Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation

Hands that feed the nation often remain unseen, yet they carry the weight of our food systems with quiet strength and resilience. On , we recognise the dignity, skill, and persistence of women farmers whose labour sustains families, communities, and futures. The story of our food begins here.

Tomato cultivation across 3 acres was undertaken by nine farmers, producing 43,443 kg and generating ₹3,34,186 in a single season, in Betlo village of Korba district, Chhattisgarh.

Enabled by a community farm pond built under VB-G RAM G (formerly MGNREGA), farmers gained reliable irrigation and moved beyond single-season farming, alongside the use of natural pest control formulations such as Neemastra and Brahmastra.

The outcomes are reflected in individual earnings as well, with farmers like Urmila Bai earning over ₹1 lakh, while Savni Bai earned around ₹78,000, highlighting the potential of smallholder-led commercial cultivation when supported by the right infrastructure.

Equally significant was the collective approach where farmers worked together, shared knowledge, and strengthened local systems of support, contributing to both economic and social resilience.

Tirupati Nivruti Phade holds an M.A. in Political Science, another in History, a B.Ed., and was pursuing a PhD. But his heart was always in the fields he grew up in. Today, you'll find him on his 6-acre farm in Bodhadi, Kinwat, in the Nanded district of Maharashtra, growing chikoo, mangoes, and even dates - a crop most farmers avoid.

Ketan from our team sat down with him to learn why he made this choice.

Here's what Tirupati wants you to know:
"I tell my friends not to chase cities blindly. Farming gives us independence. We work on our own land, for ourselves."

Read the full interview with Tirupati in the link below!

https://www.brlf.in/rooted-in-the-village-tirupati-nivruti-phades-journey-back-to-farming/

Rooted in the Village: Tirupati Nivruti Phade’s Journey Back to Farming – Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation In a quiet village in Maharashtra, surrounded by orchards and red soil, lives a man whose journey defies conventional career paths. Tirupati Nivruti Phade is not just a farmer—he is a scholar with multiple degrees, a researcher, and now a passionate advocate for natural farming. In a conversation ...