The Art of Living and Kotak Mahindra Lead Natural Farming Movement across Anand

📆 03 March 2026

The Art of Living Social Projects, in collaboration with Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited, has launched a Natural Farming Awareness Campaign across 100 villages in Anand district. The objective is to respond to very practical concerns: escalating cultivation costs, declining soil health and growing climatic uncertainty - a step towards Save Farmer & Agriculture in India.

In Anand district, agriculture is not merely an occupation; it is inheritance, memory, and survival. Farming here is largely passed down through generations—land transferred within families, seasons remembered instinctively, and soil understood by touch. Farmers can sense when the earth begins to lose vitality. They recognise subtle shifts in rainfall patterns and feel the strain when fertiliser bills rise faster than crop returns.

The Anand initiative was designed to address these realities from the ground up.

From Conversations to Change

The programme began quietly with door-to-door engagement. Trained Local Resource Persons (LRPs), supported by The Art of Living Social Projects trainers, visited villages and spoke directly with farmers. They discussed cropping patterns, input expenditure, pest pressures, and debt cycles while assessing how many farmers were already experimenting with natural methods and how many were open to making the transition.

Villages were systematically covered through surveys and awareness sessions. Training combined conceptual understanding with practical application.

Farmers were introduced to:

• Indigenous seed preservation
• Cow-based formulations using desi breeds
• Preparation of Beejamrut, Jeevamrut, and Ghanjeevamrut
• Natural pest management techniques
• Soil regeneration methods
• Post-harvest handling and improved market linkages

Economic viability remained central to the programme. By preparing biological inputs from locally available resources, farmers reduced dependency on purchased chemicals. Lower input costs meant reduced financial risk and greater stability. Intercropping and crop diversification were promoted as practical strategies to strengthen soil ecology and stabilise farm income.

Restoring Scientific Confidence

One of the programme's most practical interventions was the distribution of five portable soil-testing devices to two Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).

Previously, soil samples had to be sent to distant laboratories, with results taking several days. Farmers can now receive detailed soil reports within 30 minutes, enabling them to identify nutrient deficiencies and imbalances immediately.

This shift is significant. When farming decisions are guided by real-time soil data, natural farming becomes evidence-based rather than perception-driven. Farmers are able to calibrate inputs more accurately and manage their land scientifically.

Collaboration with Anand Agriculture University further strengthened this approach. Technical sessions on nematode management using natural formulations such as Neemastra and Agniastra demonstrated how traditional agricultural knowledge can effectively complement modern scientific validation.

Building District-Level Momentum

Awareness efforts extended beyond formal training programmes. Village meetings were complemented by street theatre (Nukkad Nataks), educational film screenings, and the distribution of structured Gujarati-language manuals.

At a major district-level Natural Farming Conference held at the Art of Living Ashram in Vasad, 700 farmers participated in in-depth discussions, while more than 500 manuals were distributed to support practical implementation at the field level.

Youth engagement added another important dimension. Members of the Youth Leadership Training Programme (YLTP) supported community mobilisation, while school initiatives such as "Chote Kisan – Nurturing Nature" introduced environmental responsibility through plantation drives and seed-ball preparation.

Institutional Alignment

The project team met the Honourable Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, at Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar. He expressed strong support for the initiative and highlighted the importance of reducing chemical dependency in agriculture.

Subsequent review meetings under his leadership have strengthened alignment with state-level priorities and reinforced institutional support for the campaign.

Such backing has enhanced both the credibility and long-term continuity of the initiative.

Evidence of Impact

The programme has already delivered measurable outcomes:

• More than 1,500 farmers trained
• Over 70% actively practising natural farming methods
• 45+ farmers recognised with the Krushi Ratna Award
• Model farms established across the district
• Value-addition equipment provided to Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)

Farmers have reported reduced cultivation costs, improved soil fertility, enhanced soil moisture retention, and greater resilience to changing climatic conditions.

During the excessive rainfall experienced across Gujarat in 2024, farmers practising natural farming were better able to protect and salvage crops than neighbouring conventional farms. Although no agricultural system is completely immune to extreme weather, healthier soil biology and diversified cropping systems provided measurable advantages.

Perhaps the most significant outcome has been the change in perception. Natural farming is increasingly being evaluated on its performance, cost-efficiency, and impact on soil health rather than being dismissed as experimental. Discussions around chemical-free food production are becoming common in households and village gatherings, reflecting a broader cultural shift.

A Structural Transition

"Agriculture is the backbone of human existence. For any civilisation to prosper, agriculture has to be healthy and sustainable. We need to get our focus back on agriculture which is the primary industry," says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

In Anand, this vision is steadily becoming a practical reality.

The Natural Farming Awareness Campaign is not positioned as a short-term programme or merely a replacement for chemical fertilisers. Instead, it addresses three interconnected challenges:

• Ecological degradation
• Rising cultivation costs
• Declining farmer confidence

By combining grassroots engagement, scientific tools, institutional collaboration, and youth participation, the initiative offers a structured model for agricultural transition rooted in local realities.

For Anand district, the journey continues, but the direction is clear. When farmers regain control over their inputs, understand their soil scientifically, and work collectively, agriculture moves beyond survival.

It becomes economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and resilient by design.

About The Art of Living Social Projects

The Art of Living Social Projects, inspired by the vision of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to nurturing peace, well-being, and humanitarian service.

By advancing sustainable practices, fostering conservation efforts, and nurturing a deeper connection with nature, The Art of Living Social Projects works towards a healthier planet and a sustainable future for generations to come.