In Jamgahan village of BilaiGhat development block in Chhattisgarh, young farmer Ramesh Premi has become a model of modern, scientific and organic farming. With about five acres of land, he has transformed vegetable cultivation into a profitable, environment friendly enterprise while simultaneously creating steady employment for ten rural women in the village. His story sends a strong message to youth that farming, when combined with knowledge and technology, can be as rewarding as any conventional job.
Minimal chemicals, maximum soil health
Ramesh Premi places organic and natural farming at the core of his practice. He deliberately limits the use of chemical fertilisers and instead prefers natural and bio based inputs, which help maintain soil fertility over the long term. This approach not only improves crop quality but also avoids the risks of chemical residues in food and in the environment. By integrating crop diversity and intercropping, he grows rounded melon, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, tomato and brinjal, while also growing chickpea, onion, ginger and turmeric on the same land in rotation. This diversification enhances land use efficiency and builds multiple income streams without depending on a single crop.
Modern irrigation boosts vegetable output
To further improve yields and conserve water, Ramesh has adopted drip irrigation on his farm. This technology ensures that water and nutrients reach the crops in the right quantity and at the right time, thereby improving both quality and volume of output. The result is a more efficient, climate smart method of vegetable production that is especially suited to smaller landholdings. With the guidance of the Agriculture and Horticulture Department at BilaiGhat, he keeps updating his practices, testing new varieties and integrating market linked farming so that his produce fetches good returns throughout the year.
From pharmacy to farm, from one farmer to a model
Ramesh Premi is a B.Pharma graduate who initially worked in the medical and hospital sector. In 2016 he decided to shift full time to farming, and after the COVID‑19 period he completely left the hospital job to focus on his land. Explaining his decision, he says that he realized agriculture offers far more possibilities, especially when done with education, planning and technology. His gamble has paid off, today he earns a stable income, employs several women, and is looked upon as a role model by neighbouring farmers and youth.
He urges the younger generation to move beyond the mindset that only salaried jobs are respectable. With modern techniques, drip or sprinkler irrigation, scientific input use and organic methods, farming can become a dignified, scalable business. His life in the village shows that a scientific approach to agriculture can create bright futures without the need to migrate to towns and cities.
