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Regenerative Farming Pilot: 45% Yield Increase in 12 Months

A soil-first program combining cover crops, microbial seed coatings, and precision micro-dosing delivered consistent yield gains while cutting synthetic fertiliser use and improving farmer margins.

We ran a multi-district pilot across smallholder plots to test a low-cost regenerative package: cover-crop rotations, targeted compost, reduced tillage, and microbial seed treatments. The program paired hands-on farmer coaching with remote agronomy monitoring to ensure correct timings and adoption.

Detailed Overview

Objective: Demonstrate that a combined soil-restoration + precision-nutrition approach can increase average yields while lowering input costs and improving soil organic matter within 12 months. Target areas were rainfed smallholder clusters with moderate baseline soil health.

Actions:

(1) Launched randomized on-farm trials across 120 plots with control vs treatment arms.

(2) Implemented cover-crop rotations and low-disturbance planting to retain moisture and reduce erosion.

(3) Applied microbial seed coatings + precision micro-dosed nutrition based on soil tests and remote sensing.

(4) Delivered weekly farmer training, agronomy SMS nudges, and a buyback guarantee to reduce market risk.

Results:

Average yield uplift 45% across treated plots in 12 months; input cost per hectare down ~22%; soil organic carbon increased by ~0.5–0.7 percentage points on average; participating farmer net income rose by ~30%. Adoption fidelity improved with on-field coaching and simple monitoring.

Lessons:

Farmer coaching and simple, low-tech measurement are critical for adoption. Start with high-touch pilots (12 months), then move to a phased roll-out using local aggregator partners. Data capture (soil tests + simple yield records) both proves impact and unlocks buyer confidence for premium placement. Scalable Playbook: pilot → aggregator partnership → financeable inputs (micro-loans) → scale.