Across India, farmers are reshaping the way crops are grown by drawing on local knowledge, experimentation, and natural solutions. Faced with high input costs, climate uncertainty, and concerns over soil and human health, farmers are transitioning away from chemical-intensive agriculture toward organic and regenerative practices.
From preparing plant-based mixtures for crop protection to experimenting with natural pest repellents and innovative seed treatments, the following testimonies highlight how farmers from the CROPS4HD project have rediscovered the value of locally available materials such as plant extracts, animal by-products, and food residues. The results are visible in healthier crops, improved resilience to weather fluctuations, and noticeable gains in productivity. Together, these stories reflect a broader movement toward sustainable agriculture that is rooted in experimentation, traditional practices and self-sufficiency.
Experimenting with Natural Pest Control – Brahmastra
In this testimonial, Nabin Andeja, a farmer from Kandhumunda Village in Odisha, explains how he transitioned to organic farming. He demonstrates the process of making Brahmastra, a natural pest control solution made out of a mixture of various leaves and cow urine. Since using this mixture, he has observed 20-30% supplementary growth in crops.
Ishwar Astra – natural pest control inspired by traditional medicinal practices
Ishwar Neti is a farmer from the Bai palli village in Odisha. He is also a Aryuvedic practitioner, a traditional Indian medical practice making use of plants. His medical practice is what gave him the idea to use certain fruits and seeds as insect repellent. He created a natural pesticide which he calls Ishwar Astra. This mixture, made mainly out of cow urine, peto fruits, cannabis and bitter gourd leaves, has proven effective to protect plants from insects and ensure healthy growth.
Rice starch for crop growth
Shakha Neti is also a farmer from the Bai palli village, Odisha. She explains that in her family of four, around 2 liters of rice starch are leftover every day. Initially, she would put the rice starch in one particular spot and started to notice that the ladyfinger plant in that spot was growing well. This led her to thinking that there must be some nutrients in the rice starch. So it came that Shakha Neti started mixing the rice starch with various leaves, and applying it to all her plants. These have since grown much more than previously.
Seed Pelletisation with Dung Balls
In this testimonial, Reena Bhuiyna shares how she started growing seeds within balls made from a dung-based mixture. The practice helps protect seeds and young plants while also regulating temperature and moisture during early growth stages. Particularly in a context of changing weather patterns, this practice of using dung balls helps to keep the temperature under control.
Mahogany as Natural Pest Control
Nasrini Bibi is a farmer from Hingalgung in West Bengal. Inspired by what her father and grandfather would tell her about the properties of Mahogany, she decided to give it a try and make a powder out of it. With this natural insect pesticide, damaging insects stay away while beneficial insects remain, as opposed to chemical pesticides which also harm beneficial insects.
To learn more about agroecological practices initiated under the CROPS4HD Project in India, see the publication “Tales of Agro Ecological Innovations : There is always a route to the Square – Cases of Karnataka, Odisha and West Bengal (India)”