✍️ True Story of Padma Shri Sundaram Verma, Rajasthan
Introduction
In the arid, sun-scorched lands of Rajasthan, water is life. Even a cup is precious. Imagine growing a full tree — not with gallons, not with buckets — but with just one litre of water.
This is not a miracle.
It’s the scientifically developed technique of a man named Sundaram Verma, a farmer, environmentalist, and visionary from Danta village in Sikar, Rajasthan.
With his innovation, over 50,000 trees now stand strong in dryland zones — requiring almost no irrigation after planting. In 2021, his work was honored by the President of India with the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award.
Humble Roots, Revolutionary Mind
Born in a farming family, Sundaram Verma faced the usual challenges of rural Rajasthan — limited rainfall (less than 25 cm annually), sandy soil, and dying crops.
Despite clearing three government job exams, he chose to stay with the soil.
A job pays you, but farming feeds your soul,” he says
In 1982, he attended a dryland farming training program conducted by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research). There, he learned how to conserve rainwater in deep soil to grow winter crops. This sparked an idea.
If crops can grow with stored soil moisture, why not trees
The ‘1 Litre Water’ Tree-Planting Technique
Sundaram Verma spent over a decade experimenting on how to grow trees in drought-prone zones.
Here’s how his groundbreaking method works:
1. Dig a pit – 15 cm long × 15 cm wide × 45 cm deep.
2. Place the sapling in the pit and water it just once with 1 litre of water mixed with 1 ml organic pesticide.
3. After 7–8 days, do light soil tilling around it.
4. The plant’s roots will naturally reach moisture deeper in the ground, eliminating the need for frequent watering.
5. In the first year, 3 rounds of tilling are recommended. By the third year, no tilling or watering is needed.
That’s it — one litre of water for a lifetime tree!
Field-Tested Success
Sundaram first tested this method on Eucalyptus trees — known for needing the most water.
Out of 1000 saplings, 800 survived, a success rate of 80%.
Later, he planted mango, pomegranate, neem, guava, and medicinal trees — with 85–90% survival.
Today, his dryland agroforestry method is adopted by farmers in Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
Water Harvesting at Farm Level
When even drip irrigation became unaffordable, Sundaram invented a low-cost rainwater collection system:
Plastic sheets (polythene) were spread over 60% of farm surface to prevent seepage.
Rainwater naturally flowed and collected into farm ponds.
This helped store up to 2 million litres of water per hectare per year.
Total setup cost: ₹1 lakh per hectare, yet saved thousands in tanker costs.
Agricultural Innovations Beyond Trees
Sundaram Verma didn’t stop at trees. His contribution to sustainable agriculture includes:
Developing SR-1 Kabuli Chana (chickpea) variety: drought-tolerant, high yield.
Inventing a system to grow 7 different crops in 3 years on the same land.
Collecting and preserving 700+ indigenous crop varieties and submitting over 400 to India’s National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR).
Promoting traditional, climate-resilient crops like yellow mustard, native wheat, and hardy pulses.
Awards and Recognitions
Year Award
1997 International Award for Agro-Biodiversity (IDRC, Canada)
1997 ICAR’s Jagjivan Ram Krishi Puraskar
2003 Chaudhary Charan Singh National Farmer Award
2007 National Biodiversity Conservation Award
2010 Mahindra Agriculture Excellence Award
2021 Padma Shri, by President Ram Nath Kovind
In total, he has received over 25 national and international recognitions, including those from:
Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India
National Innovation Foundation
Rajasthan Forest Department
Indian Agricultural Universities & KVKs
Why This Story Matters
Sundaram Verma’s story isn’t just about technique. It’s about vision, resilience, and self-belief.
While most people migrate from villages to cities, he stayed behind to grow not just crops — but climate solutions, income models, and a movement.
His work has inspired thousands of farmers to switch from water-intensive to low-cost, eco-friendly farming, especially in drought-hit areas.
“We don’t need to chase the future. Let’s plant it.”
Key Takeaways for Farmers
✅ Low water? No problem. Trees can grow deep-rooted with right pit and timing.
✅ Respect soil. Avoid over-ploughing; conserve its capillaries.
✅ Mix tradition with science. Indigenous seeds + dryland farming = long-term sustainability.
✅ One-time investment can yield lifetime benefits.
A Salute to the Soil Warrior
Sundaram Verma is not just a farmer — he’s a green architect, a living scientist, and a true patriot.
His story proves that real change doesn’t need big money, just big heart.
So the next time someone tells you you can’t do something because of “lack of resources,” tell them about Sundaram Verma, the man who grows forests with one litre of water.