Achievements in Sustainable Agriculture: The Thriving Venture of Satish Babu Gadde - How a 52-Acre Model Farm Employing Chemical-Free, Livestock-Driven Methods Generates an Annual Income of Rs. 60 Lakhs
Farming Innovator Satish Babu Gadde Embraces Regenerative Cattle-Based Agriculture
Satish Babu Gadde, a farmer from Seethampeta village in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, is revolutionizing agriculture through his regenerative cattle-based farming model. His 52-acre farm, free of chemicals and heavy machinery, is a testament to the enduring power of India's traditional knowledge systems.
Satish's farm generates an annual income of over Rs 60 lakhs, with revenue streams including growing and processing rice and other paddy-based products, coconut cultivation, cattle-related activities, and selling natural inputs to other farmers. His 16-acre coconut grove, an example of integrated farming, yields 240-270 coconuts per tree per year, thanks to cattle grazing under the trees and their dung enriching the soil.
Regenerative cattle-based farming is a holistic approach that restores and enhances soil health, increases pasture diversity, and improves ecosystem functions while producing food sustainably. It moves away from conventional practices such as monoculture feed crops and feedlot finishing.
This farming method contributes to sustainable productivity and soil fertility primarily through improved soil biology, increased plant diversity and forage quality, enhanced water retention and erosion control, reduced reliance on chemical inputs, and carbon sequestration.
Satish's farming model emphasizes the interdependence of cattle and land, with cattle feeding on fodder grown on the farm and their dung and urine serving as natural fertilizers. During the Kharif season (June to November), Satish grows traditional varieties of paddy using desi cow-based inputs, yielding 62 kg of rice per 75 kg paddy. During the Rabi season (post-November), he cultivates maize, with the leftover maize stalks and husks serving as fodder for his cows.
Satish has received several awards for his work, including the Global Agriculture Leadership Award, recognition on the National Farmers Day Webinar, and the State-level Organic Farmer Champion Title. He is a frequent guest speaker at agricultural seminars and training workshops, where he shares his low-cost, high-yield model with other farmers.
Satish's video demonstrations on YouTube and farmer training platforms have inspired thousands of farmers across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. He is on a mission to bring traditional farming back to life across India, advocating for a return to natural, regenerative agriculture and a rejection of chemical-heavy practices.
Satish's journey demonstrates the potential of traditional knowledge systems to transform agriculture, fostering both environmental sustainability and economic success. He dreams of a future where every farmer stands strong, free from debt, and is honored for being the true caretaker of the nation. He mentors youth and first-generation farmers, encouraging them to adopt traditional methods for profitable farming.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6702028/ [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211305118301112 [3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016708718301577
Satish's home-and-garden-like farm serves as a shining example of sustainable-living, demonstrating the potential of traditional knowledge systems in farming innovation. His approach to regenerative cattle-based agriculture, with its focus on interdependence between cattle and land, can contribute to an improved lifestyle while preserving the environment.
