Narendra Singh Mehra from Nainital innovates the high-yield Narendra 09 wheat variety, thriving in diverse terrains with minimal water. He empowers Uttarakhand sugarcane farmers with organic farming, reducing chemical use and boosting sustainability.
Amid the rolling hills of Nainital, a man stands knee-deep in the soil, his hands etched with the marks of years spent nurturing the earth. At 66, Narendra Singh Mehra is not just a farmer—he is a visionary on a mission. With every seed he plants and every challenge he overcomes, he champions a simple yet powerful belief: farmers deserve recognition, and people deserve pure, healthy food.
From pioneering a resilient wheat variety that thrives in diverse conditions to reviving organic sugarcane farming, Mehra has dedicated decades to revolutionizing agriculture. His innovative methods prove that farming can heal both the land and the people who depend on it.
“When a child draws a farmer, the picture often reflects struggle. I want to change that, I want the image of a farmer to be one of pride and dignity,” he says, his eyes filled with determination.
Born in 1959 in the village of Devla Malla, Nainital, Narendra Singh Mehra grew up deeply connected to the land and the farming community. Agriculture was not just a livelihood—it was a way of life. Yet, like many rural families, his own hoped he would pursue education and build a future far from the fields.
“Most parents do not want their children to become farmers. The struggles farmers face make leaving one homeland—no matter how deep the roots—almost inevitable,” he reflects.
But Mehra love for the soil never wavered. Instead of walking away, he chose to transform the fate of farming itself.
And so, he did. By 1984, Mehra had earned his degree in geography from the DSB Campus in Nainital, followed by a course in art and tourism. Though his academic journey took him beyond the fields, his heart never strayed from the soil. Despite his qualifications leading him toward a different path, his deep-rooted passion for farming pulled him back to his homeland—where his true calling awaited.
Determined to stay true to his roots, Mehra took over his family farmland, insisting on ploughing the fields himself. For years, he relied on traditional farming methods, including the use of pesticides, to maximize yield and profit.
By 2008, Mehra noticed a concerning shift in agricultural practices around him. More and more farmers were moving towards cash crops like soybeans and tomatoes, abandoning staple grains like wheat. This raised a troubling question in his mind.
“If we continue like this—if the whole country shifts away from growing wheat—what are we going to eat?” he says with a chuckle, though his concern was real.
At the time, he was cultivating the RR21 wheat variety, which performed well. But then, something extraordinary caught his attention—an unexpected discovery that would change the course of his farming journey.
While tending to his crops, Mehra noticed something unusual—among the familiar stalks of wheat, a few plants stood out. They were healthier, sturdier, and bore fuller grains. Intrigued, he tied a red string around them, marking them for observation.
His fascination only grew as he watched them thrive. His young children, then just toddlers, playfully teased him, saying, “Papa is playing with grains like a child!” But Mehra was undeterred. He carefully collected and preserved the seeds from this exceptional crop, convinced that they held something special—perhaps even the key to a breakthrough in wheat cultivation.
For the next few years, Mehra meticulously saved and replanted these special seeds, nurturing them season after season. He eventually amassed around 8–9 kg of these desi, non-hybrid grains and decided to sow them in a small section of his field. But the results were not as promising as he had hoped.
Despite the setback, Mehra refused to abandon his vision. He continued collecting, refining, and even distributing the seeds, convinced that their potential had yet to be unlocked.
Determined to further explore their possibilities, he reached out to local agricultural institutions like the Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Pantnagar University. His persistence led him to Dr. S.N. Tiwari, the director of GB Pant Agricultural University, who, understanding the struggles of farmers, became a strong supporter of Mehra efforts.
“I learned about registering the seed under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act (PPV & FRA) through Dr. S.N. Tiwari,” Mehra recalls. Determined to take his discovery further, he received invaluable support from experts in the field.
Dr. Vijay Kumar Dohare assisted him in sending the seed to Pusa Institute, while Dr. J.P. Jaiswal, a renowned wheat scientaist at GB Pant University, provided crucial guidance throughout the process. Additionally, Dr. Uma Nauliya and Dr. Anjali Agarwal played a key role in helping him cultivate this wheat variety in the hilly regions.
Grateful for their support, Mehra ensures that every contribution is acknowledged, knowing that innovation in agriculture thrives on collaboration.
The wheat variety, later named Narendra 09, initially took root in the mountainous regions, but its resilience soon became evident across diverse landscapes. It thrived not only in the hills but also in the Brahmakumari Agriculture Unit in Mount Abu, as well as across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and other nearby states. These successful trials reinforced its potential to adapt to different climates nationwide.
“It grows everywhere—mountains, plains, and everything in between,” Mehra proudly states. Even more impressive was its grain count per stalk, which soared to 50–80 grains, compared to the traditional 20–25 grains, making it a game-changer in wheat cultivation.
Vinita Singh, a 60-year-old farmer from Uttarakhand, first learned about Narendra 09 wheat after reading about Mehra in the local news. Intrigued, she decided to experiment with it on her farm—and the results exceeded her expectations.
Farming alongside her son on six acres of land, Vinita quickly noticed the difference. “With commercial farming practices, we harvest around 2,800 to 2,900 kg per acre, which is significantly more than most crops in our region. Even when grown organically, our produce is of far superior quality,” she explains.
Beyond its high yield, Narendra 09 required significantly less water than traditional wheat varieties, making it an excellent choice for water-scarce regions. With yields ranging from 1,800 to 2,000 kg per acre—and even reaching 2,500 kg under ideal conditions—it soon became a highly sought-after crop.
As more farmers received and planted these seeds, word of their success spread. What had begun as an experiment soon gained momentum, and Mehra realized the true impact of his discovery.
However, as he delved deeper into farming, Mehra came to a stark realization—the chemical fertilizers and pesticides he once relied on were harming not just the soil, but also the crops and food people consumed. This awakening led him on a new journey towards sustainable, organic farming, a path that would redefine his life work.
(In Part 2, we will delve into Narendra Singh Mehra’s transition to organic farming and his efforts in empowering sugarcane farmers.)
Edited by Gayathri
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