Sustainable Farming – A Case of Abhinav Farmers’ Club

Abstract

The paper explores the potential benefits of moving to organic farming as well as the challenges faced by Indian farmers due to monocropping practices. Public health and the environment are negatively impacted by intensive farming practices that heavily rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides because of population growth, industrialization, and increased food demands. The shift to organic farming is still taking its time due to the high upfront costs, low yields, and lack of consumer awareness, even while the demand for organic products is growing. Indian farmers frequently engage in monocropping, which damages the soil and jeopardizes their financial stability. Many small-scale farmers are in debt because of middlemen's low prices. A lot of farmers have killed themselves because of this financial difficulty.
Low prices provided by middlemen cause debt for many small-scale farmers. Many farmers have committed suicide as a result of this financial hardship. By assisting farmers in switching to organic and varied farming practices, the Abhinav Farmers' Club (AFC), established by Mr Dnyaneshwar Bodke, serves as an example of sustainable farming. AFC prioritizes giving farmers a reliable source of income, direct market access, and training. Even with its achievements, the problem still exists: how to strike a balance between farmers' financial demands and the environmental sustainability needed for long-term agricultural health? The difficulties in overcoming financial obstacles, the lack of consumer demand, and the risks of transitioning to organic farming are all covered in the study.