Regenerating Soil: India’s Next Independence Struggle

In 1947, India broke free from colonial rule, embarking on a journey towards political and economic independence. Today, over 75 years later, the nation faces a new kind of struggle—one that needs to be fought in the very soil that sustains our lives. This struggle is for the regeneration of our soils, a critical resource that has been steadily degraded over decades of intensive agriculture. As we confront the realities of climate change, food insecurity, and rural poverty, regenerating our soil has become India’s next great independence struggle.

The State of India’s Soil: A Growing Crisis

India’s agricultural sector has long been the backbone of the country, providing livelihoods for nearly half of the population. However, the practices that drove the Green Revolution—intensive monoculture, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, and over-reliance on irrigation—have taken a devastating toll on our soil. A study estimates that of the 267 million hectares of arable land, 147 million hectares are facing soil degradation crisis, suffering from water erosion, acidification, flooding, wind erosion, salinization, and loss of organic matter. Learn more about the Study

The consequences are dire. Poor soil health leads to lower crop yields, forcing farmers to use more fertilizers and pesticides to maintain production levels. This creates a vicious cycle of soil degradation and increased input costs, pushing many smallholder farmers into debt and deepening the rural distress that plagues much of India. Additionally, degraded soil is less able to retain water, exacerbating the country’s water scarcity issues and making crops more vulnerable to drought—a growing concern in the face of climate change.

Note: the connections between soil degradation to less nutritious food that results in public health crisis in India requires a separate blog post.

Regenerative Agriculture: A Path to Freedom

Just as the freedom fighters of the past envisioned a self-reliant and prosperous India, today’s farmers and innovators are pioneering a new vision of agricultural independence. This vision is rooted in the principles of regenerative agriculture—a holistic approach to farming that seeks to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and build resilient ecosystems.

Regenerative agriculture goes beyond sustainability; it’s about actively improving the land we farm. Practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and the use of organic fertilizers and compost work together to rebuild soil organic matter and increase biodiversity. These practices not only enhance the soil’s ability to retain water and nutrients but also sequester carbon, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

One of the most powerful aspects of regenerative agriculture is its focus on working with nature rather than against it. By fostering healthy, living soil, farmers can reduce their dependency on chemical inputs and create farming systems that are more resilient to environmental stresses. This not only leads to higher and more stable yields over time but also reduces costs and improves the livelihoods of farmers.

The Janani Regen Ecosystem: Leading the Charge

In this new struggle for soil regeneration, the Janani Regen Ecosystem is playing a pivotal role. Through initiatives like the Janani Regen Soil Lab, we are empowering farmers with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to adopt regenerative practices. The Soil Lab is a first-of-its-kind initiative focused on implementing, supporting and spreading soil regeneration techniques among small farmers so that they can build climate resilient agricultural systems.

But our work goes beyond individual farms. We are building a vibrant community of farmers, researchers, and businesses committed to regenerating India’s soils. By sharing knowledge, demonstrating successful models, and promoting context-appropriate solutions, we aim to create a movement that will transform the way we think about and interact with our land. And, we welcome collaborators (corporates, startups, individuals, policymakers, and NGOs) to join us on this journey.

See a sample of our work: Vermicompost Training, Regenerate 2024, Soil Lab Partnership

A Call to Action

India’s struggle for independence was a collective effort, uniting people across the country in a common cause. Today, the effort to regenerate our soil demands a similar collective action. Farmers, policymakers, consumers, and businesses all have a role to play in this movement.

For farmers, it’s about adopting practices that regenerate the land rather than deplete it. For policymakers, it’s about creating incentives and support systems that encourage sustainable farming. For consumers, it’s about making food choices that support regenerative agriculture. For businesses, it’s about investing in supply chains that prioritize soil health and environmental sustainability.

India’s next independence struggle is about more than just soil; it’s about securing the future of our food, our farmers, and our planet. By regenerating our soil, we can build a more resilient, prosperous, and self-reliant nation—one that thrives in harmony with nature. This model has the potential to become a beacon for farmers around the world, bringing hope, health and resilience to global communities. The time to act is now. Let’s come together to reclaim the health of our land and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

About the Author

Usha Devi Venkatachalam is a technologist who has spent decades in Washington DC, US building technology platforms for social change in 20+ countries. As Founder & CEO of Krishi Janani PBC, she and her team are building Janani, a tech-powered ecosystem that enables farmers to transition to regenerative agroecology and to build climate resilience in their communities. The ecosystem consists of an agritech platform with tools & services for farmers to transition; events & trainings for farmers to learn regenerative practices; & regen labs to partner with corporates to implement innovative scaling models. Krishi Janani PBC is currently crowdfunding impact investments to grow and scale Janani Regen Ecosystem.