Success Story: This 38-year-old farmer’s life changed by choosing the path of natural farming, today he is earning huge profits

Success Story: In the vibrant haat bazaar of Lariapalli village in the Sambalpur region of Odisha, once a week, there is a recognizable and adorable spectacle. Navin Chandra Senapati, 38, is surrounded by a crowd that enthusiastically shouts, “Give it to me first!” “Give it to me first!” His supply of vibrant, chemical-free, and green vegetables sells out faster than anyone else’s. “People now know that my vegetables are not only delicious but also nutritious. They do not use any chemicals and are grown organically. So, I always sell first,” he declares proudly. He did not achieve this feat by chance; rather, it is the result of a deeply personal and life-changing experience. Inspired by a strong sense of spiritual resilience, he overcame conventional chemical farming and financial hardship to embrace natural farming (NF) and live a life full of impact, wealth, and purpose. A life full of hardship and lack of resources

For many years, Nabin’s existence was like that of thousands of other farmers in rural India. Harvesting rice once a year was possible only because of the hard work he put in on his 4-acre farm and his complete dependence on monsoon rains. The rest of the year, the land lay barren, and Nabin started working as a laborer. At the end of the year, he would earn just Rs 20,000, which did not provide him with any economic stability.

Like many other villages, his village was caught in the cycle of chemical farming. Excessive reliance on urea, potash, and hybrid seeds has hardened the soil, increasing expenses and making food grown from chemical farming prone to diseases. Pest management costs alone can reach Rs 12,000 per year, yet the returns are still very low. “We got very little in return for all this spending,” says Nabin.

The first seeds of change

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), a government project, gave Nabin optimism in the year 2017. Through this, he was introduced to the idea of ​​natural farming by a trainer named Mukunda Sahu. Nabin got his first glimpse of an alternative. This approach promised tasty, fresh, and healthy food in addition to cost savings.

However, changing deeply held beliefs is never easy. The idea of ​​farming without chemicals seemed strange in a city where chemical fertilizers and hybrid seeds were widely used. Like them, he questioned whether farming could really be done without urea and potash.

Objective of the Bharat Nirman Yojana Programme

Around the same time, Nabin learned about the Art of Living Foundation while participating in a Bharat Nirman Yojana program in his community. Here, under the guidance of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar, he practiced Sudarshan Kriya, a powerful breathing method taught by the foundation.

“I felt so light. I felt like all my stress had disappeared. “I felt a profound change inside me,” he recalls. This inner metamorphosis offered new insights to a farmer who struggled with anxiety related to social, climate, and financial issues. “I’ve been quite successful because of that practice. After that day, my life began to progress.

Choosing Natural Farming

Nabin made the bold and almost unprecedented decision to convert his entire 4-acre land in his town to natural farming, as he was driven by strong faith and inner peace.

“Technology was not the only factor. My relationship with the planet was evolving. I started working with nature, not against it,” he claims.

It was a difficult transition. Cow-based inputs, such as Jeevamrit, a powerful bio-enhancer made from cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, and gram flour, are essential for natural farming. However, Nabin embraced it wholeheartedly. “One Desi cow is enough for five acres,” he says confidently. “Jeevamrit, Neemastra, Agneestra, and Brahmastra are all made by me myself.”

In addition, he has started using traditional medicinal sprays made from papaya and neem leaves. “I no longer buy anything from outside sources. I no longer spend a single rupee on manure and instead collect my own seeds, like pen paddy.

A healthier planet and more successful agriculture

After being chemically hardened, Nabin’s land has started responding. Plants started to flourish, the soil softened, and yields increased dramatically. The taste and medicinal properties of grains and vegetables have returned. His family now consumes only organic and locally grown food, including lentils, rice, ginger, turmeric, and green vegetables.

Earnings statistics

Natural farming has improved both his financial account and land. NF has reduced his expenses to Rs 4,000-5,000 per acre, while chemical farming used to cost him Rs 10,000-12,000 per acre.

“Now, I cultivate an acre of paddy for Rs 18,000 in four months by spending Rs 5,000. That’s a profit of between Rs 12,000 and Rs 13,000. “And the vegetables give me even more,” he says.

Nabin now earns Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 annually from his 4-acre farm, three times his previous income. “I don’t need to do labor work anymore,” he says proudly.

Honours and recognition

Farmers from across Odisha flocked to the Krishi Exhibition held in Sambalpur in December 2023, where Nabin received the Best Natural Farmer award. The honor was more than a simple trophy; it recognized his path, his faith, and years of perseverance, which finally bore fruit.

Inspiration to others

Inspired by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s call to “Be the light that illuminates the path of others,” Impressed, Nabin decided to share what he had learned. Over the past three years, he and another instructor have taught natural farming to more than fifty farmers.

“I manage a group on WhatsApp. I provide pictures and videos and go through the process of making and using Jeevamrut, Ghanjeevamrut, Neemastra, and Agneestra. I also teach how to make medicinal sprays,” he adds.

Family gave full support

This change has impacted his entire life. He now has the full support of his wife and children in his job, who have also completed Art of Living’s syllabus. Apart from them, his two brothers have started natural farming.

However, the community has seen possibly the most significant change. Now, this drug-ridden slum is making progress towards rehabilitation. Due to Nabin’s efforts and the help of Art of Living’s Nav Chetna Shivir, the incidence of drug addiction has reduced significantly. In 2016, the basti and its sarpanch received national recognition for their extraordinary efforts to fight addiction.

“Everything changed because of yoga and meditation, which were taught in school. At the camp,” says Nabin. “People started thinking about health, hygiene, and supporting each other.”

From farming to spiritual practice

These days, Nabin cultivates the future instead of just food. He is a spiritual seeker, a farmer, a trainer, and a leader in the community. His life is a living example that success is about more than just making money; it is also about having a purpose.

“He has given us so much, including breathing techniques, inner peace, and natural farming practices. I just want to take things forward. I want to help more farmers live better, healthier lives by sharing Gurudev’s vision.” From a chemical-dependent farmer struggling to make ends meet to a prosperous natural farmer, mentor, and change-maker in the village, Navin Chandra Senapati’s path is a testament to the fact that one person can indeed sow the seeds of change for an entire community if he has the necessary courage, wisdom, and compassion.