From spices to exotic fruits and vegetables, exploring horticulture can provide farmers with sustainable benefits, as these crops often offer higher profits and long-term yields compared to traditional farming.

We have curated stories that feature five farmers who successfully transitioned to horticulture, showcasing increased income, resilience against climate variability, and the potential for innovative agricultural practices.

1. Kanchan Verma, Madhya Pradesh

Although wheat has traditionally been cultivated by farmers in Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh, Kanchan switched to turmeric farming. This has significantly increased her earnings. “With traditional crops, we earned about Rs 1.5 lakh per acre. In contrast, turmeric has doubled our income to around Rs 3 lakh from an input cost of Rs 50,000,” she explains.

By harvesting 400 quintals of turmeric, she generates an income of Rs 12 lakh. Interestingly, Kanchan packages her turmeric into 1 kg powder packets and sells it directly from her farm. Kanchan believes, “As farmers, it’s important to keep experimenting.”

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