Mansa farmer uses stubble to script success: from chemical-free fields and 20% higher income to international trade fair

Sukhjit then vowed to eliminate chemicals and stop burning crop residue. By incorporating stubble into the soil using a super seeder and practicing mulching, he has seen remarkable improvements, he said. “Every two years, I get the soil health tested. It keeps getting better.” This year too, he plans to sow wheat with the super seeder.

Sukhjit highlighted a significant income boost of 20 to 30 per cent, attributed to cost reductions through stubble incorporation in the soil and the adoption of natural farming practices. He explained that conventional wheat farming costs farmers around Rs 10,000 per acre, whereas his expenses are limited to just Rs 4,000 per acre. For paddy, typical costs range from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per acre for others, but his cost stands at Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre.

Beyond wheat and paddy, Sukhjit has diversified with millets, pulses, sugarcane, turmeric, etc. Mulching stubble in these crops has dramatically increased yields, especially for turmeric. “Stubble management led me to natural farming, then crop diversification,” he explained.

As of now, he is growing wheat-paddy on four acres while the remaining four acres consist of diversified crops. The land is owned by the two brothers and they do farming together. The most income is generated through the turmeric crop, while the wheat variety uses the ancient Sonamoti seed. The net income after excluding all expenses comes out to around Rs 11.70 lakh and Singh seems to be satisfied with it as the income has a wide scope of growth ahead.

Organic brand to represent Punjab at India International Trade Fair

Now, he processes pulses, millets, turmeric, and more into value-added products. From his home-based store, Sukhjit sells millet flour, biscuits, turmeric powder, organic spices, oils, and jaggery, both locally and online. His “Natural Drops Aajeevika Self Help Group” will represent Punjab at the 44th India International Trade Fair in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan from November 14-27, showcasing processed millets.

His organic products are now reaching customers beyond Punjab, with exports to several states across India and around six foreign countries, including Canada, USA, and New Zealand, he added.

Navjot Kaur, Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, said Sukhjit is a guiding light for other farmers. “He has shown the way by managing stubble and adopting organic farming using new technologies like bed planting, super seeder, etc. He is not just a progressive and successful farmer but a thriving entrepreneur in organic farming. The district administration has honoured him. He is a role model for Mansa farmers,” she added.