The agricultural landscape of India is a tale of stark contrasts. On one hand, large landowners thrive with access to resources and capital; on the other, small and marginal farmers struggle to sustain themselves on fragmented plots of land.

These farmers are caught in a vicious cycle of diminishing landholdings, lack of resources, and predatory moneylenders.

However, a new model of Holistic Collective Farming offers a beacon of hope. This innovative approach aims to pool fragmented landholdings, empower small farmers through collective efforts, and ensure sustainable, profitable farming practices.

In many farming communities, land inheritance traditions have led to a steady reduction in farm sizes over generations. Small plots of land, often less than an acre, are insufficient to sustain a family.

Without access to reliable water sources, quality seeds, or market knowledge, these farmers struggle to make ends meet. Many fall prey to moneylenders who charge exorbitant interest rates, pushing them deeper into debt.

Collective farming

This model seeks to transform the lives of small farmers by addressing their most pressing challenges. The approach involves:

Pooling Land: Farmers retain ownership of their land but agree to pool their plots into a collective unit. This creates larger, contiguous areas for farming, which improves efficiency and scalability.

Collaborating with Social Entrepreneurs: A non-exploitative social entrepreneur provides initial capital, access to water resources, seeds, and marketing channels. They also bring in agricultural experts to train farmers in sustainable practices.

Natural Farming Techniques: Farmers are taught to prepare organic fertilisers using cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, lentil flour, and virgin soil. This cost-effective method enhances soil fertility and reduces dependency on expensive chemical inputs.

Revenue distribution: Farmers receive daily wages for their labour, ensuring financial stability. After the harvest, revenue from the sale of produce is distributed. Operational expenses are deducted, and the remaining profits are shared among farmers based on their land contribution.

Education and the future: To arrest further fragmentation of land, the model encourages farmers to document their children’s names in land records. Earnings from the collective farming initiative can fund their education, enabling them to pursue careers outside agriculture.

The are many benefits of this model. First, the farmers are financial secure earning both wages and profit shares.

Two, the natural farming practices lead to improved soil health and sustainable system.

Collective farming fosters community cooperation, reduces dependence on moneylenders. Joint ownership through a pooled model halts land fragmentation.

Redirecting farm income toward children’s education creates opportunities for upward mobility and diversification of livelihoods.

The holistic collective farming model is not just an economic initiative; it is a vision for social transformation. By integrating traditional knowledge with modern sustainability practices, it offers a way to rejuvenate India’s farming sector. The success of such a model depends on trust-building within communities, transparent governance, and the active involvement of social entrepreneurs and policymakers.

To scale this initiative, government bodies, NGOs, and private stakeholders must come together. Financial incentives, such as subsidies for natural farming inputs or tax benefits for social entrepreneurs, could accelerate adoption.

Simultaneously, robust educational campaigns can highlight the model’s benefits, encouraging more farmers to participate.

The writer is former Director Petroleum, Indian Oil Corporation (IBP Unit), Mumbai