Manojbhai Patel (54 years old), a farmer from Timbi village in Dabhoi taluka, has set a new example by creating ice cream and candy from sugarcane juice, giving a modern form to traditional farming. Through natural farming and value addition of agricultural products, he has paved the way for profitable agriculture.
Manojbhai started natural and cow-based farming in 2019. In the first phase, he cultivated rice and lemons. Gradually, he also started cultivating vegetables like potatoes, onions, brinjal, bitter gourd, ginger, and turmeric, along with fruits like guava, cherry, lychee, and dates, and spices like cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, bay leaf, and betel nut.
In 2025, he started extracting sugarcane juice at home and using it to make natural ice cream and candy. Keeping taste and health in mind, he also added cashews, raisins, and almonds. In the very first year, this experiment earned him an additional income of 25,000 rupees. Manojbhai explains that he previously had tension and fatigue in his legs, but now his health has improved due to natural farming. Because he fully adopted a cow-based method, he uses only cow dung and cow urine, which keeps the soil fertile and the crops healthy.
Together with his wife, Manojbhai makes various food items from millet and sells them to local customers. Additionally, he is also inspiring other farmers to adopt natural farming at camps and events. He says that “This method will not only save farming but will also keep people’s health safe.”
