Surat, Gujarat : After serving for 35 years as an engineer in ONGC, he took up natural farming post-retirement and created a new chapter in his life. His income has increased, health has improved, and he has also generated employment for 10 local villagers.
Meet Pradip Lalbhai Neta, a resident of Vachhavad village in Mahuva taluka,Surat who cultivates over 600 Kesar mango trees along with other fruit varieties like white and black jamun, long chikoo, fig, velvet apple, and apple bor on his 22 bighas of farmland. He also grows vegetables, traditional rice, and paddy as intercrops. Additionally, he cultivates sugarcane and produces organic jaggery, earning an extra ₹75,000 from it. His products are in such high demand that he barely needs to put in effort for sales.
He took inspiration from his grandfather’s indigenous farming techniques, which relied on cow dung-based manure. Continuing this legacy, Pradipbhai eliminated chemical fertilizers and embraced natural farming. He uses cow dung manure, “jeevamrut,” vermicompost, and the forest model of farming. This has notably improved soil fertility, crop quality, and yield. He stated, “Due to this method, we don’t even need to water sugarcane for up to 30 days. Maintaining soil health is the true foundation of sustainable agriculture.”
Discussing land care, he emphasized that cow dung manure makes soil soft and fertile. They also regularly prune plants, clean the fields, and remove weeds. “If we take care of the soil, it will take care of us for life,” he said.
Regarding government assistance, he shared that he benefited from the drip irrigation scheme with a 70% subsidy. On one hectare, he has implemented drip irrigation which has greatly conserved water. He also received ₹4,000 for a wet machine and a ₹60,000 subsidy for purchasing a tractor. Government agricultural support has been a major pillar in his journey toward self-reliance.
Pradip is practicing natural farming wisely and guiding young farmers as well. He believes that to reverse the damage caused by chemical and toxic substances to land, crops, and the environment, and to provide people with healthy food, it is essential to support and adopt the state government’s initiatives on natural farming at the earliest.
