Call Out…

Anil Mehta, 67, Mumbai | Farm near Panvel

“I run a textile business. Farming I have kept simple. Fifteen acres. Share cropping for 20 years. Valji Bhai manages everything. I get two–three lakh rupees. Enough. Then my son’s friend said — organic can earn more.”

Reality Translation Layer.

Anil, your farm already works because roles are clear. You invest. Valji Bhai farms. Crops, vegetables, fruits, milk — everything mixed. Organic changes the entire operating system. No chemicals mean more labor, more timing issues, more risks. For Valji Bhai, this is not ideology. This is daily survival and workload.

Am I alone or someone is holding my hand!

You are not alone, but you are not aligned either. Internet shows success stories but no numbers. Friends abroad say “it’s big there” but don’t farm your land. Agriculture officers are supportive, yes — but they don’t carry crop risk. Valji Bhai does. In the meeting, he explained clearly why labor shortage and long fertility recovery scare him. No one could counter that honestly.

Is it really worthwhile or just cosmetics?

For you, organic is optional. For Valji Bhai, it is existential. Without shared risk, extra labor support, and assured compensation during transition, organic here becomes cosmetic talk. Not a farming decision.