Small Farm, big success: How an innovative couple built a model of sustainable farming

By Bharat Dogra 

In Sema, a remote village in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, Bhagwati Lal and his wife Rekha share equal credit for creating a remarkable farm that has become an inspiration for villagers and visitors alike. Their achievement demonstrates how even a very small piece of land can provide a strong foundation for sustainable livelihoods while enhancing climate resilience and protecting the environment.

Their story offers two important lessons. The first is that it is never too late to follow one's calling. Bhagwati Lal told me that he had spent nearly a decade of his youth away from his village. Eventually, however, he responded to a deep inner desire to return to farming and rebuild his life on the land.

The second lesson is that limited resources need not be an obstacle to meaningful work. The couple owns only about one-fourth of an acre of land (half a bigha), a holding many would dismiss as too small to generate a viable income. Yet on this tiny plot, Rekha and Bhagwati Lal have created a thriving and beautiful world of sustainable agriculture.

One of the most remarkable features of their farm is its extraordinary biodiversity. Around 30 varieties of food crops and fruits are grown over the course of a year. This figure does not include crops cultivated solely to enrich the soil, plants used for preparing natural pest repellents, or those grown in small quantities for experimentation or household use. A substantial part of the farm is devoted to an orchard dominated by papaya trees, while another section features a multi-layered vegetable garden that produces an impressive diversity of vegetables within a very limited space.

The couple also keeps three cows and a buffalo. These animals are valued not only for their milk but also for the dung and urine—particularly from the cows—which are used to prepare organic manure and natural pest-control formulations on the farm.

Only natural farming methods are practiced here. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are completely avoided. In fact, the farm produces more organic manure and natural pest repellents than it needs, enabling the couple to supply the surplus to other farmers. Through careful and affectionate nurturing of their crops, they achieve good yields without relying on chemical inputs. Natural farming has also improved soil fertility and increased its organic matter. Green manure crops such as sunn hemp are cultivated specifically to enrich the soil before being ploughed back into it. By recycling farm waste, they also minimize problems related to residues and waste disposal.

The farm's dependence on fossil fuels has been kept to a minimum, contributing to climate change mitigation. The significant number of trees on the farm further enhances carbon sequestration, while healthier soils with higher organic content store more carbon and retain moisture more effectively. Low cultivation costs, greater self-reliance, improved soil quality, better water retention, and diversified cropping together make the farm highly resilient to climate variability.

Rekha explains, "Reducing expenses should not be understood only in terms of cutting the cost of purchased inputs like chemical fertilizers. More importantly, by eating vegetables and fruits grown through natural farming, our family's health has improved significantly, and our expenditure on medicines and doctors has become almost negligible."

Bhagwati Lal adds, "We are happy to eat healthy food ourselves and equally happy to provide healthy food to others."

Their produce is not only healthy but also exceptionally tasty, as we experienced while enjoying freshly picked figs and papaya generously served by the couple.

Not surprisingly, marketing has never been a challenge for them. Rather than taking their produce to the market, they usually welcome customers who come directly to the farm, attracted by the quality and freshness of what they grow.

Reflecting on their journey, Bhagwati Lal gratefully acknowledges the support provided by the voluntary organization Seva Mandir. Whether through protective netting, quality seeds, training, or timely technical guidance, the organization has played an important role in strengthening their efforts. As Varsha Rathore, a senior member of Seva Mandir's team, explains, the organization has been encouraging farmers across its work area to adopt practices that combine sustainable livelihoods with climate resilience.

The success of Rekha and Bhagwati Lal demonstrates that innovation in agriculture is not determined by the size of one's landholding but by knowledge, commitment, biodiversity, and respect for nature. Their farm stands as a living example of how small farmers can build prosperous, healthy, and climate-resilient livelihoods while caring for the environment.

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The writer is Honorary Convener of the Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include A Day in 2071 and India's Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food. His website is bharatdogra.in, and his YouTube channel is Bharat Dogra Save Earth Campaign