Project Description
Shri Siddhagiri Math is known as the land of innovative approaches to resolve the day to day problems of common people. Swamiji thought of developing a unique model of farming that would give hope to every small and marginal farm holder family. Soon, an experiment was carried out at Siddhagiri Math in Kaneri. Believe it or not, over 188 crops were yielded in just one acre of land within a short span of one year. This widely appreciated self-reliant model of farming, later termed as, “Lakhpati Sheti” (Farming for Profit) proved most beneficial for over 2 lakhs farmers and their families. Today, these families are annually saving over Rs. 1 lakh and taking pride to be a part of this revolutionary initiative.
A farmer can yield all necessary vegetables, fruits, flowers and spices. Lakhpati farming requires less usage of water, thus can be implemented very effectively in drought prone areas. One would only require clothing, salt, footwear, soap and matchbox from outside; rest all things required for daily routine can be yielded in their own 1 acre land. An Indigenous breed of desi cow is required for getting milk, organic fertilizer and fuel. The area of one acre farming needs to be planned very carefully and space utilization should be done accordingly.
Storage of the farm produce has always been one of the key challenges for any farmer. A ‘pyramid shaped’ warehouse was designed so that all the perishable and seasonal produce can be stored in a better way. Infertile lands are like unhealthy bodies which need to be healed. Traditional ‘Agnihotra’ method proved most beneficial in this context.
This integrated approach in farming not just promises an enhancement of soil fertility and biological diversity but it also offers a competitive edge as far as the quality of the produce is concerned. As this model of organic farming yielded profit and results, the number of villagers from surrounding regions viz. Raigad and Karnataka approached Swamiji and soon adapted to the new farming practices. Today, they are not just reaping the benefits but their faith in this noble occupation is also restored. As the movement of ‘Lakhpati Sheti’ started gaining momentum, Swamiji started reaching out to the farmers through seminars and workshops.
In 2016, the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh and the Ex-Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadanvis visited the fields where this model was implemented Siddhagiri Math and promised that the model would be replicated at over 100 centres across the country. They lauded the effort and recognized it as a revolutionary approach in the farming sector.