Organic herbal farming is a lucrative and eco-friendly way of growing herbs that have medicinal and culinary value. It involves cultivating herbs without using chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or genetically modified seeds. Organic herbal farming can help farmers increase their income, improve their health, and conserve the environment.
One such farmer who has successfully adopted organic herbal farming is Rakesh Chowdhary, a 40-year-old from Rajpura village in Nagaur district of Rajasthan. He is the founder of Vinayak Herbal, a company that deals with organic cultivation and marketing of over-the-counter (OTC) products made from herbs.
The journey from traditional to medicinal farming
Rakesh Chowdhary comes from a family of farmers who have been practicing traditional farming for generations. He inherited 50 acres of land from his father and started growing wheat, mustard, and cumin. However, he soon realized that conventional farming was not profitable enough to sustain his family.
He says, "I was barely able to cover the cost of production. The input costs were high and the output prices were low. I also faced problems like crop failure, pest attacks, water scarcity, and soil degradation. I was looking for an alternative that could give me better returns and also benefit the environment."
He came across an article about organic herbal farming and decided to give it a try. He says, "I was fascinated by the idea of growing herbs that have medicinal properties and can be used for various purposes. I thought it would be a good way to diversify my income and also contribute to the health and wellness of people."
He started with planting aloevera, ashwagandha, tulsi, and neem on five acres of his land. He says, "I faced a lot of resistance from my friends and relatives who mocked me for leaving traditional farming and taking up something new and risky. They said I was wasting my time and money on something that would not work."
However, Rakesh did not give up. He learned everything he could about organic herbal farming from books, magazines, websites, and experts. He says, "I followed the principles of organic farming such as crop rotation, intercropping, mulching, composting, vermicomposting, biofertilizers, biopesticides, etc. I also used drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting to save water."
The success story of Vinayak Herbal
Rakesh's hard work paid off when he started getting good results from his herbal farm. He says, "I was amazed by the growth and quality of the herbs. They were healthy, aromatic, and rich in nutrients. I also noticed that the soil quality improved and the biodiversity increased."
He started selling his herbs to local markets and ayurvedic companies. He says, "I was getting a good price for my herbs as they were organic and in high demand. I was earning more than double what I used to earn from traditional farming."
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He decided to scale up his business and founded Vinayak Herbal in 2017. He says, "I wanted to create a brand that would provide quality organic herbal products to consumers at affordable prices. I also wanted to help other farmers who were facing similar problems as me."
He expanded his farm to 200 acres and started growing more than 50 varieties of herbs such as brahmi, shatavari, giloy, mulethi, safed musli, etc. He also set up a processing unit where he makes OTC products such as juices, powders, capsules, oils, creams, etc.
He says, "I have a team of experts who help me with research and development, quality control, packaging, marketing, etc. We follow all the standards and certifications required for organic herbal products. We also ensure that our products are tested for safety and efficacy before they reach the customers."
Today, Vinayak Herbal has farms in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Gujarat, engaging over 50,000 farmers to do organic medicinal farming¹⁴⁵. The company has a turnover of over Rs 10 crore annually¹⁴⁵ and sells its products through online platforms, retail outlets, and distributors across India.
The vision for the future
Rakesh Chowdhary is not only a successful entrepreneur but also an inspiration to young people who want to work in the field of organic herbal farming. He says, "I want to spread awareness about the benefits of organic herbal farming and encourage more farmers to adopt it. I also want to create a network of organic herbal farmers who can share their knowledge and experiences with each other."
Some of the benefits of organic herbal farming are:
- It is a sustainable farming system that does not harm the soil. It can check soil degradation, soil acidification, soil infertility, and 'chemicalisation' of soil.
- It enhances soil fertility and biological diversity. It improves the soil structure, water retention, nutrient cycling, and microbial activity. It also attracts beneficial insects, birds, and animals that help in pollination and pest control.
- It reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified seeds. It saves money and reduces health risks for farmers and consumers. It also prevents environmental pollution and protects natural resources.
- It produces nutritious and safe food for human consumption. It preserves the natural flavor, aroma, and color of the herbs. It also increases the content of antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and essential oils in the herbs.
- It creates employment opportunities and income generation for rural communities. It empowers small and marginal farmers who can grow a variety of herbs on their land. It also creates value-added products that have a high demand in the market.
The challenges and opportunities ahead
Rakesh Chowdhary admits that organic herbal farming is not without its challenges. He says, "It requires patience, dedication, innovation, and constant learning. It also faces problems like lack of awareness, lack of support, lack of infrastructure, lack of certification, lack of marketing, etc."
However, he is optimistic about the future of organic herbal farming in India. He says, "There is a huge potential for organic herbal farming in India as we have a rich diversity of herbs and a long tradition of using them for various purposes. There is also a growing demand for organic herbal products both in India and abroad as people are becoming more health-conscious and environment-conscious."
He believes that organic herbal farming can be a game-changer for India's agriculture sector. He says, "Organic herbal farming can transform the lives of millions of farmers who are struggling with conventional farming. It can also contribute to the nation's health, economy, ecology, and culture."
He concludes by saying, "Organic herbal farming is not just a business for me. It is a passion and a mission. I want to make a positive difference in the world through organic herbal farming."
Rakesh Chowdhary is not only a successful entrepreneur but also an inspiration to young people who want to work in the field of organic herbal farming.
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