The Natural Farm
Aarohi Natural Farm is based out of Pargaon, Daund in Pune District. The land is spread across 16-acres of the area. The allocated tube-well water, natural fertilization system, drip irrigation, Automation, and well-followed management, encourages us to do the farming in a natural manner. We are farming naturally since 2016, and today we are absolutely chemical-free in our farming.
Our farming process is completely natural. Natural Farming utilizes, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, earthworms, micro-arthropods for cultivating the land. All these microorganisms are naturally found in soil and they feed on the soil. These organisms are protected by Aarohi natural farmers, as we know, we owe them a lot. We do not use any sort of chemicals that will prove harmful to these microorganisms, that helps in making the soil quality better. We are continuously trying to improve the soil quality by increasing the number of such microorganisms.
We have a content of biofertilizer that is enough to create a good amount of Natural Farming land of about 15 to 20 acres. To create such an amount of biofertilizer quantity, we use, Indigenous cow-dung, cow-urine, soil under a banyan tree, besan flour, natural jaggery, and sour taak. All these ingredients are easily available. We spread it all by drip irrigation and other fertilization units.
We have various units projects for creating and providing such type of natural fertilizers. We Aarohi Natural Farm has even received awards for such an excellent quality of Natural Farming. Researchers, Farmer organizations and scientists from all over the nation have visited our natural farmland.
Meet the Naturalist
Ishwar Wagh
Being born and brought up in the family whose background and main occupation was farming, I was fond of it since childhood. As I was interested in agriculture, I decided to continue it as a main occupation, further after graduation. I am into farming since 2005. Initially I had to face many challenges. I considered modern and high-tech agriculture as a solution. In order to implement modern technology in the farm management, we needed funding. Hence, me along with my brother, decided to grow the farmland. Within the timespan of 10 years, we had 16 acres of farmland with us. I used to do farming, as many others do. We used to use chemicals and some pesticides in our farmland.
Gradually I found out, the retention rate of the soil fertility is degrading day by day and year by year. I started studying the agriscience strategy that was used by our ancestors. I studied the work of Padma Shri. Subhash Palekar, who is known as the father of Zero Budget Natural Farming. I am implementing the natural techniques into my farmland now. Aarohi Natural Farm is completely free from the chemicals and is absolutely Natural Farming.
Mahendra Wagh
I was interested in farming since childhood. Moreover, I got inspired by my brother, Ishwar. Ishwar researched and studied various methods, by which Natural Farming could be cultivated. We both worked hard on the studies and plans, and now the farmland has created new benchmark of Natural Farming. Initially, family members and relatives did not support us. But we both were dedicated and have decided to do farming in the natural way.
We knew it was not an easy task. Neither it was a task of 1-2 days. We struggled out for nearly 1-2 years to get the expected results. The economical situation was not that strong that we could afford expensive instruments required for farming. Hence, we did invested as much we could on Natural Farming and results started showing up after years. Aarohi Natural Farming is now a successful Natural Farming. We got inspired and also got a lot of help from the videos of Padma Shri. Subhash Palekar.