Roots of Resilience: How Amulya Lakra is Revitalizing Tribal Agriculture in Odisha

In the heart of India's Sundargarh district, a quiet revolution is taking place beneath the soil. Spearheaded by Amulya Pratap Lakra, an agri-entrepreneur from the Scheduled Tribe community and founder of Kisan Sathi, this movement seeks to reverse decades of agricultural degradation. While 73% of India's population relies on agriculture, Lakra observed a troubling trend: less than 2% of farmers want their children to inherit the profession, seeing no future in the field.

The Crisis of the Soil

Lakra's journey began with a confrontation of hard truths. He recognized that industrialization and the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers were stripping the land of its vitality. He points to alarming studies showing that 65% of Indian agricultural land possesses less than 0.4% organic carbon—a level critically low for sustainable farming. This degradation has had devastating human costs, driving thousands of farmers to suicide annually due to failing yields and mounting debts. Driven by a sense of duty as a responsible citizen, Lakra set out to find a solution.

A Natural Solution

His search led him to the concept of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), pioneered by Padma Shri Subhash Palekar. Traveling to Maharashtra for intensive training, Lakra realized that natural farming could cut input costs, boost production, and—crucially—restore soil health.

Upon returning to Sundargarh, he faced significant financial and personal challenges but began training local tribal farmers with limited resources. "The feedback from those who believed in the method was positive, but we needed more resources to scale," Lakra notes regarding the early days.

Turning the Tide

The pivotal moment came in 2022. Lakra presented his vision to the District Collector, Mr. Nikhil Pavan Kalyan. With administrative backing and support from ITDA Sundargarh and the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), a pilot project was launched in Teleghana village involving 55 tribal farmers.

The results were undeniable. Even during a season of low rainfall in the Kutra block, the farmers achieved excellent yields without chemical inputs. This success catalyzed a shift in the region, with operations now expanding to blocks including Rajgangpur, Sabdega, Bargaon, Bisra, Hemgir, and Bonai.

A Four-Pillar Philosophy

Lakra's mission extends beyond simple cultivation. He operates on a philosophy defined by four key objectives:

• Ensuring farmers receive a deserving price for their hard work.
• Providing consumers with toxic-free produce at affordable rates.
• Adopting methods that benefit, rather than hamper, biodiversity.
• Increasing agriculture's contribution to India's GDP.

National Recognition

Lakra's efforts to improve tribal livelihoods have garnered attention on prestigious platforms.  In 2022, he won the best paper presentation at a national conference organized by ICFAI University and NABARD. He has been invited by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers to consult on strategies for reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Furthermore, in 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment, Govt. of Odisha, invited him to speak on sustainable practices, and the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, honored him for his contributions to the community.

A Vision for the Future

Despite the accolades, Lakra remains grounded in his original purpose. "To get an award or recognition is not my objective," he states. "My objective is to ensure farmers have a healthy income, to provide nutritional food to everyone, and to improve soil organic carbon."

Through Kisan Sathi, Amulya Pratap Lakra is doing more than just farming; he is healing the land and restoring dignity to the backbone of the Indian economy.