Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir is mainly rain fed and non-mechanized with limited scope for diversification due to typical land topography (mostly terrains) and restricted to a specific period (4-5 months of long harsh winter), thus animal husbandry is widely adopted in the region. However, the current low level of productivity of livestock remains an area of concern due to which the sector continues to be a non-vibrant economy even though having huge prospects. In order to address the problem of low productivity under field conditions, Scientists from Division of Animal Nutrition, FVSc and AH, Shuhama, SKUAST-Kashmir under DAHD-NLM, GoI sponsored project conducted awareness programmes and distributed value-added multi-nutrient blocks to the identified beneficiary dairy and sheep farmers in three district of Kashmir valley. As a result, the farmers got motivated and the impact of the technology adoption by the farmers led to significant improvement in the performance of animals in terms of enhancement of milk yield and composition, improvement in health and reproductive status, increased body weight gain and better economic returns to the farmers.

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Youth is considered a valuable asset for the society and the young people who are willing to take initiative and venture in a comparatively untouched territories are soon considered to be a role model by the society. S. Sukhbir Singh is one of such young, well-educated and dynamic farmer who is establishing new benchmarks in the poultry farming business. He belongs to the village Verka, district Amritsar and has only 2 acres of ancestral land in the village. He is very hardworking and innovative farmer but due to small land holding he was not earning much to meet daily needs of his family. To get better life he decided to start venture in some subsidiary occupation related with agricultural and he started his own poultry farm (broiler) in year 2022. Initially, he faced a lot of difficulties and though he consulted with various government departments, but he didn\’t get any success. During this period, he visited Punjab Agricultural University (PAU)\’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Amritsar and acquired vocational training on poultry farming in the year 2023. An exposure visits at poultry farm of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana was also made. According to the guidance provided by KVK experts, he modified and expanded his poultry farm capacity from 1000 to 3000 birds. Due to improvement in FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio), decreased mortality rate and disease incidence, now he sells more broiler birds with better marketable weight gain. After excluding all the expenses, he is earning a good profit of approximately Rs.50,000/- month. Now, he is invited as “Guest speaker” in the vocational training of poultry farming at KVK, Amritsar, where he shared his experience with the trainees about initial difficulties in poultry farming business. Many dignitaries and farmers from nearby areas visit his farm and various exposure visits and Farmer Field School has been organised at his farm. Now, he has become a role model for the other farmers who look up to him for guidance and advice on poultry farming.

In Indian scenario the integrated farming system is one of the most feasible farming systems. If one crop fails farmer may get income from other crop. In this a Success story of Mr. Devaraj Lakshman Naik, age 23 years, Thalan village, Bhatkala taluk, Uttara Kannada district, he is interested in growing agricultural and horticultural crops using scientific
method. He started a small nursery in 2015 and chose nursery raising as a means of production by grafting various seedlings. While studying in class 10th, Mr. Devraj Laxman Naik started the nursery with 200 arecanut and coconut saplings. He is currently growing 12000 arecanuts after benefiting from I.C.A.R. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sirsi trainings related to precision agriculture in agriculture and horticulture crops under the agroforestry based entrepreneurship development scheme for Scheduled Caste Communities of Uttara Kannada District.

Mr. Bharat R., aged 23 is having 1.22 Acres  of land in Irase, Siddapur, Uttara Kannada. Agriculture and Bee keeping have proved to be sustainable source of income for their family.
Though they don\’t depend entirely on farming and bee-keeping for their main livelihood, their living standard has improved since they started practicing beekeeping as it gives a sustainable diversified income. Mr. Bharat R., is one among the trainees who attended the training programmes on Apiculture based Agroforestry systems organized by ICAR-KVK, Sirsi under DST project.

Will to earn is the main triggering force for a person to do hard work. Eagerness to work hard led Mr. Sarangthem to start a venture from only one single cow. Now he is a proud owner of 23 cattle, producing not only milk, other value added products includes paneer and curd. Besides these, he also sells cowdung from his cattle farm giving him additional income. He currently gives employment to one person to look after the fodder and care for the cattle. He does the work of distributing the milk to household nearby his locality though he is a master degree student. He earns an income of 2 lakh per month by selling the milk and milk products he made in his residence. He sets an example for unemployed youths to start up any field for earning income without government assistance to become a successful entreprenuer.

The chemically synthesized vinegar is fraction of petrochemical industry containing traces of lead and has harmful impact on gastro-intestinal tract. The commercial synthetic vinegar is many a times is artificially flavoured and coloured with caramelized sugars and/or essences to give an impression of fermented product. Further, mineral acid contamination of commercial vinegar is given to provide a tangy sourness. Lack of awareness regarding ill effects of synthetic vinegar and its cheaper price, Indian markets are flooded with different brands of synthetic vinegar. Fermented vinegar being from natural raw materials viz. fruits, vegetables, cereals etc. is enriched with vitamins and minerals of fermenting microorganisms and the source fruit, hence, it is referred as a nutraceutical and used as a food, tonic and antiseptic. Krishi Vigyan Kendra,Patiala has employed various extension strategies to create awareness regarding harmful effects of synthetic vinegar and popularise the technology of PAU fermented vinegar among rural youth and farmers especially jaggery manufacturers. Fermented vinegar technology was initially adopted only for home use only. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Patiala with its continuous efforts has succeeded in developing some entrepreneurship in the field of fermented vinegar technology.

Backyard poultry farming is a viable enterprise with low initial investment along with higher income and improved the livelihood and socio economic status of the small and marginal farm woman. However, farm woman are getting low income due to conventional rearing of backyard poultry. KVK, Namakkal planned to improve their livelihood of the farm woman through various scientific interventions. KVK, Namakkal enhanced the skills and capacity building of farm woman through training programme on scientific backyard poultry farming and motivate the farm woman through distribution of improved germplasm of desi poultry, night shelters, on farm trials and front line demonstrations. Farm woman adopted scientific backyard poultry farming and getting additional income of Rs.17000 to Rs.19000 per annum, provided additional income to the family and increased their socio economic status.

Mr. Monbhai Thamoung, an educated tribal youth involved himself through developing small multi-species livestock based farm comprising poultry, piggery, dairy and goatry and gain
popularity among the farming community at Namsai district (Lat. 27.670826o; Long. 95.916087o) of Arunachal Pradesh. The young entrepreneur acquired his knowledge and skill in
the field of livestock based farming system through various trainings and demonstrations conducted by KVK Namsai. The overall net income generated from his existing model of
farming is Rs.61200/- a year with benefit cost ratio of 2.8 (B:C ratio) by selling 36900 eggs and 1350 kg of poultry meat, 40 piglets and 2 fatten pigs, 1620 liter of cow milk, 1 goat and around 2q of farmyard manure. He encouraged many farmers of the district to develop his model of livestock based farming system in scientific way by utilizing household resources for maximum profit. He is conferred as best farmers award for his contributions in livestock sector during 2023 by the district administration of Namsai district.

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of this time. Temperatures are rising, drought and wild fire accidents are more frequent, rainfall patterns are shifting, glaciers and snow are melting, global mean sea level is rising. Agriculture, which is the backbone of the Indian economy, is directly being affected by these adverse changes in climate. Namsai, an aspirational district which has been identified as one among the most vulnerable to climate change. The district where farmers are already facing incidences of flash flood, mild drought, insect pest  infestation, etc. Livestock are also experiencing heat stress, stress due to animal feed shortfalls and spread of parasites and vector-borne diseases. In order to mitigate the such adverse effects of climate change, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Namsai undertook demonstration programmes of various climate resilient technologies through National Innovation in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project under Technology Demonstration Component (TDC). Smt. Nang Samathi Longkan of Mengkeng Khamti village adopted under the NICRA project has shown impressive results by following diligently all the risk management technologies and advice given based on the vulnerability of the region. Agriculture being the primary source of income of the family, prior to the interventions in the village Smt Samathi\’s family income was around 1 lakh only. In 2022-23, post intervention, her hard and smart work paid off by doubling their family income, improving their financial state. She has inspired and motivated many of the other co-farmers in and around her village.

Backyard piggery rearing has always been an excellent enterprise which can be a feasible means for curtailment of poverty and unemployment in tribal belt. Almost every household in Chandel district is already in traditional backyard piggery for their personal consumption, but remunerative returns is still beyond the reach of the farmers. In this regards, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chandel identified the existing technological gaps in and around the villages by conducting various PRAs, field visits and diagnostic visits to the existing traditional piggery units and mobilised the farmers to replace the existing local pigs with improved cross breed Hampshire pigs which would be highly profitable as well rewarding. Due to the high proximity of the Chandel district to international border, the local pigs are highly susceptible to numerous heat and cold stress induced parasitic infections and non-specific viral/bacterial fever affecting their body growths well as high mortality rates as a result of which pig farmers often incurred huge losses. Also, low feed conversion ratio (FCR) is a common trait in the traditional local pig breed. The cross breed Hampshire pigs were found to be resistant to heat stress induced parasitic infections of skin and gastro intestine & non-specific viral/bacterial fever, showed better FCR and impressive body weight gain (105-110 kg/pig in 9 months) as compared to 48-50 kg in traditional pigs. In order to improve the skills and technical knowhow of these farmers, several training and capacity building programmes were held. They were trained on various aspects of scientific piggery farming along with provision of all the necessary inputs for the same. Being guided and nurtured by the KVK experts, a huge tremendous and fantastic change was seen in the life of these farmers. Farmers who were earlier having a meagre income are now not only earning around Rs. 112875 per unit with a B:C of 2.49 on an average but are also enjoying a good social
status. The successful farmers are now congregated and have pooled in their activities in the form of a Self Help Group.

Soybean is an important crop of Chandel district but as a general trend the productivity has not been satisfactory due to some technological and extension gaps. The major factors identified by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Chandel for low yield of soybean can be listed as traditional and habitual use of local seed, low seed replacement rate, and non-adoption of recommended scientific package of cultivation practices. KVK Chandel conducted extensive frontline demonstrations in several villages for popularization of improved soybean along with recommended package of practices. Also, KVK Chandel organised both on-campus as well as off-campus capacity building programmes for the farmers, field days, group discussions, farmer scientist interaction meets etc. to popularize cultivation of the hybrid soybean. As an impact of these vigorous efforts put in by KVK, the area under hybrid soybean cultivation increased from 4 ha in 2019 to 21 hectares in 2023 resulting into almost 81 percent increase in area under soybean.  An extensive evaluation of economic returns revealed that the additional production of soybean due to the introduction of improved variety resulted in an additional net income of Rs 92,184/- with a BCR of 3.92 during 2023. Besides being an excellent cover crop (of 125 days duration), it makes possible for the farmer to grow another following crop. The technology has been a great means for moisture conservation. Great yield and surplus demand for soybean for fermentation purpose has boosted the farm income. The time and efforts invested by the subject experts of KVK Chandel has started giving good returns to the tribal farmers of the district by fetching them enhanced farm income from increased farm productivity.

An immediate challenge to the Kanyakumari district\’s production system is climate change effects. In order to adjust to the changing environment, farmers are investigating novel farming techniques. Innovative methods are becoming more popular in wetland ecosystems. The COVID predicament has given rise to a number of new strategic methods. This case study investigates how the wetland ecosystem of the Kanyakumari area views a novel approach of combining inland pisciculture and flower farming. The innovative approach that was used was combining lotus with fish aquaculture in wetland ecosystem. Pink, red, and white cultivars of lotus are used for this approach. In addition to being cut flowers, they can be utilized as loose  flowers, potted plants, and in pond landscaping and has a lot of medicinal uses. A case study was conducted to enlighten on the perceptions and opportunities in the novel approach that can boost up the income of farmers.

Sardar Sukhdev Singh has shown their phenomenal presence from traditional to hi-tech farming and ability to adapt with tremendous challenges posed by changing climate and market demands which can increase his income and status in the society. He acquired vocational training on mushroom cultivation from KVK Patiala and later on technical guidance from ICAR Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan and PAU, Ludhiana helped him in establishing S.S Mushroom Farm. He has developed several innovations in mushroom production techniques including low cost mushroom houses with locally available material. He has produced very high quality pasteurized compost, and white button mushroom 1800, and 1450 quintal during 2023-24, respectively. His total net income during 2023-24 from pasteurized compost and white button mushroom was 1.87 lakh and `11.05 lakh, respectively. He has also popularized mushroom production in several villages of the District Patiala by providing quality compost to mushroom growers. The state of the art facilities developed by him at his farm including compost pasteurization and mushroom production in low cost mushroom houses has proved very effective demonstration centre serving for KVK trainees, mushroom growers, agriculture officers, students of the different universities, etc. He has also formed mushroom club and providing technical know-how to the members of the club. As a part of mushroom unit, he has also established a vermi-compost unit in 2019 with the assistance from KVK,Patiala. He earns a net income of 1.5-2.0 lakh every year from selling the vermi-compost to the nurserymen and urban people. He is fully contended and is determined to expand this enterprise in future.

S. Gurdial Singh Saini, a resident of village Sallopur, district Gurdaspur is an enterprising and industrious farmer, who has taken a lead in the adoption of crop diversification and subsidiary occupations. He has proved his credentials and became an icon for those farmers who are getting stress due to unprofitable farming. He got linked with PAU in 1999-2000 and participated in various trainings relevant to agriculture and allied practices which were organized by KVK, Gurdaspur. Presently, he is cultivating turmeric, processing it and marketing his products by himself in the market. He is not dependent on the third person to sell his produce. He chose a different path from the rest of the farmer to make his own identity in the society. He had made a self help group named \’Green Gold SHG\’ and FPO named \’Sallopur Foods FPO\’ to include local farmers and youth for turmeric processing, value addition to pulses and seasonal fruits like preparation of pickles and chutneys. Besides this, he is also successful beekeeper having 200 bee hives. He is successfully using his machinery via custom hiring centre. Besides this, he is providing employment to 50 rural youths which include machine operators, mechanics and daily wagers. He is also earning two times more profit by growing turmeric crop as seed. He also engaged himself in various extension programmes as a member of various clubs, committees,boards, societies and Scientific Advisory Committee of the KVK, etc. S. Gurdial Singh has been conferred with many awards for his achievements in crop diversification, processing, packaging, marketing, entrepreneurship, bee keeping and crop residue management. Many eminent personalities and scientists have visited his farm and praised his dedicated effort.

Onattukara region of Kerala is famous for sesame cultivation and the varieties released from Kerala Agricultural University received GI tag. Sesame is grown as third crop in Onattukara after  the harvest of rice. Sesame grown in this area is unique due to its medicinal properties. But due to low yield and lack of scientific knowledge about cultivation farmers were reluctant to take up sesame as third crop in the rice fields of Kerala. Onattukara Regional Agricultural Research Station of Kerala Agricultural University along with Department of Agriculture and registered farmers agency-Onattukara Vikasana Agency took extensive efforts in this area so as to revive sesame cultivation. After continuous trainings and field visits farmers raised the crop and on an average they got an additional income of 40,000/hectare. Area expansion is going on and in the next season it is expected to cover an area of 1000 hectare under sesame cultivation.

Rice is the most significant kharif crop of Chandel district of Manipur State, being cultivated over an area of 23,520 ha. Traditionally, the cultivators in the district grow local varieties of rice viz., Drum, Thoibi etc. However; the productivity of rice in the existing scenario is not very remunerative. The major reasons identified by the KVK for low productivity of rice include use of local seed, high incidence of neck blast and non-adoption of modern agricultural practices by the farmers. The low yield of local rice varieties and consequently low economic returns has severely affected the morale of the farmers especially the younger lot. Rice produced by the farmers has mostly been only for personal consumption and there was a very little marketed surplus available in the district. The farmers get 15-20 per cent lesser yield as compared to the farmers of neighbouring districts. Observing the lack of motivation in the rice growers of the district, KVK Chandel popularized RC Maniphou-13. This variety besides is not only resistant to neck blast but also gets harvested within 100 days which helps in saving residual moisture for secondary crop. It thus improves cropping system and farm income. The age-old mono cropping system has been discarded and rapeseed cultivation is taken up. The average productivity of rice increased from 37.33 to 59.66 q/ha giving an increase of 37.42 per cent in grain yield against that of traditional varieties. The additional yield of 22.33 q/ha helped the farmers to gain a net income of Rs. 1,47,810/ha with a B:C of 2.94.

Shri Kangujam Bunbul is responsive and determined for taking up quality fish seed production  as his source of income earning. Accordingly, with the help of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Imphal East Scientist a low-cost fish production unit has been constructed in his available land area of 0.12 ha for production of quality fish seed. Before starting of his journey in farming he has attended different multi-disciplinary awareness programme in Agri and allied sector organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Imphal East, Manipur. From the knowledge gained from different awareness programme, he has selected fisheries sector as his choice and started attending training programme on different aspect of scientific fish farming organized by KVK, Imphal East.

Sehar Ki Duniya is a story of young farm woman entrepreneur, her remarkable accomplishment  in mobilizing fellow farmers especially farm women, breaking their glass ceiling and showing them the way how self reliance can be achieved, sustainability can be brought in and empowerment can be attained. Today this young entrepreneur is amongst the recognized and prosperous farm women of the area, owning a pucca house with all basic amenities and taking care of all the needs of her three small daughters. Her progress over the last couple of years is a result of her hard work, persistence and her inquest desire to learn. She has now become a role model for her local community of farmers, proving that with a focused approach everything is impossible.

A single enterprise in the farms runs the risk of ruining the fortunes of farmers in case some  calamity strucks the fields and results in devastation of crops. The need therefore is to have
approaches which ensure a regular income for the farmers even in case of failure of one crop/enterprise. One such approach is to have more than one enterprise or produce more than one product to avoid having your income totally dependent on the production and price of one product. If profit from one product is poor, profit from producing other products may prevent total profit from falling below acceptable levels. The present success story of an innovative farmer from District Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir highlights how the farmer doubled his income after enterprise diversification. This also helped him reduce his dependence on external inputs and recycle his farm and animal waste.