HyFarm, the agribusiness unit of HyFun Foods, has honoured farmers for promoting sustainable potato cultivation through its second HyFarm Paathshala Convocation Ceremony. The programme recognises farmers who have established demonstration farms, adopted improved agricultural practices and trained fellow growers in processing potato cultivation.
Operating across 17 micro-clusters and 33 demonstration farms in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts, HyFarm Paathshala combines traditional farming knowledge with modern agronomy. Its field-based education initiative follows a Train-the-Trainer model, enabling farmers to share improved cultivation techniques and agricultural technologies with neighbouring villages.
The programme has reached more than 6,000 fellow growers through participating farmers, including experienced cultivators, young farmers and women who voluntarily offered their fields for demonstrations. These farmers have adopted HyFarm’s recommended Package of Practices and now serve as trainers and mentors in their communities.
According to the company, participating farmers have achieved around 10–12% reductions in overall cultivation costs, 15% savings in fertiliser costs and 30–35% savings in irrigation water. The results highlight the potential of improved crop management and season-long agronomic guidance to reduce input costs and conserve resources.
Soil health and regenerative farming practices are central to the initiative. Scientific soil testing, balanced fertilisation, improved planting methods, precision irrigation and regular field monitoring are used to optimise resource utilisation, maintain soil productivity and improve the quality of potatoes intended for processing.
Soundararadjane S, CEO of HyFarm, said the initiative brings traditional farming wisdom and modern agronomy together to help farmers reduce costs, conserve resources and improve quality and profitability. He said farmers becoming trainers and mentors was helping strengthen the potato ecosystem.
Dr Sudhanshu Singh, Director of the CIP South Asia Regional Center and Regional Director for South Asia, appreciated the farmers’ willingness to adopt innovations and share knowledge. He said collective learning could extend the benefits beyond individual farms and create opportunities for rural communities.
Outstanding participants were recognised for their performance in agronomic practices, precision agriculture, digital adoption and processing potato quality. The convocation highlighted the role of farmer-led knowledge-sharing in building a more sustainable and productive potato cultivation ecosystem in Gujarat.