Regenerative Farming, Resilient Livelihoods

Rakesh, 39, is transforming his three-acre farm in Kallala Maldare village, Karnataka, through the ‘India Coffee Climate Resilient Landscape Programme’. By embracing regenerative agriculture, he has reduced urea use by 66.7%, from three bags to one, while adopting Jeevamrutha, sugarcane press mud and soil-conservation trenches to strengthen farm resilience. Four honeybee boxes now produce approximately 10 kg of honey annually, creating an additional source of farm produce. Coffee yield is expected to increase from 850 to 1,100 kg per acre, while pepper production is projected to rise from 28 to 40 kg across 30 vines. Combined coffee and pepper income is expected to grow from INR 5.60 lakh to INR 6.78 lakh. Rakesh’s journey is a testament to how programmes like this can demonstrate the value of integrating regenerative agricultural practices across crops to improve productivity, diversify income sources and strengthen long-term farm resilience.

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