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.