This simple “honesty box” system revealed a reassuring truth. People value organic food and are willing to pay for it. Locals often overpaid for the produce they took.
Inspired, I traveled across India to learn from regenerative agriculture pioneers. Under the guidance of Dr. G. Nanmalvar, a leader in organic farming in South India, I began helping other farmers adopt sustainable practices.
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In 2004, I joined the Save Soil Movement as a full-time volunteer to expand my learning and join the larger movement. Under Sadhguru’s leadership, I am proud to have played a key role in transitioning 250,000 farmers to tree-based and regenerative agriculture.
These farmers’ net income increased by 300-800% over 7-8 years.
The benefits were clear.
Regenerative agriculture has restored degraded soil and increased biodiversity. It can also encourage diverse cropping and improve farmers’ finances. Save farmers input costs.
Studies have shown improved long-term benefits along with soil health. At one farm, Yield decreased by 29%, but profitability increased by 78%.
With healthier soils, farms can withstand erratic weather patterns, retaining moisture during droughts and absorbing excess water during rainy seasons due to higher organic content. These practices allow soils to capture large amounts of carbon, addressing one of the root causes of climate instability.
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There is no doubt that farmers around the world are suffering. Weather has always been the farmer’s constant friend and most formidable enemy, but it has become much more extreme.
In July of this year (2024), global temperatures reached an unprecedented milestone. 17.16℃it broke historical records for the wrong reasons. Around the world, heat has evaporated soil moisture, leaving vegetation and biodiversity in many regions increasingly vulnerable and under severe stress. The impact on smallholder farmers is a microcosm of this global change.
In addition to this, floods and other adverse weather conditions are occurring more frequently. This autumn, Storm Boris dumped a month’s worth of rain. within just 24 hours.
Floods swept across Europe, affecting countries from Spain and Austria to the Czech Republic and Croatia. Floods can destroy crops, impact the world’s food supply, devastate rural areas and take years to recover.
Farmers’ funds are already tight. Downturns in global markets and rising costs in everything from energy to equipment are straining farmers to the limit. How can we expect them to bear the cost of change?
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The twin crises of climate and soil are undoubtedly exacerbated by intensive agricultural practices normalized and promoted by decades of demand. However, the transition to regenerative agriculture can come with risks.
Although regenerative farming practices can produce the same yields as chemical farming, farmers have their own learning curve to adapt to working without synthetic chemicals after decades of relying on them. This is often accompanied by an initial yield loss.
As pressure mounts, smallholder farmers make up 84 It is a shocking oversight that a percentage of the world’s agricultural population remains ignored in climate discussions.
That’s why Save Soil and 4per1000 have compiled policy recommendations with the support of 60 leading NGOs to ensure farmers’ voices are heard. They need better access to climate finance, more supportive policies for adopting sustainable land management practices, and more investment in soil restoration.
As someone who has experienced this change firsthand, I know it is possible. Farmers are ready to take the lead, but we can’t do it alone.
On this World Soil Day, decision-makers at COP16 can learn a lot from farmers and invest in a future where healthy soils support a healthy planet.
this author
Anand Ethirajal is a former regenerative farmer and current project director for the Save the Soil, Rally for Rivers movement.
