My name is Mahendra Patil, a farmer from Dhanwad village. My family has been farming for generations, and like my father and grandfather, I too depended on the land for our livelihood. We own five acres, but for years, farming was nothing but a struggle. The biggest problem was water. My well would dry up just a few months after the rains, and with no other water source, I could grow only one crop a year.

Every season felt like a gamble. The soil had become weak from years of using chemical fertilizers, and the cost of farming kept rising. Fertilizers, seeds, and labor—everything was expensive. But no matter how hard I worked, my income never increased. At the end of the year, after all the expenses, I was left with just ₹60,000, barely enough to feed my family and cover household needs. I often wondered how long I could continue like this. Then, the Jalashay Jal Samriddhi project came to our village through NIWAS Organization and Marico. They started working on water conservation, creating watershed structures to hold rainwater instead of letting it run off. At first, I didn’t believe much would change, but soon, I noticed a difference. The water in my well lasted longer. By the next year, it didn’t dry up after the monsoon—it was there even in the summer. For the first time in years, I had enough water to think beyond just one crop. Along with water conservation, the NIWAS team introduced us to new farming methods. They explained how too many chemicals were damaging the soil and how organic farming could help restore its health. They showed us how to make and use vermi-compost, which would reduce costs and improve soil fertility. They even took us to visit other farmers who had already adopted these methods and were earning well. Seeing their success with my own eyes gave me confidence to try something new.

With enough water, I could now grow two crops instead of one. I shifted to crops that required less water but gave better yields. I started using organic methods, and slowly, my soil regained its fertility. My expenses went down because I was no longer spending so much on chemical fertilizers. And the biggest change? My income shot up. Where I once earned only ₹30,000 per acre a year, I now make ₹75,000 per acre annually. That means my total income is now around ₹3,75,000—a tenfold increase! 

Farming, which once felt like a constant struggle, now feels rewarding, I no longer worry about whether I will have enough water for my crops. My land is fertile, my family is secure, and I have a stable source of income. Before, I saw farming as a burden, something I had no choice but to do. But today, I feel proud to be a farmer again. Water changed everything. It gave me back my land, my livelihood, and my hope for the future.