Like an ATM that dispenses money anytime, a Chhattisgarh farmer creates a process of cultivation where a field produces crops that can be consumed and sold anytime. He calls it his “ATM model” and it’s catching on.
Jaimant Kumar Rathiya has always been a visionary. Any technological advancement that comes along, the 38-year-old farmer from Rampur village in the district Korba of Chhattisgarh, wonders how it could be used to improve his land and cultivation.
He has always been driven by a passion for restoring the health of his soil and reducing his dependency on chemical fertilisers. What started as a quest for alternative farming methods soon led him to a groundbreaking model—one that promises year-round crops, better soil health and increased profitability for farmers.
My daughter feels proud her teacher talks of me as an example. They look up to me for protecting not just the crops but the environment too.
“Chemical usage in our fields has caused crucial damage not just to our crops but our health too,” Rathiya told Village Square.
For over a decade, like many of his peers, Rathiya had relied on growing paddy, often under the pressure of securing a minimum support price (MSP) from the government-run public distribution system (PDS). However, the excessive use of chemical fertilisers like DAP left the soil depleted, diminishing its ability to support diverse crops and raising long-term concerns about health and sustainability.
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The turning point came when Rathiya was introduced to the JIVA programme of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and facilitated by the local NGO Gram Bartori Vikas Shikshan Samiti (GBVSS).
Through the programme, Rathiya, along with 33 other farmers, was given a week-long orientation and training on the principles of natural farming. He was taught how adopting eco-friendly agricultural practices could not only restore the vitality of his land but also significantly reduce his input costs, ensuring financial stability for his family.
Inspired by the teachings from the programme, Rathiya developed what he calls the “ATM model” (any time money) with money being synonymous with crops. The idea is to cultivate multiple crops on the same piece of land throughout the year without degrading soil health.
Farmers are taught to produce a variety of crops like pulses, millets, and vegetables that can be harvested year-round, providing both nutritional security and a steady income from weekly markets. The approach eliminates the dependency on external markets for daily food needs, creating a sustainable farming ecosystem.
Rathiya’s farming practices are rooted in traditional natural farming techniques, with an emphasis on organic inputs and indigenous knowledge.
He begins by preparing his land with a mixture of cow dung, cow urine, and various natural elements. The first step involves creating Beejamruta, a natural seed treatment solution. Rathiya dissolves 40 kilos of cow dung in 200 litres of water, adding jaggery, gram flour, and cow urine, followed by the soil from a banyan tree’s roots. After allowing the mixture to ferment for several days, the seeds are coated in the solution, which boosts their germination and promotes healthier growth.
The next critical stage involves Jeevamruta, a fermented liquid fertiliser made by mixing cow dung, cow urine, jaggery and gram flour. This mixture, when applied to plants, enhances soil fertility and boosts plant health. Rathiya also uses Ghanjeevamruta, a concentrated version of Jeevamruta, which strengthens the soil and helps reduce the need for chemical pesticides.
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To protect his crops from pests, Rathiya prepares Neemastra, a natural pest repellent made from neem (Azadirachta indica) and fig leaves, along with cow dung and cow urine. This solution is effective against nymph-sucking insects and larvae. If pest issues persist, he applies Brahmastra, a potent mixture of neem and several other indigenous leaves, which offers protection against larger pests like caterpillars.
Because of the support he received from NABARD, under JIVA, he was able to grow variants of mixed crops like spinach, radish, carrot, turmeric, sesame and pulses like moong and urad. As a result of this, he currently cultivates in both the Kharif and Rabi seasons, when he grows paddy, groundnut, sesame, toor lentils and vegetables like ladyfinger, cauliflower, tomato and chillies.
“This ATM model has helped me secure nutrition for my family and earn considerable monetary benefits by selling the produce in the markets,” said Rathiya proudly.
Within a year, Rathiya’s ATM model has become a shining example of how traditional knowledge, combined with modern training, can transform agricultural practices. By diversifying his crops and minimising external inputs, Rathiya has not only reduced his dependence on the chemical market but has also restored the health of his soil.
“People look upon Jaimant Rathiya as an example of change. They’ve seen him reap profits from crops despite a reduction of chemical fertilisers. Now they’re learning methods from him and wanting to know about the JIVA programme so that they can join the next batch to be trained,” said Suryakant Soulakhe, president of GBVSS.
His ATM model is now being shared with other farmers in the region, providing them with a roadmap for achieving food security, financial stability, and ecological balance.
“My daughter feels proud that her teacher talks of me as an example in class,” Rathiya said, smiling. They look up to me for protecting not just the crops but the environment too with the adoption of natural farming.”
Also read: From day-care to soil care – Chhattisgarh woman teaches natural farming
The lead image on top depicts farmer Jaimant Kumar Rathiya at work on his farm in Chhattisgarh’s district of Korba. (Photo by Devashish Biswal)
Devashish Biswal is a knowledge management and communications consultant with the Ministry of Rural Development. He was also a Village Square Fellow in 2023.
