Divya Devi Verma, a progressive woman farmer from the Malhar municipal council area in Bilaspur district, has brought immense pride and recognition to the entire state of Chhattisgarh through her relentless hard work and dedication to organic farming. By successfully reducing her dependence on chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides while embracing entirely natural farming methods, Divya Devi was honored at the national level by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on the occasion of National Women Farmers Day. The prestigious ceremony took place at the Dr. BR Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi during a national conference themed 'Nari Shakti se Krishi Samridhi'. Notably, she was selected as the sole woman farmer representative from the entirety of Chhattisgarh for this esteemed recognition, marking a proud moment for the region.
Successful Implementation of Organic Practices
Divya Devi Verma practices complete organic farming for paddy and various other crops on her land. Instead of relying on commercial chemical inputs, she independently prepares waste decomposers, jivamrit, vermicompost, and diverse concoctions for organic pest control right on her farm. She takes an active, hands-on role in every stage of agricultural production, ranging from preparing nursery plants to cutting, budding, and grafting. Her husband, Jadunandan Prasad Verma, extends his support and guidance in farming activities but proudly attributes all the hard work and success to his wife. Divya firmly believes that by adopting organic alternatives to chemical farming, farmers can not only rejuvenate soil health but also provide healthy, chemical-free food to consumers. Her remarkable achievement has emerged as an inspiring example of self-reliance and women's empowerment for rural women everywhere.
Bringing National Recognition to Chhattisgarh in Delhi
Residing in Malhar town of Bilaspur district, Divya Devi Verma is associated with the DJ Verma Organic Agriculture Farm. She was felicitated for her outstanding work in the field of organic farming at a special event organized to mark National Women Farmers Day. During the national conference held in New Delhi, she was presented with a memento, a certificate of appreciation, and a traditional shawl. This significant milestone has generated a wave of immense joy and celebration across Malhar, Bilaspur district, and the entire state of Chhattisgarh.
Preparing Organic Fertilizers Using Local Resources
In a conversation, Divya Devi Verma shared that she practices cultivation entirely through organic methods on her farmland. A variety of crops, including paddy, are grown on her farm. To support this, she utilizes natural organic inputs such as waste decomposers, jivamrit, vermicompost, and trichoderma. To keep her crops healthy and effectively manage pests, she also prepares organic concoctions including dasaparni ark. Her continuous endeavor is to minimize external chemical reliance and maximize the utilization of natural resources readily available on the farm.
Managing Everything from Planting to Grafting
Jadunandan Prasad Verma explained that while he provides assistance and guidance to his wife in agricultural chores, the credit for the immense physical effort and dedication behind the farm belongs entirely to Divya Devi. She independently performs critical tasks such as raising saplings, planting, spraying, cutting, budding, and grafting. Multiple new plants are successfully propagated from a single mother plant and utilized in cultivation. According to him, Divya remains actively involved in every single phase of farming, consistently driving organic agriculture forward through innovative experiments.
Practicing Mulching Instead of Burning Crop Residue
Jadunandan Prasad Verma noted that instead of burning the leftover paddy straw in the fields after harvesting, they gather it and spread it evenly across the soil. This agricultural practice is known as straw mulching or soil covering. It greatly helps in retaining vital soil moisture and significantly improving overall soil health. This method successfully prevents the severe environmental pollution and soil degradation caused by burning crop residue. Divya Devi actively inspires other women and local farmers to refrain from burning farm waste and instead utilize it productively within their fields.
Emphasizing the Cultivation of Rare Crops
Alongside traditional farming, experiments involving the production of unique plants and rare crops are actively being conducted at the DJ Verma Organic Agriculture Farm. According to available information, efforts have also been made to cultivate exotic varieties such as Miyazaki mangoes and Hariman-99 apples using entirely organic methods. Her proactive initiative to self-propagate plants and utilize locally available resources is a vital step toward building a more self-reliant agricultural ecosystem.
Divya Devi's Message: Abandon Chemicals, Adopt Organic Farming
Following her national honor, Divya Devi Verma has urged fellow woman farmers to embrace organic farming. She stated that farmers can gradually reduce their reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, improving agricultural practices through natural resources. Organic farming plays a crucial role in maintaining soil quality, safeguarding the environment, and supplying superior food products to the public. Her core message is that women can step forward in the agricultural sector, achieve self-reliance, and earn national recognition through their own hard work.
