“What if the secret to overcoming climate change was hidden in a small farm in Madhya Pradesh? Meet Veer Singh Patel, a farmer who turned adversity into opportunity, increasing his crop yield by 15% and becoming a mentor for others. His journey to climate-smart farming is not just a personal success, it’s a roadmap for sustainable agriculture in India.”

For years, farmers like Veer Singh Patel struggled against unpredictable weather, soil degradation, and financial instability. Farming had become a constant battle, with erratic rainfall and declining land fertility threatening their survival. Owning just three acres of land in Mothi village, Sagar District, Veer Singh relied on cultivating wheat and soybeans to sustain his family. But repeated crop failures left him in debt, making it difficult to cover household expenses and his children’s education. The challenges of climate change felt insurmountable—until he discovered a new way forward.

In April 2024, Veer Singh became an active member of the Smallholder Farmers’ Collective (SHFC) under the SAFBIN project of Caritas India. He attended training sessions introducing him to climate-smart agriculture, an approach designed to make farming more resilient while improving productivity. Through vulnerability assessments conducted before each cropping season, he gained insights into how changing weather patterns affected his fields and learned techniques to counteract these threats. His curiosity and willingness to embrace innovation caught the attention of project mentors, and he was soon selected as the lead farmer for his village, tasked with sharing his newfound knowledge with others.

Determined to transform his farm, Veer Singh applied climate-resilient techniques to one acre of his land. He abandoned chemical fertilizers and enriched the soil with organic treatments like field yard manure, Jeevamrit, Neem Astra, Dashparni, and Tej Lal. Shifting from monocropping to multi-cropping and intercropping, he diversified his fields with various crops, including soybean, black gram, green gram, pigeon pea, vegetables, sorghum, and pearl millet. These changes reduced his dependence on external inputs and improved soil health, making his farm more resistant to extreme weather conditions.

The impact was immediate and profound. By the end of the 2024 Kharif season, Veer Singh recorded a 15% increase in crop yield compared to conventional farming methods. The additional profit of ₹20,000 provided much-needed relief for his family, proving that sustainable agriculture could be both environmentally sound and economically viable. Encouraged by his success, he took his commitment further by establishing a Farmer Field School on his land. Forty farmers from nearby villages gather at his farm every Friday to receive hands-on training in climate-smart practices. What started as an individual effort had now evolved into a movement, inspiring others to embrace sustainability and self-reliance.

Under the continued mentorship of the SAFBIN project, Veer Singh expanded his efforts further. He introduced vermicomposting and Azolla cultivation on his farm, ensuring a steady supply of organic manure that enhanced soil fertility without relying on synthetic fertilizers. He also initiated a Rabi crop trial on half an acre and ventured into vegetable farming on twenty decimals of land, further diversifying his income sources. Through his journey, he secured a stable livelihood for himself. He became a guiding force for his fellow farmers, proving that climate-resilient agriculture was not just a survival strategy but a pathway to prosperity.

Today, Veer Singh Patel is more than just a farmer; he is a community leader, a mentor, and a champion of sustainable agriculture. His transformation from a struggling cultivator to an agent of change is a testament to the power of knowledge, innovation, and perseverance. His success story reflects Caritas India’s commitment to empowering marginalized farmers, equipping them with the skills and resources to thrive in an unpredictable climate. Through initiatives like SAFBIN, Caritas India continues to build resilient farming communities that are self-sufficient and capable of leading the way for others.

Veer Singh’s journey is a guiding light for thousands of smallholder farmers facing the uncertainties of climate change. His story proves that with the right knowledge and support, farmers can break free from the cycle of loss and dependency and cultivate a future rooted in sustainability and resilience. As more farmers join this movement, the dream of a thriving, climate-smart agricultural landscape in India is becoming a reality, one farm at a time.