Gurbinder Singh Bajwa, a farmer from Sarchur village, not only stopped burning stubble and reduced chemical sprays in his fields, but also motivated a group of farmers to adopt ‘fire and pesticide-free’ agricultural practices. This group now runs a centre, which rents out farm machinery to small farmers, who pledge not to burn crop residue.
A former Army man, Bajwa (49) left his job in 1997 to pursue his passion — farming. Over the past two and a half decades, he has established himself as a successful farmer and played a pivotal role in forming a cooperative group of farmers dedicated to organic farming.
Initially, Bajwa ventured into the cultivation of medicinal plants by signing a contract with a private company in 2000. He grew crops like safed musli, sativa, and amla, but faced a major setback when the company failed to honour the contract. However, it failed to dampen his spirit. He persevered and sought ways to market the produce on his own. He experimented with processing and packaging organic pulses, turmeric, and chili, gaining valuable experience in the value-added agriculture.
Everything was going good till an accident in the fields left him with a severe injury, forcing him to put his dreams on hold for three years. Reflecting on this difficult period, Bajwa shared that the government should provide a support system for accident victims in the farming sector.
Undeterred, he began encouraging other farmers to adopt organic farming. He actively engaged with agriculture officials to find a suitable platform for his initiatives.
In 2012, Bajwa brought together 15 like-minded marginal and medium-scale farmers through a social media group created by Dr Amrik Singh, an agriculture officer from Gurdaspur. They shared ideas and collectively invested in purchasing farm equipment, forming an implement bank to lend tools to other farmers. By 2015, the group formalised itself as the Young Progressive Farmers’ Producer Organisation, focusing on the production, processing, and marketing of organic pulses, turmeric, chili, and jaggery.
The core team included Avtar Singh Sandhu, Kuldeep Singh, Palwinder Singh, Gurdial Singh, Harinder Singh, and Dilbagh Singh. This group is now known as ‘Kisan Sandh Bank’ and offers farm implements within the radius of 30 km of his native village.
Beyond organic farming, Bajwa has also played a significant role in promoting direct seeded rice (DSR) techniques in Punjab. He created a detailed document addressing challenges in DSR, covering field preparation, seeding techniques, and weed management. He claimed that hundreds of farmers have adopted his methods. Due to the overwhelming number of inquiries, he launched a YouTube channel and Facebook page to assist farmers in chemical-free farming and crop marketing.
Bajwa’s journey from an ex-Army man to a pioneer in organic and viable farming highlights the impact of spirit, knowledge-sharing, and innovation. ‘Sarbat Da Bhala’ was on his mind, he said. Bajwa has also represented Punjab farmers during a session of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January last year.
