Punjab : Ludhiana farmer earns profit from organic wheat and promotes chemical-free agriculture.
At 70, Sucha Singh Pabla has turned to organic farming in Punjab after leaving his corporate job in Abu Dhabi. Cultivating organic wheat on 27 of his 32 acres, he earned ₹7 lakh this year. Despite lower yields, higher market prices and low input costs make his venture profitable. Pabla also promotes eco-friendly methods and mentors new organic farmers.
Ludhiana: Once a purchase manager in Abu Dhabi, 70-year-old Sucha Singh Pabla has traded corporate life for crop rows — and is now reaping rich rewards from organic farming in rural Punjab.Farming on 32 acres in Sherpur Bet, Machhiwara, Pabla cultivated organic wheat on 27 acres this year, harvesting nearly 200 quintals and earning about ₹7 lakh — a 50% profit margin over input costs, he told The Times of India. What sets his approach apart is not just the yield, but the principle. “We don’t use any chemical sprays. The wheat is toxin-free,” he said. “It’s healthier, and it doesn’t damage the land or people’s health.”Selling his wheat at ₹3,500 per quintal — significantly above the standard rate of ₹2,425 — he attracted buyers from across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana. Although organic yields are lower — 14-15 quintals an acre compared with the 20-22 for conventional farming — the price premium and low input costs, thanks to on-site vermicompost and natural methods, make it profitable.Pabla employs manual labour for harvesting and threshing, creating seasonal employment for 50 workers.
He also grows organic vegetables after the wheat season and cultivates organic paddy on a separate 4-acre plot under high-tension lines. Importantly, he avoids stubble burning. “We incorporate crop residue back into the soil. It prevents pollution and maintains soil health by preserving microbes,” he said.Pabla started organic farming in 2015, after returning from a 20-year stint in Abu Dhabi. In 2000, he bought land in Sherpur Bet, and later travelled to Israel for training in polyhouse farming, greenhouses, and vermicompost techniques. Now splitting time between Chandigarh and his farm, he’s also become a mentor to aspiring organic farmers. “If anyone wants to learn, I’m ready to help. Punjab Agro Industries Corporation is also there for support,” he said.
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Source : The Times Of India
