Techie Who Turned Farmer, Cultivates Hope Through Organic Innovation, Earns More than 1 Lac

In the world of agriculture, where crop failures and low yields often create a huge threat to farmers, individuals like Mavuram Mallikarjun Reddy emerge as the silver lining. Hailing from Pedda Kurumapally village in Telangana's Karimnagar district, Mallikarjun stands as a symbol of hope for organic farming.

He achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the sole recipient of the Jagjivan Ram Abhinav Kisan Puruskar from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in his state. His award recognized his exceptional efforts in cultivating diverse crops through organic farming practices. Later he returned to his experimental ground that had witnessed the transformation. His wife also applauds his decision to leave his software job and return to village life.

Mallikarjun's journey into agriculture began in 2014 when he made a life-altering decision to leave his job in the software industry, where he worked as a computer science graduate at SemanticSpace Technologies in Hyderabad.

This decision was not impulsive but rooted in a growing awareness of the health hazards posed by harmful chemicals in food and milk, as frequently discussed by doctors during hospital visits with relatives and friends. Alarmed by the extent of environmental pollution and its impact on human health, Mallikarjun resolved to make a change.

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Mallikarjun embarked on a unique farming journey when he transformed his father's 12-acre land into a semi-organic farm focused initially on paddy cultivation. Experimenting with different approaches, he introduced drip irrigation for paddy and explored hybrid red gram farming. He later adopted the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methodology to enhance rice yields.

Mallikarjun also closely followed developments at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University in Rajendranagar, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad. His dedication earned him the title of the university's best farmer.

While regular farming would require an investment of ₹50,000 for producing 60 quintals of paddy, Mallikarjun manages to achieve the same output with just ₹25,000 in investment, generating a gross revenue of ₹1,13,000. This impressive cost-efficiency played a significant role in earning him the ICAR award.

He has been recognized for his efforts in integrated farming, rainwater harvesting through farm ponds, and promoting awareness among fellow farmers about the hazards of pesticide misuse and stubble burning. To address stubble management issues, he employs waste decomposer, a bio-decomposer technique developed through 11 years of research by the agricultural university.

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He has also introduced a unique element to his farming sector, 600 fish inhabit an open well within his fields. Mallikarjun's dedication is evident as he logs approximately 26,000 steps each day while managing his farm.

In addition, he has also established an organic shop in KPHB colony, where he sells produce sourced from a collective of farmers in his village. He emphasizes the importance of organic farming in sustaining the environment and believes that small-scale farmers must start with manageable steps to secure their livelihoods and contribute to sustainable agriculture.

His story symbolizes the potential for individuals to make a significant impact on the agricultural landscape through innovation, dedication, and a deep sense of responsibility toward the environment and society.

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