Breathing new life into the arid, red soil and the souls of its people, this agricultural venture has transformed into a catalyst for community empowerment and ecological restoration in West Bengal’s Purulia district.
Purulia’s name once resonated with a dark tale of illicit arms drops and clandestine activities. Yet, amidst the shadows of its past, a new narrative of regeneration is emerging in this West Bengal district, which lies about 250km northwest of Kolkata — a story of hope embodied by Sirjan Farm, spanning 2.6 acres.
Situated on the westernmost fringes of the Rarh Bengal region, this arid expanse of red soil and weathered bedrock, etched by the Chota Nagpur Plateau, was once shrouded in dense forests, inhabited by tribal communities.
Purulia underwent a metamorphosis in the 19th century. The advent of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway heralded the clearing of forests, paving the way for urban settlements and displacing indigenous people. Over the years, the rugged terrain and dry summers pushed the landscape and its people towards an uncertain future.
Amidst this backdrop, a small group of visionaries dared to dream of a different future for Purulia. In the sterile expanses of the Purulia-Bankura border, now known as Ushardihi village, they saw potential where others saw desolation. With nothing but barren land and untiring determination, they embarked on a journey to breathe life back into the soil.
Their vision was to implement indigenous agricultural practices and establish an organic farm, despite having limited resources and facing almost insurmountable challenges. Thus, Sirjan Farm was born and registered in 2017, deriving its name from a Santhali word that means ‘creation’. Collaborating with tribal villagers, employed as share-croppers, they gradually improved the soil quality and began cultivating native varieties of rice, mustard and jowar (sorghum).
The farm predominantly features indigenous tree species such as palash (Butea monosperma), mahua (Madhuca longifolia) and segun (teak) as well as a selection of sal, neem, banyan and peepal scattered across the area. It has fruit trees, including mango, java plum and jackfruit. The farm also engages in fish farming and livestock rearing.
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The venture was founded by Abhijeet Kundu and Debashish Chakraborty, who are now in their late fifties. Kundu was earlier a professor at BIT Ballygunge while Chakraborty worked with the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) . Both of them hail from Kolkata, and have been friends for a long time.
The idea struck them as they realised a pressing need to enable reverse migration from the cities to the villages. They also wanted to work towards replenishing nature and inventing new scientific practices that can accelerate sustainability.
Reminiscing about the early days, marked by hardship, both literal and metaphorical, Kundu said, “We started with a tent. One day, a storm blew it away and we spent the night of thunder and rain under our wooden beds. Next day, the villagers built us a bamboo-and-mud house. We had a roof over our heads,” he recalled.
The nightly storm was the smallest of obstacles in their quest to turn a wasteland into a thriving oasis. Anirban and Anindya, both members of the farm, recounted the Herculean task of breathing life into the parched earth.
“Each day was a battle, as we toiled to revitalise the soil, one shovelful at a time,” Anindya said.
At the heart of Sirjan Farm lies a commitment to regenerative agriculture, a harmonious blend of ancient wisdom and contemporary science. Members do not adhere strictly to the conventional divisions of intellectual and physical labour. Here, a researcher engages in tilling the land just as actively as a farmer contributes to research and development.
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“The soil’s moisture-retention capacity had significantly deteriorated over time, rendering it hard as rock and unfit for cultivation,” explained Anirban.
He and Anindya have dedicated themselves to researching suitable agricultural practices for the area.
“Initially, we had to manually excavate the soil daily and gradually improve its moisture levels,” Anirban said.
Given Purulia’s low water table and limited inland water bodies, coupled with inadequate irrigation infrastructure, a primary endeavour for the community involves excavating land to create rainwater harvesting ponds, he added.
After nearly seven years of dedicated effort, the team made significant strides in improving the agricultural output from the farm and reigniting interest in farming and soil cultivation among the local populace. Previously, discouraged by poor crops and soil fertility, many had abandoned farming for more stable employment opportunities such as construction.
However, with the success of Sirjan Farm’s initiatives, farmers have returned to their land with renewed confidence in their ancestral profession. They now rely on their agricultural incomes, enabling them to sustainably reside in their ancestral village.
Surplus produce is sold at a fixed price at the Organic Haat in Kolkata, organised by the West Bengal government, with the resulting income distributed directly to the farmers.
Furthermore, the farm has diversified its offerings by developing organic products such as soaps, cooking oil, sweet treats, and more using local natural resources. For instance, soaps are crafted from sal leaves, laterite soil, and mahua flowers. Essential oils are extracted from blossoms such as mahua, safflower and sunflower. Turmeric is sun-dried and ground into powder for packaged sale, all without the use of chemicals or preservatives. Scented candles are crafted from beeswax, infused with vegetable colours and essential oils.
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Also, the farm operates a small-scale tourism venture with minimal carbon footprint, prioritising the conservation of natural resources like water and electricity. Prospective guests are expected to adhere to the farm’s organic lifestyle practices.
Central to the farm’s mission was the reforestation of Purulia — a journey of healing and restoration. For them, forestation meant more than just planting trees. It symbolised a return to harmony with nature, inviting birds, insects and life back into the fold.
“We used to sit and wait for birds and squirrels to come and start inhabiting the place,” reminisced Aritra, another member.
Over the years, Sirjan Farm has attracted support and investment from far and wide. Professors, doctors and benefactors have lent their expertise, facilitating access to updated educational and medical services for the village. Daily open-field tuition sessions are conducted to provide additional learning opportunities for community children, supplemented by resources such as telescopes, microscopes, projectors and educational materials provided by various non-profit organisations.
The community itself has rallied behind the cause of transforming the barren land in Purulia into a thriving ecosystem teeming with diverse flora and fauna. An aerial view starkly contrasts the lush vegetation that now blankets the landscape compared to its previous state.
The lead image at the top shows the before (left) and after satellite pictures of the area. (Photo by Mitali Banerjee Joyee)
Mitali Banerjee Joyee is a Village Square Fellow ’23 who loves learning about different cultures through books and art.
