Aakash Chaurasia, a visionary farmer from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, introduced the innovative concept of multilayer farming, where multiple crops are cultivated simultaneously on the same plot of land. This approach enhances production and promotes sustainable agriculture, offering farmers a model for financial stability. Through his dedication and ingenuity, Aakash has turned his 25-acre farmland into a thriving enterprise, generating an impressive annual turnover of Rs 40–50 lakh and inspiring countless others to follow in his footsteps.
Story Behind Multilayer Farming
As he belonged to a family of betel growers, his dream was to became a doctor but due to unforeseen situation he was motivated towards the challenge of decreasing soil fertility, shrinking farmland area, and an increasing cost of cultivating the crops. He was challenged by urban multi-story building designs, which led to experimenting on growing multiple crops on one plot. Now, after many years of this experimentation and trying process, he introduced multi-layer farming in 2014, which revolutionised the agriculture system in the locality.
By using this technique, Aakash harvests 40–45 crops at the same time. This includes vegetables such as spinach, radish, and beetroot; fruits such as papaya and lemon; and seasonal crops like watermelon. Besides significantly cutting down input costs through organic manure, his innovative method saves up to 80% of water through drip irrigation techniques.
Empowering Farmers Through Knowledge Sharing
Chaurasia is dedicated to spreading his knowledge among other farmers. Through free training camps, he has trained more than 1.4 lakh people in India and abroad on multilayer farming. The sessions are mostly on optimizing resources, achieving better crop yields, and diminishing environmental impact. His campaign has transformed nearly 90,000 acres of land into sustainable farming systems with a lifeline for farmers who are going through the traditional methods.
Malwa Green Platform
In order to support the broader farming community, Chaurasia has also set up Malwa Green Platform. This facilitates providing the farmer with inexpensive seeds, fertilizers, and exposure to advanced technologies in agriculture. It offers a common place for collaboration from where the farmer can deal with the problem of access to the market and crop diversification together.
Profit Model and Sustainability
In agriculture, multilayer farming is revolutionary. Optimizing land use, enhancing soil health, and lowering water consumption guarantee long-term sustainability. Chaurasia advocates the use of cow dung manure that increases production and fills the soil with organic carbon. Production costs as low as Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per acre make an acre of his farm crop worth Rs 80,000 to Rs 1,00,000 annually.
National and Global Recognition
Chaurasia has been a recipient of various prestigious awards and recognitions. From Krishi Ratna bestowed by our former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to global recognition through organizations like JCI Japan, he has inspired farmers across the globe. His initiative also increases crop production by 20%. It has increased milk production besides improving soil biodiversity.
The story of Chaurasia represents the potential of agricultural innovation. He has shown that farming can be economically and environmentally friendly by indulging sustainable practices in traditional methods. His initiatives for information exchange, resource efficiency, and crop diversity provide the right path forward for Indian agriculture.
For farmers, multilayer farming offers a beacon of hope for profitable and sustainable solutions. With unwavering commitment and boundless creativity, Aakash Chaurasia has turned his challenges into opportunities, paving the way for remarkable possibilities in agriculture. His journey stands as a testament to the power of vision and determination, setting a benchmark for agricultural success in India and inspiring a brighter future for the farming community.
