Dang’s Journey to Natural Farming Success
Empowering Farmers in Gujarat
The beautiful forest region of Dang in Gujarat made history in 2021 by becoming a fully natural farming district under the ‘Aapnu Dang, Prakrutik Dang’ campaign. With support from the government, farmers have adopted natural farming practices, improving their livelihoods significantly.
Yashwantbhai Sahare’s Story
Yashwantbhai Sahare, a farmer from Bhurapani village, is one of the successful farmers who realized the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers. With training from the agriculture department, he learned about natural farming, animal husbandry, and creating natural fertilizers. This knowledge has allowed him to grow crops like rice, ragi, jackfruit, black lentil, and soybean. He also trains other farmers in the district through regular camps.
“This is reality… we understand that diseases are due to chemical fertilizers. That is why for the next generation, we have ended up using these harmful fertilizers. We only do natural farming,” said Sahare.
Training and Support
Sanjay Bhagariya, Deputy Director of Agriculture in Dang, explained that master trainer farmers have been appointed to share their knowledge through training programs. In 2023-24, 423 cluster-based training programs were conducted, training nearly 16,000 farmers. In 2024-25, over 285 programs have trained around 9,020 farmers.
Mechanization and Subsidies
Farmers in Dang benefit from farm mechanization schemes, with assistance from Gram Sevaks to apply for subsidies on equipment like tractors and rotavators. Sitarambhai Chaurya, a farmer in Ahwa, and his daughter-in-law Kusum, who holds a Master’s degree, have benefited from these schemes. “People here live in poverty conditions. It is difficult to buy equipment on our own. When the government helps us, we can buy them and use them for farming,” said Kusum.
The success of natural farming and mechanization in Dang highlights the government’s efforts to empower farmers and promote sustainable agriculture, serving as a model for other regions in India.
Doubts Revealed
Dang -: Dang is a forest region located in the state of Gujarat, India. It is known for its natural beauty and rich biodiversity.
Natural Farming -: Natural farming is a method of farming that relies on natural processes and materials, avoiding synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. It aims to work in harmony with nature to grow crops.
‘Aapnu Dang, Prakrutik Dang’ campaign -: This is a campaign in Dang, Gujarat, promoting natural farming practices. ‘Aapnu Dang’ means ‘Our Dang’ and ‘Prakrutik Dang’ means ‘Natural Dang’ in Gujarati, emphasizing the focus on sustainable agriculture.
Yashwantbhai Sahare -: Yashwantbhai Sahare is a farmer from Dang who has adopted natural farming methods. His success story is an example of how natural farming can improve farmers’ lives.
Mechanization schemes -: Mechanization schemes are government programs that provide farmers with machines and tools to make farming easier and more efficient. These schemes help farmers increase productivity and reduce labor.
Subsidies -: Subsidies are financial assistance provided by the government to help farmers reduce costs. They make it more affordable for farmers to adopt new technologies and practices.
Sitarambhai Chaurya -: Sitarambhai Chaurya is another farmer from Dang who has benefited from natural farming and government support. His family has improved their farming practices with the help of subsidies and training.