Organic / Progressive Farmer

Preparing soil, sowing, irrigation, weeding and pest control without synthetic chemicals; making compost and bio-inputs; keeping farm records; harvesting, packing, selling directly or to traders; sometimes adding processing like pickles, flour or jaggery.

A day in the work
The day often starts early with a walk through the fields to check soil moisture, crop health and pests. Mornings usually go to weeding, irrigation, or making compost and natural inputs. Afternoons may be for harvesting, packing, or talking with buyers and local shops. Evenings are for records: what went in, what came out, and what it cost.

1. Class 8–10Learn the basics of soil, water, plants and insects. Help with a home garden or the family farm, and keep simple notes on what you see.
2. Class 11–12Take Biology, or Agriculture if your board offers it. Learn how compost, bio-inputs and crop rotation work. Keep a field diary, because farm records matter later for certification.
3. After Class 12 · optionalA BSc in Agriculture from a state agriculture university gives a full course in crops, soil and farm business. Admission to many such colleges is through an entrance test. (reported — check with the official body)
4. Any timeTake a short course at your district Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) or an agriculture university on organic inputs, composting or natural farming. Courses are usually short, practical and run on a farm. Check the fee before you join. (reported — check with the official body)
5. Years 1–3 on landUse your own or leased land. Under the government's cluster scheme (PKVY), you cannot apply alone. You join a group of about 50 farmers with about 50 acres, go through a three-year conversion with yearly peer checks, and then get PGS-India organic status. After that, sell directly, process or brand your produce. (reported — check with the official body)

• Own landlearn through KVK or university short courses, then farm your family's land.
• Leased landrent land from a local owner and start on a small plot, keeping clear accounts with the owner.
• Cluster routejoin a government-backed organic cluster (PKVY) through your state agriculture department.

Fees from: KVK Ranchi training page (course listing) · VIT Vellore BSc (Hons.) Agriculture 2026-27 admissions fee structure · Teerthanker Mahaveer University BSc (Hons.) Agriculture fees and scholarships · Desh Bhagat University DBEST-AGRISET BSc Agriculture entrance exam 2026 · Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University BSc Agriculture fee structure 2026 (reference only). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

Income from organic farming swings with the season, the crop, market prices and how much you sell directly, so early years are often slower while the soil and certification settle.

• Class 7–9Start a compost pit or a kitchen-waste bin at home. Each week, note what goes in and how it looks after a month.
• Class 10–12Look up your district Krishi Vigyan Kendra and read its list of sessions. Go to one day session with a parent, and ask what organic inputs they teach.Open link ↗
• College or afterAttend an organic-farming or bio-input session at a state agriculture university or KVK, and check the fee before you go.Open link ↗

• Organic is a certified process, not just a way of farming. Land that has had chemical inputs usually needs a three-year conversion before its produce can be sold as organic under PKVY.
• Under PKVY, individual farmers do not apply alone. They join a cluster or Local Group, and the state agriculture department is the first point of contact.
• Scheme money and rules change from year to year, and sources differ on per-hectare amounts. Check your state agriculture department before you plan.