On World Mental Health Day, Mangala Waghmare's story reminds us how closely mental health and farming are linked. Farming in Latur is deeply affected by the unpredictable forces of nature. Some years bring severe droughts, while others see heavy rains, and frequent power shortages only add to the challenges.
Mangala, a marginal farmer from Latur, knows this struggle all too well. A few years ago, overwhelmed by mounting debts and no food to eat, she fell into a deep depression. Despite taking out a loan of Rs. 25,000 and farming on her half-acre plot, her efforts were fruitless. On top of that, her husband’s hospital bills and her children's education created an unbearable burden. At her lowest point, Mangala considered taking her own life.
Mangala’s Journey from Despair to Hope
Her turning point came when Mahadev Gomare, a natural farming expert from The Art of Living, stepped in to help her. Not only did he offer guidance to improve her farming, but he also empowered her spiritually, teaching her practices like Sudarshan Kriya, breathing techniques, and meditation. These tools helped Mangala regain her mental strength and resolve to turn her life around.
Today, Mangala earns a couple of lakh rupees annually. In addition to farming, she rears animals, sells milk, and runs both a beauty parlor and a tailoring shop in her village. Her dedication and hard work even earned her the "Agrowon" Best Farmer award. With just half an acre of land, she has not only supported her son’s B.Tech education but also sustained a family of six.
Mangala’s story is extraordinary, especially in a country where 99 million out of 121 million agricultural holdings belong to small and marginal farmers, who occupy just 44% of the land but make up 87% of the farmer population. The harsh reality is that over 72% of farmers who commit suicide have less than two hectares of land, and most of these tragedies are tied to debt. Mangala managed to break free from this cycle and now serves as an inspiration to other farmers.
Natural Farming: A Sustainable Solution for Marginal Farmers
Unlike those trapped in chemical farming, which leads to debt and poor soil health, Mangala turned to natural farming. This sustainable method relies on home-prepared inputs that cost nothing and taps into the natural intelligence of the soil and seeds. Through training in multi-cropping, agroforestry, and climate-resilient farming, Mangala significantly reduced her input costs while maintaining a healthy yield.
Before adopting natural farming, 75% of Mangala’s earnings went toward inputs, leaving only 25% for her family’s needs, like education and medical expenses. With no savings, she constantly felt pressured to take out more loans. But with natural farming, she now prepares her own seedlings, bio-fertilizers, and pesticides using indigenous cow products and nutrient-rich plants. In just three months, she made a profit of Rs. 60,000 by carefully timing her tomato harvest to meet market demand.
Inspiring a New Generation of Farmers
Mangala's success has rippled through her community. She has trained over a hundred women in natural farming, teaching them the one-acre model she learned from Mahadev Gomare. Beyond farming, she’s also part of efforts to tackle Latur’s water crisis by reviving the Manjara River. More than 10,000 farmers in Latur have benefited from natural farming training, reducing their costs while making their soil more sustainable. This method now allows farmers to grow two crops a year, a once-unimaginable achievement.
Mangala’s commitment to empowering women farmers is equally remarkable. She formed a women’s group where she teaches self-sufficiency through the one-acre natural farming model. Her husband, Maruti Waghmare, proudly notes, “It’s one thing for a farmer with 10 acres to send crops to Bombay. But for a farmer with half an acre in a small village to do the same—that’s an achievement.”
Mangala’s journey from deep despair to success, through natural farming and spiritual growth, offers a beacon of hope for small farmers, showing them a way out of debt and towards a brighter, more sustainable future.
