MP Farmer Abandoned Dream of Becoming Doctor to Build Disease-free Nation, Earns ₹40 Lakhs Annually

In an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia, Akash Chourasiya from Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh shared how from being an academically inclined student, he immediately abandoned the dream of becoming a doctor and targeted becoming a farmer who would help people lead a disease-free life.

Journey of a Pre-Med student to becoming a farmer

When Akash cleared the Pre-medical tests, his head was full of dreams of becoming a doctor. Coming from a farming background his family wanted him to pursue an academic career that would fetch him respect and recognition.  

However, a visit to the hospital made him think otherwise.

Seeing the ailing patients at the hospital, young Akash realized the doctors were treating people after they had fallen ill. But what if these people did not fall sick in the first place? He thought the best solution to the growing number of health issues would be to somehow resist that from happening.

Could he stop people from getting diseases?

Akash realized a better way to serve humanity was by providing natural, chemical-free food to every home. He immediately found it was his call to become a farmer and not a doctor.

Initially, his parents were not happy with his decision to leave a bright medical career and toil on farms. However, Akash was determined. He started with tomato farming on just ten decimal farmland he arranged in a rental contract.

Multi-layer farming - New farming technique found by Akash

After visiting cities, and seeing the multi-storeyed buildings, Akash suddenly got the idea of cultivating multiple crops on top of one another. He innovated the Multi-layer Farm Technique to cultivate four or even five crops on one farmland.

With his innovative multi-layer farm technique, Akash started growing crops on multiple layers simultaneously on one farmland. For instance, he started growing ginger (below ground at 2-inch depth and 6-inch width), amaranthus (at 1–2 feet above the surface ), ivy gourd (at 6–6.5 feet above the surface), and papaya (at 9–10 feet above ground). His method reduced the cost and led to higher agricultural output.

This multi-layer farming technique saves around 70-80% of water. Moreover, the leafy vegetables used prevent the growth of weeds. Also, the model structured for this particular technique protects crops from animals and harsh winds. 

Akash told Startup Pedia, “Multi-layer farming saves land. Three-acre produce can be generated in just one acre through this.”

He does not use anything expensive to practice his technique. Using locally available materials like bamboo and wild grass he creates a shade for farming.

Akash’s farm is set up during February and March. Amaranthus harvesting starts within 2-3 weeks and lasts till May-June. While harvesting of scarlet gourd can start in April and last till October-November. In August ginger is ready for the harvest while papaya is harvested in November.

Akash uses only indigenous seeds to avoid buying expensive seeds every year. Moreover, indigenous seeds are climate-resilient and less prone to pest attacks.

This farmer from Madhya Pradesh is currently making hundreds of innovations with the sustainable and holistic development agriculture model of this multi-layer farming technique and earning an annual turnover of forty to forty-five lakhs.

 About 15 farmers work at his three farms in Sagar city of Madhya Pradesh.

The new farming model of Akash has gradually spread to the small towns, giving farmers better yields and a more steady, weekly income. By now, 34-year-old Akash has trained about 1,45,000 farmers and educated around 13 lakh others about his multilayer farming technique.

Healthy eating - healthy living

Determined to make people healthy with his produce, he practices only organic farming. He does not use any chemical products on his land. All the manures and pesticides he uses are prepared using natural products. Akash prepares vermicompost and cow dung to replace fertilizers to avoid insects in the crops.

“Eating healthy organic food is everyone’s right. Producing natural chemical-free crops is not just my aim, it is my principle. More farmers are now following my path and practicing this technique means chemical-free food reaches more plates. When people eat well, naturally they live disease-free long life,” he said.

Now Akash organizes free training for interested farmers at his farm. By now, he has trained thousands of farmers around the country and several of them have their own success stories.

Also read: Meet 60-YO Cancer Survivor Who Empowered 100 Women With Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Coffee Farming (startuppedia.in)

Awards & recognitions 

Akash is a recipient of many awards and accolades. He has over 20 national awards to his name.

Sagar’s well-known farmer has been awarded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has also received several other national-level awards such as:

• Patanjali Krishi Gaurav award

• Jindal Foundation Swayam Sidhdha Award

• Krishithon award

• Mahindra smridhdhi krishi yuva (youth farmer)

• Best Farmer award by Bioved Institute Allahabad

Also read: This Man Left Secure Job in Plastic Company to Become UP’s ‘Lemon Man’ (startuppedia.in)

Akash told Startup Pedia that he believes the main way to serve humanity is by providing them with clean, healthy food which he is currently able to do as a farmer. 

“What you eat will influence your mind and body,” Akash said wisely. “If you want to stay healthy, you don’t need a doctor. Prevent getting any disease in the first place. For that, you have to eat healthy foods. It’s a farmer’s responsibility to provide chemical-free nourishing crops to people.” 

Further, he said today several innovations are happening in the agricultural scene of India. 

“If one innovation is generating income for one farmer, it will surely generate income for the others,” Sagar’s farmer told in the exclusive interview. “If the government can document all successful models, the small-scale farmers will have the confidence to follow a tried-and-tested path and make money.”

Akash insisted the government should look into this and bring all innovations under one scheme to help all small farmers in the country.

Also read: Ex-Commando Builds Sustainable Farm in Rajasthan, Earns ₹25 Lakh/Year (startuppedia.in