Samman 2024: Boosting Environment & Farmers via Organic Farming

Salikram Verma, a young farmer living in Kalikan village of Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh, has given a new identity to organic farming with his dedication and hard work. At the age of just 23, he has proved that success can be achieved even with small resources and limited land. Salikram’s dedication towards farming and passion to adopt organic methods has become an inspiration for the farmers of his village and surrounding areas.

Initial journey and beginning of farming

Salikram was born on 26 September 2000 in an ordinary farmer family. His family had limited land and income from traditional farming was also less. From childhood, he learned the basic aspects of farming while working in the fields.

Salikram says:

“I always saw that traditional farming not only had low yield, but also high cost. Due to this, the fertility of the soil was also gradually ending.”

From here onwards, he turned towards organic farming and made it the goal of his life.

Start of organic farming

In 2019, Salikram started studying organic farming in depth. He attended various workshops and got information about new techniques through the internet. He understood that organic farming not only preserves the environment but also improves the quality of the produce.

In his farm, he stopped using chemical fertilizers and pesticides and started using cow dung manure, vermicompost, neem khali and other organic fertilizers.

Salikram says:

“Organic farming not only improves the taste of the produce, but it is also beneficial for health.”

Model of more production in less land

Salikram has only less than 1 acre of land. Farming on such a small land and making a profit was a challenge. But he resorted to mixed cropping and better techniques.

Crops like pulses, vegetables and turmeric are grown in his farm. He adopted mixed cropping, which maintains the quality of the soil and also reduces the cost.

He says:

“Despite having less land, I learnt to earn more profit through mixed cropping. Making proper use of every inch of land is the secret of success.”

Contribution to environmental protection

Salikram’s organic farming is not only profitable for his family but also a boon for the environment.

• He implemented drip irrigation system in his farm to reduce water consumption.

• He uses only organic manure and pesticides to maintain the fertility of the soil.

• His farming does not pollute the water sources and the surrounding environment.

Inspiration for the local community

Salikram is not only farming for himself but is also inspiring farmers in his village and nearby areas to adopt organic farming.

He says:

“I want every farmer in my village to adopt organic farming. This will not only increase their income but will also save our environment.”

He regularly holds discussions with local farmer groups to share his experience and knowledge. He has organised several workshops in his village to explain the benefits and techniques of organic farming.

Benefiting from government schemes

So far, Salikram has not taken direct benefit of any government scheme. However, he plans to connect with the agriculture department and get support for further schemes.

He says:

“There are many schemes of the government which are being run to promote organic farming. I try to make my work even better by taking advantage of these schemes.”

Future plans

Salikram dreams of his village becoming a model of organic farming. He wants to take his produce to local and national markets.

He says:

“I want organic farming to become a priority for every farmer rather than just an option. My dream is to make my farming a model that inspires other farmers.”

He is also planning to process and brand his crops soon, so that he can get better market prices.

Journey to success despite difficulties

Salikram faced many obstacles in this journey. He faced problems like limited resources, less land and lack of initial experience. But his determination and hard work helped him overcome every challenge.

He believes that:

“Patience and dedication are most important to achieve success in any work.”

Salikram Verma’s story tells that if there is right thinking and hard work, farming can become not only a profession but also a dedicated service. Through organic farming, he proved that big goals can be achieved even with less resources.

His hard work and dedication have today established him as an inspiration in his village and region. His contribution towards organic farming is not only improving his personal life, but his initiative is also bringing positive change in the field of environmental protection and health.

“Salikram Verma’s hard work and dedication is a symbol of taking organic farming to new heights.”