Stories
Couple Returns to Village at 65, Transforms Home into 'Gold Mine' with Organic Farming
- •Gopal Dutt Pandey moved to Delhi at age 8, worked his entire life there, and retired in the city.
- •At 65, he returned to his ancestral village Kanoli in Almora with his wife, seeking peace away from Delhi's hustle.
- •The couple started organic farming, planting trees like sandalwood, mango, and avocado, and growing various organic vegetables, including turmeric.
- •Pandey has planted 100 white sandalwood trees and sold 5 quintals of organic turmeric last year at 500 rupees per kilogram.
- •They use pure organic manure from their four cattle, avoiding chemical fertilizers for all their cultivation.
Key Questions Answered
After living in Delhi since he was eight years old and retiring there, Gopal Dutt Pandey returned to his ancestral village of Kanoli in Uttarakhand's Almora district during the COVID-19 pandemic to escape the noisy city life, find peace, and improve his health near nature.
The couple utilized pure organic manure from their four cattle to grow various organic vegetables, fruits, and spices including turmeric, gaderi, sesame, corn, lemon, gethi, papaya, amla, pomegranate, chili, bell pepper, almonds, dates, and small cardamom. They also planted sandalwood, mango, and avocado trees, specifically growing around 100 white sandalwood trees.
The couple's organic farming efforts have yielded significant results, including growing 5 quintals of organic turmeric last year which was sold in Delhi for 500 rupees per kilogram. Additionally, they harvested 150 kg of gaderi vegetable and plan to plant bamboo for a dual income and land protection.
