Farmer: Rambhau Damaji Mohdure
Village: Nandora
District: Wardha, Maharashtra
For over 25 years, Rambhau Mohdure, a dedicated farmer from Nandora village, has cultivated crops such as cotton, soybean, wheat, and Bengal gram on his 3.5-acre land. Like many smallholders in his region, Rambhau relied heavily on chemical fertilizers and conventional practices that, over time, depleted soil health and reduced yields. Wheat production in particular suffered from pest attacks, poor-quality seeds, and high input costs, creating mounting challenges for sustainability and profitability.
In 2023, Rambhau joined the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Village Program, jointly implemented by the Syngenta Foundation India (SFI) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The training sessions under the program helped him understand the effects of climate change on agriculture and introduced him to techniques that promote soil health, resource efficiency, and resilience.
Applying these learnings, he implemented multiple CSA interventions in his wheat field:
- Seed Replacement: Adopted Sardar—a high-yield, disease-resistant wheat variety.
- Soil Testing & INM: Used scientific fertilizer recommendations to balance nutrients.
- Seed Treatment: Applied Trichoderma and Rhizobium for better germination and disease resistance.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Used sticky traps and eco-friendly pest control measures.
- Sprinkler Irrigation: Improved water use efficiency at key crop stages.
Impact
To evaluate the outcome, Rambhau compared a demo plot under CSA practices with a conventional plot. The difference was remarkable:
- CSA plot yield: 12 quintals/acre
- Conventional plot yield: 9.5 quintals/acre
28% higher productivity under CSA methods
His overall cost of cultivation dropped by 6%, while soil health and crop resilience improved significantly. The success encouraged him to retain 120 kg of seeds for reuse and distribute 280 kg of quality seed to neighboring farmers—supporting sustainable seed multiplication across 7–8 acres in his community.
Rambhau’s success has inspired many farmers in his village to explore climate-smart agriculture. His example demonstrates that adopting modern practices not only improves productivity but also promotes environmental stewardship. Today, he stands as a role model for smallholders in Wardha proving that sustainable farming and profitability can go hand in hand.
Earlier, I thought using more fertilizer meant higher yield. After joining the CSA program, I realized the right balance and timing matter most. Today, my soil is healthier, my costs are lower, and my harvest is better.
