{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "How dying bees pushed a Ballia farmer toward organic farming and a Rs 11 lakh ghee business honoured by the governor",
  "summary": "Ballia farmer Jai Prakash Pandey switched to organic farming after chemical sprays killed his bees, and today his cattle, lemon orchard and homemade ghee earn him roughly Rs 10 to 11 lakh a year, an achievement the state governor personally honoured.",
  "content": "A farmer in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district has built an income model that ties together lemon orchards, beekeeping and cattle rearing, and it now brings him lakhs of rupees in annual earnings. Jai Prakash Pandey, who lives in Mirigiri village under Bansdih tehsil, started out simply growing lemons and keeping bees, but one discovery changed the direction of his entire farm.\n\nA bee die-off that changed everything\nWhen Jai Prakash Pandey first took up beekeeping, he noticed that the chemical pesticides being sprayed on his fields were killing his bees. The realisation shook him, and he decided to give up chemical farming altogether in favour of fully organic methods. That single decision would go on to become the biggest source of his income.\n\nA cow named Laxmi kicks off the dairy business\nOrganic farming meant Jai Prakash needed a steady supply of cow dung and cow urine, since he refuses to use any market bought fertiliser. His household also needed 7 to 8 kilograms of milk every day. On his son's advice, he bought his first cow and named her Laxmi out of affection. That is where his real earnings began. His herd grew steadily over time, and he was even given 2 cows of the Gir breed from the Raj Bhavan. Today his cattle shed houses about 14 cows of the Gir and Sahiwal breeds. He has also bred his own calves so that he does not have to depend on artificial insemination in the future.\n\nA custom trough for 20 cows and mosquito nets for protection\nJai Prakash's cattle shed is a showcase of modern technique. A special trough has been built so that 20 cows can feed together at the same time. Cow mats have been laid on the floor, which keep the animals comfortable and also help collect the cow urine in one place. The entire shed has been covered with mosquito netting to keep the animals from falling sick. Even the water used to bathe the cows is not wasted, it flows straight into the lemon orchard and irrigates the plants, improving their growth. Better pollination by the bees has also doubled the yield of the lemon orchard.\n\nHoney, ghee, buttermilk and manure, each reinforcing the other\nIn effect, a single piece of land is now producing honey, ghee, buttermilk, organic manure, cow urine and lemons, with each part of the operation strengthening the others. Jai Prakash Pandey has made excellent use of his land. The state governor personally honoured him, and the same governor also inaugurated his cattle shed. The enterprise has created employment for 6 people.\n\nWhy he stopped selling milk and started making ghee instead\nProducing one litre of milk costs around Rs 72 to 73, while milk sells in the open market for just Rs 40 to 50 a litre, a clear loss. Recognising this, Jai Prakash chose value addition over selling raw milk. He began churning butter from milk and curd using the traditional bilauna method, and then turned that butter into pure desi ghee. His ghee now sells for about Rs 3,000 per kilogram.\n\nAn annual turnover of 10 to 11 lakh rupees, and more\nAround 30 kilograms of ghee are sold every month, which works out to a monthly turnover of roughly Rs 90,000 from ghee alone. Over a full year, that adds up to a turnover of about Rs 10 to 11 lakh. He also sells buttermilk at Rs 25 per kilogram, which brings in separate profit, while the earnings from his lemon orchard and beekeeping are counted apart from all of this. A single farm has given Jai Prakash Pandey several independent streams of income.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• Across India: The model shows how small farmers can turn a loss making dairy business into profit by making value added products like ghee instead of selling raw milk.\n• In Ballia: The Mirigiri village cattle shed can serve as an example for local farmers, encouraging more organic farming and local employment in the area.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Where does Jai Prakash Pandey live?\nHe lives in Mirigiri village under Bansdih tehsil in Ballia district.\n\n2. Why did he decide to switch to organic farming?\nBecause chemical pesticide sprays were killing his bees, after which he gave up chemical farming completely.\n\n3. How many cows does his cattle shed have and of which breeds?\nHis cattle shed has about 14 cows of the Gir and Sahiwal breeds.\n\n4. Where did he get his Gir breed cows from?\nHe received 2 cows of the Gir breed from the Raj Bhavan.\n\n5. At what price does his desi ghee sell, and how much is sold each month?\nHis ghee sells for about Rs 3,000 per kilogram, and around 30 kilograms are sold every month.\n\n6. How much does he earn annually from ghee?\nHis annual turnover from ghee alone comes to around Rs 10 to 11 lakh.\n\n7. How many people has he employed?\nHis enterprise has created employment for 6 people.\n\n8. How was he honoured by the governor?\nThe state governor personally honoured him and also inaugurated his cattle shed.\n\nInspiration & Lessons\n• A setback like the death of his bees pushed Jai Prakash Pandey to immediately give up chemical farming and switch to organic methods.\n• Once he understood the loss in selling raw milk, he changed course and focused on value added products like ghee instead.\n• He made sure none of his resources went to waste, reusing bathing water for irrigation and cow urine for farming.\n• Thinking ahead, he bred his own calves so his farm would not have to depend on artificial insemination in the future.\n• He connected honey, ghee, buttermilk and horticulture into one system, turning a single farm into multiple income streams.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/marati-madhumakkhiyon-ne-badali-kismata-ballia-ke-kisana-ki-gaushala-se-ghi-bechakara-hara-sala-11-lakha-ki-kamai-mila-rajyapala-k-7540",
  "category": "Success Stories",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-14",
  "tags": [
    "organic farming",
    "cattle rearing",
    "beekeeping",
    "Ballia farmer",
    "desi ghee",
    "Gir cow breed",
    "lemon farming",
    "successful farmer"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}