Raghuveer Nandam: Pioneer of organic farming and traditional seed conservation

Raghuveer Nandam of Vijayawada village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh has done an exemplary work in organic farming and seed conservation. Born in 1986, Raghuveer has been leading ‘Natural Farming’ for the last five years, which is an important effort to restore traditional and organic methods of farming. His biggest achievement is the establishment of ‘One Seed Revolution Community Seed Bank’, in which he has preserved 251 indigenous rice varieties. This effort is not only helpful in maintaining biodiversity but is also reviving traditional crops that are getting extinct due to modern farming.

This contribution of Raghuveer has been appreciated at the national level. He was honored with the ‘Plant Genome Savior Farmer Award’ in 2023 by the President of India, Smt. Draupadi Murmu. Additionally, he has also been awarded the ‘IARI Innovative Farmer Award’ in 2024 and the state level ‘Best Organic Farmer Award’ three times. These awards are proof that his innovation and hard work are recognized at a high level.

Seed Conservation and ‘One Seed Revolution’

Raghuveer Nandam’s ‘One Seed Revolution’ is a unique effort to promote self-reliance in Indian agriculture through the protection and promotion of traditional seeds. He has collected and preserved 251 varieties of indigenous rice on his land. The varieties included in these seeds have evolved over time, which have greater disease resistance and climate adaptability. The main objective of his seed bank is to provide traditional and indigenous seeds to farmers so that they can cultivate high quality and sustainable crops.

Raghuveer has understood the importance of traditional seeds and his work has proved that naturally preserved seeds are more profitable and stable for farming. Dependence on hybrid seeds and chemical fertilizers used in modern agriculture is making farmers economically weak. Raghuveer believes that by using these traditional seeds, farmers can not only control their costs but also get high-quality crops that are able to withstand the effects of climate change.

Benefits for the community and future plans

Raghuveer’s seed bank allows farmers to use traditional seeds, which reduces their costs and also reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers. This effort is not only directly benefiting farmers economically, but also increasing their inclination towards organic farming. Raghuveer’s ‘One Seed Revolution’ is also a social initiative, which is a strong step towards making rural farmers self-reliant and empowered.

Raghuveer’s goal is to expand this seed bank in the future, so that more farmers can become a part of this initiative. His efforts will inspire more and more farmers, so that they can also bring sustainability in farming by using traditional seeds. Through organic farming and traditional seed conservation, the ‘One Seed Revolution’ can play an important role in future for self-sufficiency and environmental balance in the agricultural sector.

Organic Farming Techniques and Initiatives

Raghuveer Nandam has set an example by using completely organic methods in his fields. He has adopted the principles of ‘Natural Farming’, which does not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides at all. Instead, he uses completely natural and homemade elements like Jeevamrit, Beejamrit and other organic fertilizers. These methods not only help protect the environment but also reduce the cost of cultivation, giving more economic benefits to the farmers.

Raghuveer believes that ‘Natural Farming’ methods can help farmers get more production with less water and resources. Jeevamrit and Beejamrit, which contain natural elements like cow dung and urine, provide essential nutrients to the plants and maintain soil fertility. In addition, these organic methods promote microbial life in the soil, which is important for plant health and productivity. This method also improves the quality of the produce, which can be sold at a higher price in the market.

Raghuveer has also shared his techniques with farmers. He has organized several workshops and made farmers aware of the benefits of natural farming. His innovation has made farmers aware that they can convert their traditional farming to organic methods, which will not only help them get better crops but also contribute to environmental protection. Raghuveer’s efforts are becoming an inspiration not only in his community but also in other states, which want to move towards organic farming.

Government schemes and Raghuveer’s challenges

Raghuveer Nandam has made a lot of efforts in the field of seed conservation and organic farming, but despite this he did not take advantage of any government scheme for his work. His challenge shows that the benefits of government schemes do not reach every innovative farmer. If farmers innovating in the field of agriculture and seed conservation can get encouragement, training, financial aid, and technical support from the government, it can make their work even stronger. 

Many schemes of the Government of India such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, and National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture have been created to support farmers. If farmers like Raghuveer get the benefits of these schemes directly, then it can further strengthen their seed conservation campaign. Also, to expand their organic farming operations, initiatives can be taken to establish seed banks by joining the state government and local agriculture department.

Future plans

Raghuveer Nandam dreams of spreading the message of ‘natural farming’ and seed conservation not only in his village but in the entire state and across the country. He believes that this is not just a business of agriculture, but a means of environmental protection, climate adaptation, and self-reliance in agriculture. His aim is to create a future where farmers can increase their yield through natural methods without depending on chemicals.

In his upcoming plan, Raghuveer wants to create a seed bank network, which can have a huge collection of indigenous seeds preserved by different farmers. Under this, farmers will not only have easy availability of seeds, but they will also get information about their nutritional properties. Apart from this, he is organizing workshops and training programs for farmers, so that more and more farmers can step into the field of organic farming and seed conservation.

If more farmers get inspired by Raghuveer’s efforts and engage in organic farming and seed conservation, it will strengthen the rural economy and contribute to environmental protection.