Soniya Jain, a visionary lady farmer from Jhalawar district in Rajasthan, generates up to Rs 1 crore per year through a diversified agribusiness. She empowers rural societies, enables sustainable and profitable agriculture, and supports women entrepreneurs, revolutionizing Indian agriculture via innovation, direct-to-market models, and inclusive farmer training programs.
Soniya Jain, a young agripreneur and farmer from Jhalawar, Rajasthan, is transforming the face of Indian agriculture with her cutting-edge and inclusive farming practices. A first-generation female farmer, she has established a diversified, autonomous agribusiness that earns a significant annual revenue of up to Rs 1 crore. Her business extends beyond individual achievement- it is a platform to empower fellow farmers, particularly women, through promoting sustainable methods, direct-to-market models, and rural entrepreneurship.
At the core of her path is a profound sense of commitment to turning adversity into opportunity, vision that was planted in her early years and grown through education and tenacity.
Early Life & Education: Setting the Groundwork
Born in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, Soniya witnessed the plight of farmers- low returns, reliance on intermediaries, and limited exposure to new technologies. Motivated to bring about change, she earned a bachelor’s and master’s in rural development, empowering herself with education on sustainable farming, rural economy, and welfare of farmers.
Her objectives became more defined after marriage when she had a dream to restore her family’s agricultural heritage through innovation and entrepreneurship. Conscious to establish a profitable and farmer-friendly model, she embarked on developing a diversified, sustainable farm.
Integrated & Sustainable Farming Systems
Soniya has adopted combined and sustainable agriculture systems by implementing new agronomic practices that improve productivity, maintaining soil health. She uses meticulous Integrated Nutrient Management to balance organic and inorganic fertilizers and maintain fertility of the soil, and Integrated Pest and Weed Management uses green approaches to manage weeds and pests. Her Integrated Water Management strategy maximizes irrigation efficiency using tube wells, open wells, sprinkler, drip irrigation, and rain guns to conserve water.
Diversified Agricultural Practices & Specializations
Soniya grows an array of crops, balancing commercial market demand with the requirements of local farmers. Her diversified agricultural portfolio forges sustainability, improves food security, and sustains profitability in several sectors.
In cereal and grain farming, she cultivates bajra, sunflower, millets, jowar, barley, Pigambari wheat (a low glycemic index wheat), Sharbati wheat, and white maize. These are staple foods, which are not only a part of daily diets but also very nutritious.
Under the pulses and oilseeds category, Soniya cultivates soybean, mustard, black chana, green chana, Kabuli chana, and quinoa. Such high-value and protein-rich crops assist in addressing increased demand for healthier food sources.
Going a bit further, she has even ventured into rice cultivation, thereby including another staple crop in her crop basket and further increasing market availability as well as food security.
Soniya realizes the increased demand for herbal and medicinal crops and plants and thus grows medicinal crops such as Aloe Vera, Tulsi, Akarkara, Safed Musli, Ashwagandha, Gokhru, Kalmegh, Chia, Alsi, and Sharavati. She is also into floriculture and grows safflower tea to sustain the herbal wellness business.
Her spice production is of top-quality coriander, mustard, methi, garlic, and chilli—all of which have been grown with conscientious care to deliver the best quality. Supporting this, she cultivates a range of seasonal vegetables like cucumber, tomato, onion, cauliflower, ladyfinger, pumpkin, and radish. In fruit crops, oranges and papaya are grown. Diversification enables her to supply consumers throughout the year and remain in steady market presence.
To further enhance productivity and quality of crops, Soniya has created 4000 square meters of polyhouse and net house facilities. Through this diversified and intensive farming strategy, Soniya not only fulfills a vast array of market demands but also ensures sustainable agriculture and long-term profitability.
Through the use of certified seeds and strict seed treatment procedures, she assures good crop selection and disease resistance. Proper sowing and summer ploughing are essential in soil erosion reduction and productivity improvement, while Post-Harvest Techniques (PHT) facilitate apt storage and value addition to farm produce. With modern farming tools-tractors, bund formers, ploughs, cultivators, seed drills, sprayers, and levellers-she farms on a large scale with enhanced efficiency, setting the pace for sustainable agricultural innovation.
Dairy Farming & Agro-Processing
Seizing the opportunity in dairy farming, Soniya diversified her business to manufacture quality dairy products, bringing it inline with her overall farm business. Her venture, Avni Agri and Dairy Products, is instrumental in adding value and fostering entrepreneurship from farms. She follows a direct-to-market approach with no middlemen, enabling reasonable prices for farmers and enabling market access.
Empowering Farmers & Creating Employment
In addition to her own achievement, Soniya is strongly devoted to giving back to rural areas, empowering farmers and the unemployed population—especially women—to be financially independent. Her work with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and other state government initiatives is key to enhancing farmer training and awareness, encouraging effective farm methods, and improving market linkages.
Through her efforts, she actively creates employment opportunities for rural youth and motivates women farmers to venture into agribusiness enterprises. By filling the gap between conventional farming techniques and innovative advancements, Soniya makes agriculture a sustainable and profitable venture for the future, instilling resilience and prosperity in rural economies.
Soniya joined the Global Farmer Business Network (GFBN) recently, a program by Krishi Jagran that promotes Indian farmers through knowledge transfer and collaboration. Being an ambitious agripreneur, she not only shares her own experiences but encourages others to adopt sustainable, organic, and profitable farming methods. Through her business and training programs in collaboration with government schemes, she mentors and empowers other farmers- particularly women- towards creating a future where Indian farming is not only rewarding financially but also eco-friendly.
Her processing and warehousing facility, in a strategic position in Rajasthan, enables her to store and produce efficiently, further improving product quality and distribution. Through consistent brand building, she has made “The Lady Farmer” a name of trust and popularity, thereby selling her products well and emphasizing sustainable farming practices.
Recognitions & Prestigious Awards
Soniya’s commitment and path-breaking work in agriculture have fetched her various prestigious awards, including:
- Padma Award – Awarded by ICAR for excellence in integrated farming.
- Certificate of Appreciation – Awarded for spreading integrated farming systems.
- Dhartiputra Samman – Awarded by CRI Pumps & Agriculture Times.
- District-Level Award – Awarded under the Krishonnati Yojana (ATMA) scheme.
- ATARI Recognition – Awarded for being an innovative farmwoman entrepreneur.
With farming, processing, and farmer empowerment at the center of her vision, Soniya Jain has transformed the perception of agriculture in India. Her model of self-sustenance, dedication to farmer welfare, and interest in direct market access has made her a pioneer in contemporary Indian agriculture.
What started as a passion for agriculture has evolved into a revolutionary business—empowering rural communities, encouraging sustainability, and empowering farmers. Combining innovation and tradition, it reimagines farming as a driver of development, leaving a lasting legacy and empowering the next generation of agripreneurs.
Note: Global Farmer Business Network (GFBN) is an active platform where agricultural experts, farmer entrepreneurs, innovators, buyers, investors, and policymakers – come together to exchange knowledge, experiences, and amplify their businesses. Krishi Jagran powered GFBN enables positive connections and peer learning opportunities to propel agricultural innovation and sustainable development through collective expertise.
