Story of Usharani From Guntur
Konda Usharani of Nukki village in Guntur had to drop out of school after the tenth grade due to her family’s financial circumstances. She, like most girls in her village, was married at the young age of 17.
Like most Indian girls, she was living a normal life, but fate was not in her favor. Her husband died in an accident. Usharani was suddenly saddled with the family’s financial responsibility for her home and kids.
During her early years, she started working as a housekeeper during the day and a watchwoman at night. But the pay she was getting was not enough for her family’s survival.
With a lot more weight on her shoulders for her age, she dared to start farming on her family’s one-acre village property. In 2013, she began growing turmeric on her property.
Because most farmers in India use pesticides, Usharani also began using pesticides to get a profitable yield on the small plot of land she had. But she gradually realised how harmful these chemicals were to human health and her land.
Started Practicing Nature’s Agriculture
Due to her regular exposure to chemical substances, she started facing many health issues. In 2016, she took a few organic farming classes and then began Nature’s agriculture on rented land.
She was hesitant to use it on her entire property because she wasn’t sure if organic farming would be profitable, but thanks to Subhash Palekar, a government agricultural officer who was supervising Usharani on the use of organic farming and Nature’s Agriculture that things came out in her favour.
She took her time, but after two successful years of organic farming & nature’s Agriculture, she decided to go all in. She now cultivates paddy on 5 acres of land and turmeric on 1 acre only through organic farming. She has also planted trees of guava along the fence using zero chemicals.
Struggle Story Became Success Story for Usharani
Along with organic farming, she now makes her own pesticides and herbicides, which she also makes available for sale to other farmers through a village shop, in addition to practicing Nature’s Agriculture.
Her fertilizers are primarily composed of animal excrement, neem, cow urine, biocompost, and many other natural items.
Not only does she practice organic farming, but Usharani also helps other farmers understand the benefits of organic farming. Farming expansion is critical for our country, but it must be done organically. Otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous; chemicals will devastate lands and people’s health for the rest of their lives. She understands the need for organic farming and therefore shares her knowledge of organic farming with as many people as possible.
So she decided to impart whatever knowledge she had gained about nature’s agriculture to those who were interested.
So far, she has worked with over 500 farmers in Andhra Pradesh, providing advice about organic farming, selling organic products, and other services regarding Nature’s Agriculture.
Sri Vasavi Durga Organic Products
Usharani established the ‘Sri Vasavi Durga Organic Products website in 2020 with the assistance of 2 students, Kalyani and Nithin Krishna, to sell organic fertilisers, pesticides, seeds and knowledge about organic farming online.
The way Usharani was working on organic farming impressed the students because they were health-conscious. They were well aware of the risks of eating chemically grown crops. Their conscience brought them into her business and eventually assisted her in creating a website for free.
With the help of her website, she now sells her products without any middleman in 16 villages in Guntur and makes enough profit out of it without any split.
Not only her, but her website is also open to all the farmers in her village. This woman in Organic Farming is making nature’s agriculture beneficial and healthy for all around her.
Her goal is to spread nature’s agriculture throughout the country. As a first step toward this goal, she wants to reach out to every corner of her state and share knowledge about the need for organic farming. Usharani believes, “We can only stay healthy if we have healthy soil.”
She believes that financial freedom is essential for all women. Even if someone is uneducated, there are numerous ways to make money, like nature’s agriculture, which was for her.
If you like this story about organic farming, please read the motivation story – Inspiring Story Of Kapil Surana, Founder Of India’s Finest Organic Farm, Surana organic farming Land.
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