diverse range of crops and floriculture in his farm contributes to the production of premium honey, which he sells at Rs 60 per kilogram.

In 2019, Hanumanthappa invested in an Ankola-type redgram dal manufacturing unit, costing him Rs 1.30 lakh. By following traditional methods, he processes organically grown redgram into dal. The redgram is soaked, dried, and then processed in a mini dal mill. Hanumanthappa markets the redgram dal, along with his fruits, vegetables, millets, jaggery, and honey, under the brand name "Belagumpi."

Driven by his commitment to promoting sustainable and organic farming practices, Hanumanthappa extends his knowledge and expertise to others. Over the past year, he has provided one-day agricultural training to 600 farmers and agricultural students from various districts in the state. The training sessions cover a wide range of topics, including planning from production to market in organic farming, achieving high yields at a low cost, proper use of fertilizers and pesticides, and effective harvesting methods. Encouraged by the positive response, Hanumanthappa plans to expand the training program to three days in the near future, allowing for a more in-depth learning experience.

Hanumanthappa's remarkable achievements have not gone unnoticed. He has received numerous accolades for his contribution to agriculture. The State Government honored him with the prestigious title of "Krishi Pandit." Additionally, he has been recognized as the "Great Farmer" by the Bank of Baroda, the "Super Star Farmer" by Vijaya Karnataka Paper, and has received the "Raitha Ratna Awards" from Asia Net Suvarna TV, among several other awards bestowed by various associations.

For those interested in learning from Hanumanthappa's experiences or seeking guidance, he can be contacted directly at 9449125035.

Hanumanthappa Malleshappa Belagumpi's success story serves as an inspiration to farmers and agricultural enthusiasts alike. Through his dedication to organic farming, innovative techniques, and commitment to producing poison-free food, he has not only achieved financial prosperity but has also emerged as a role model for sustainable agriculture. His story demonstrates the potential for transforming conventional farming methods into environmentally friendly and economically viable practices, paving the way for a more sustainable future in the agricultural sector.

This report has been prepared by G. Chandrakanth, Retd. Deputy Director of the Department of Information & Public Relations, Kalaburagi and rewritten by the author.