From debt to diversity: How NGO's 'true farming' model is transforming marginal agriculture

By Vikas Meshram* 

The world today is grappling with the adverse effects of climate change, and marginal farmers stand at the very front of this crisis. Unpredictable monsoons, depleting groundwater, soil degradation from chemical farming, and market volatility together break the spine of the farmer. Yet, from the Vagad region of southern Rajasthan, a different story is emerging. It is the story of tribal farmers who, with their land, traditions, and the support of Vaagdhara, have found a path that is both climate-resilient and life-sustaining.

Vaagdhara’s journey began in Ghatol village with just fifteen farmers, limited resources, and an uncertain road ahead. The seed of community participation sown in those early days has now grown into a mighty tree, operating across 1,168 villages in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. Its primary agricultural intervention is the Sachchi Kheti (True Farming) programme — farming becomes “true” when it connects with the earth rather than depleting it, and when it liberates farmers instead of making them dependent. Under this programme, farmers receive practical training in natural farming methods. Preparing biofertilizers such as jeevamrit and ghan jeevamrit, along with homemade pest-control materials, gradually eliminates dependence on chemical inputs, freeing small farmers from the debt trap of high expenditure.

Women farmers play a central role in this transformation. Traditionally, men dominated agricultural decision-making, while women contributed far more to actual farm labour — sowing, weeding, harvesting, and cleaning grain. Vaagdhara recognized this contradiction and consciously brought women to the center of agricultural decision-making. Women’s empowerment groups were formed, receiving training and resources. Today, women not only speak up in the fields but also raise their voices in village meetings. Nutritional kitchen gardening — growing diverse vegetables according to family needs — is led primarily by women.

An exemplary case is Bahadur Charpota of Kudli village in Ghatol tehsil, who has become an inspirational name in the Vagad region. A few years ago, his situation mirrored that of most farmers around him: four bighas of land, dependence on uncertain monsoons, and meager profits. After joining Vaagdhara’s Gram Swaraj Group, Bahadur transformed his farming. Monoculture gave way to mixed farming — vegetables, fruit trees, and animal husbandry together. Dairy and goat rearing added stable sources of income.

Bahadur recalls:  

"Earlier we only waited for rain and managed with whatever grew. Vaagdhara taught us that diversity in farming is the real source of income. Now if one thing doesn’t work out, another will — there is milk, there are vegetables, there are goats."

Through this system, Bahadur earned an annual income of ₹1,20,000 from his four bighas of land. His three children — two sons and a daughter — are now pursuing higher education. His wife, Asha Charpota, is equally central to this transformation.

Asha explains:  

"Since we started natural farming, we have seen a difference in the children’s food too. Earlier we had to buy vegetables from the market; now we get fresh produce from our own field. Money has been saved, health has improved, and our livelihood has grown."

Before Vaagdhara’s intervention, most farmers in Vagad depended on single crops like maize. This monotony multiplied climate risk — failure of one crop meant ruin for the entire year. Crop diversification dispersed this risk. Pulses, vegetables, fruits, and medicinal plants grown together not only created multiple income streams but also improved soil health. Leguminous crops fixed nitrogen in the soil, while combining deep- and shallow-rooted crops nourished different soil layers.

With regular use of biofertilizers and proper crop rotation, soil biology is improving rapidly. Goat rearing has emerged as a vital livelihood option for marginal farmers. It requires low investment, simple care, and provides regular income. Goat manure enriches the soil, while goat rearing strengthens both social and economic resilience by offering income close to home.

Farmers who once spent thousands of rupees per acre on chemical inputs now prepare biofertilizers themselves. Reduced dependence on the market has cut costs by 20–30 percent. Crop diversification and multi-layered farming have boosted productivity. Families now enjoy nutritional security, growing vegetables and fruits at home that they previously had to buy.

As Bahadur Charpota says:  

"Work with nature, not against it. Learn with it."

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*Independent journalist