At 80, Nagesh Mayappa Gadde of Kanabaragi in Belagavi has proven that passion has no age. After leaving behind several professions, including running a bar, a grocery store, and taking up construction and plantation contracts, he turned to organic farming two decades ago. Today, he earns around ₹6 lakh annually and has become an inspiration to many.
A diploma holder in Mechanical Engineering, Nagesh says money never gave him peace. “Despite earning well, I felt incomplete. It is organic farming that brought me real happiness,” he shares. On his one-and-a-half-acre land near his house, he grows vegetables, fruits, coconuts, and prepares fertilisers. Additionally, on his 22-acre farm at Tummaraguddi, he cultivates mangoes, turmeric, ginger, and chillies. His mango orchard alone yields him about ₹3 lakh a year.
Nagesh employs five people year-round and more than 50 during harvests. His family, including wife Geeta, sons Sudhir and Tushar, and grandchildren, actively support his work. He has also served as president of the Belagavi Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC).
Recognition came with the Atma Award by the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA). Apart from farming, he has set up an organic fertiliser unit, producing nearly 120 tons annually. Half of this is used on his own land, while the rest is sold directly to farmers.
Using innovative methods like earthworm compost, Jeevamrut, humic acid, and natural substitutes for chemical fertilisers, he aims to make farming sustainable and disease-free. “If people adopt organic farming, hospitals will have fewer patients and farmers will be free from debt,” he says.
Nagesh also raises over 30 cattle, ensuring a steady supply of manure for his fields and fertiliser unit. His passion and knowledge have inspired several farmers in and around Belagavi. Villagers say his energy and commitment make him a true role model.
