Krittika Das
Krittika Das is a field practitioner and primary author at Terragaon Farms in Birbhum, West Bengal. Her writing is grounded in daily farm work, long-term soil observation, and small-land realities of eastern India. She focuses on natural farming, soil ecology, ethical dairy, and low-input systems, translating field experience into clear, practical knowledge for farmers and conscious food consumers.
Why Small Farms Fail Financially Even When Production Looks Good
On many Indian small farms, production looks healthy. Crops are standing. Milk is flowing. Harvests appear respectable. Yet the bank balance tells a different story. Bills pile up. Savings disappear. Stress becomes constant. This gap between visible production and financial reality confuses many farmers. At Terragaon Farms in Birbhum, West Bengal, we have seen this
The Real Cost of Farming in India: Expenses Farmers Rarely Count
Most farmers know how much seed costs. They know fertilizer prices, feed bills, diesel rates. Yet many farms fail even when these numbers look manageable. The reason is simple. The most damaging costs in Indian farming are rarely written down. At Terragaon Farms in Birbhum, West Bengal, farm economics only made sense after we started
Farm Economics on Small Land in India: Why Profit Is About Stability, Not Scale
In Indian agriculture, profit is usually discussed in the language of scale. More land. More animals. Higher yield. Bigger turnover. On small farms, this language quietly causes damage. It pushes families toward expansion before stability exists and confuses visible output with real income. At Terragaon Farms in Birbhum, West Bengal, farm economics became clear only
Indigenous Cows in Indian Dairy: Economics, Care, and Limits
Indigenous cows are often discussed in extremes. They are either romanticised as the perfect solution for all problems or dismissed as unproductive and outdated. Both views miss reality. On small farms, indigenous cows work well not because of belief, but because of fit. They also fail when expectations are misplaced. At Terragaon Farms in Birbhum,
Natural Dairy Farming in India: What Actually Makes It Sustainable
In India, dairy sustainability is often discussed as if it depends on one factor. A better breed. A higher yielding ration. A new supplement. On small farms, this thinking quietly fails. Sustainability does not come from pushing one part harder. It comes from reducing pressure across the whole system. At Terragaon Farms in Birbhum, West
When to Exit Dairy Farming and When to Fix the System
Every small dairy farmer reaches a point where the question becomes unavoidable. Losses repeat. Workdays stretch without rest. Animals need more attention, not less. Family members begin asking whether dairy is still worth continuing. At this stage, most farmers ask the wrong question. They ask whether dairy is failing. The more useful question is whether
Why Dairy Should Never Be a Standalone Business on Small Farms
Many small farmers are encouraged to treat dairy as an independent income source. Buy a few cows. Sell milk daily. Separate accounts. Separate planning. On paper, this looks organized. On real small farms, this separation quietly destroys balance. At Terragaon Farms in Birbhum, West Bengal, dairy became viable only after we stopped isolating it from
Why Dairy Fails on Small Farms Even With Good Milk Yield
Many small farmers are confused by the same outcome. Milk yield looks decent. Cows are producing every day. Yet at the end of the month, there is little money left. Sometimes there is loss. This creates frustration because effort is high and output seems visible. At Terragaon Farms in Birbhum, West Bengal, we saw this
Natural Dairy Farming in India: A Small-Farm Reality Guide
Dairy farming in India is usually discussed in numbers. Liters per day. Fat percentage. Feed conversion. Breed comparison. On small farms, this way of thinking quietly breaks families, animals, and land. At Terragaon Farms in Birbhum, West Bengal, dairy became sustainable only when we stopped treating it as a milk-producing unit and started treating it
Soil Moisture Retention: Why Some Fields Stay Wet Longer
After the same rainfall, some fields stay moist for days while others dry out within hours. Farmers notice this difference clearly, especially during dry spells. One field needs irrigation again. Another holds moisture quietly and supports crops longer. This difference is not luck. It is soil structure and biology at work. At Terragaon Farms in
