Gujarat Farmer Kamlesh Patel Drives Natural Farming with Ghanjeevamrut

Gujarat farmer Kamlesh Patel champions natural farming by industrially producing Ghanjeevamrut and Jeevamrut, replacing chemical fertilisers. Inspired by a 2016 seminar, he achieved remarkable yields and scaled production to meet high demand from other farmers. Supported by the Gujarat government, Patel's efforts have encouraged over 800,000 farmers to adopt organic methods, covering 550,000 hectares. This initiative significantly reduces reliance on imported chemicals, improves soil health, and boosts crop productivity across the state.

Kamlesh Patel, a dedicated farmer from Mangroliya village in Gujarat's Surat district, is leading a significant movement to replace chemical fertilisers with natural alternatives, particularly Ghanjeevamrut and Jeevamrut. His journey began in 2016 after attending a seminar on Zero Budget Natural Farming by Subhash Palekar, which profoundly influenced him to abandon chemical methods. By 2017, Patel achieved remarkable success, yielding 45 tonnes per hectare in sugarcane cultivation using natural farming.Witnessing his success, fellow villagers expressed interest in adopting similar practices but lacked access to the necessary organic inputs or the willingness to prepare them. This prompted Patel to establish an industrial-scale production unit for Ghanjeevamrut and Jeevamrut. He currently produces 40,000 kg of Ghanjeevamrut and 1,000 litres of Jeevamrut daily, selling them across Gujarat and other states at competitive prices (Rs 6/kg for Ghanjeevamrut, Rs 5/litre for Jeevamrut). His ambitious goal is to double Ghanjeevamrut production to 2,000 bags daily.Patel's initiatives are strongly supported by the Gujarat government, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Governor Acharya Devvrat actively promoting natural farming. The Agriculture Department provides economic assistance, training for farmers, and master trainers like Kamlesh Patel himself. He has received subsidies for setting up a Bio-Resource Centre and financial aid through a Farmers Producer Company. Consequently, over 800,000 farmers across 550,000 hectares in Gujarat have transitioned to natural farming, leveraging these organic fertilisers to improve soil health, enhance microbial activity, enrich nutrients, and boost crop productivity, thereby reducing India's reliance on imported chemical fertilisers. This collective effort highlights a successful model for sustainable agriculture.