The success story of Hitesh Kumari, who not only made her mark by adopting organic farming, but also inspired the women of the village to become self-reliant.
Hitesh Chaudhary, a resident of Chak Chhabi village of Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh, who is respectfully known as Hitesh Kumari, has proved through her work that if there is a passion to achieve something in the mind, then women can also set a new example in the field of agriculture.
When Hitesh Kumari, who has been associated with farming for the last 12 years, chose the path of organic farming, she not only improved the yield and fertility of her farm, but also made the women around her aware. She taught the women of the village that farming is not just a man’s job—if there is the right information and confidence, then women can also become self-reliant and can earn a good income through farming.
How did organic farming start?
In the beginning, Hitesh Kumari, like other farmers, used to do farming in the traditional way. She used to grow crops like wheat, turmeric, mustard and lemon grass in her fields. But she always wanted to learn and adopt something new. In November 2018, she got a chance to participate in a training program organized by Patanjali Yogapeeth, Haridwar.
This training completely changed her thinking and way of farming. There she got detailed information about organic farming techniques, organic fertilizers and home remedies for pest control. After the training, she gradually left traditional farming and moved completely towards organic farming. Today she has become not only a supporter of organic farming but also a successful example.
Techniques adopted in Organic Farming
Hitesh Kumari adopted the following measures in her farms through bio-organic methods:
Production of natural pesticides like Neemastra and Aghnaastra
Use of Ghanjeevamrit, Beejamrit, Jeevamrit and Dashparni
Maintaining soil moisture through mulching technique
Preparation of compost manure from cow dung of Desi cow and homemade organic solutions from cow urine
These methods saved her from spending on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which reduced the cost of cultivation and increased the profit. Organic farming also inspired her towards an environmentally friendly and healthy lifestyle.
Scope of cultivation and main crops
Hitesh Kumari has a total of 7 acres of land, out of which she does organic farming on 2 acres. The main crops are:
Sugarcane
Turmeric
Lemon Grass
Wheat
Mustard
She grows these crops organically and sells them in the market at good prices without using any chemicals.
Relationship between animal husbandry and organic farming
Animal husbandry plays an important role in Hitesh Kumari’s farming. She has 3 Desi cows, which have become a strong base in her journey of organic farming. These cows not only give milk, but their dung and cow urine prove to be very valuable resources for organic farming.
She prepares nutrient-rich compost manure from cow dung, which helps in maintaining the fertility of the soil. At the same time, she uses cow urine to make household pesticides and organic solution. These keep their crops safe from pests and do not require any chemicals. These measures not only keep the health of their farm better, but the production of crops has also increased significantly compared to before.
Marketing and Branding
Hitesh Kumari is not limited to farming only, but also shows great wisdom in marketing and selling her products. She sells her crops like turmeric, wheat, jaggery and lemon grass directly to the local market and customers. This does not require her to depend on middlemen and the profit comes directly to her.
Along with this, she has also formed a PGS group, which provides certification facility to farmers doing organic farming. This helps in putting the stamp of ‘organic’ on the products, which further strengthens the trust of the customers. Today Hitesh Kumari is not only a successful organic farmer, but has also become an organic farming trainer. She also informs other farmers about this method and inspires them to also leave chemicals and return to nature.
Honours and recognition
Hitesh Kumari has received many honours for her work:
Progressive Women Farmer Award by social organizations and district administration
Nominated for Padma Shri by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh
Invitation on many platforms to promote organic farming
Benefits of Organic Farming
This story of Hitesh Kumari is an inspiration for all those farmers who want to do something new in farming. Organic farming gave her the following benefits:
Significant reduction in cost
Improvement in soil quality
Healthy production
Direct contact with the customer
Honours and recognition
Conclusion
Stories of farmers like Hitesh Kumari teach us that farming is not just a means of livelihood, but can also be a means of change and empowerment. By adopting organic farming, they not only strengthened their financial condition but also created a new identity in the society.
If you also want to move towards organic farming, then Hitesh Kumari’s story can be an inspiration for you.
Contact details: If farmers want to share information or experiences related to farming with us, then they can do this by calling us on the phone number 9599273766 or by writing an email to [email protected] or by sending your recording. Through Kisan of India, we will convey your message to the people, because we believe that if the farmers are advanced then the country is happy.