How Intercropping Helped Grow 15–20 Vegetables on Just Half an Acre and Became an Excellent Pest Control Strategy!

This is an inspiring story of Marimuthu, a farmer from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, who pioneered a farming model that has transformed his region. On just 0.6 acres of land, he has developed a unique method to cultivate more than fifteen varieties of vegetables. “Seven crops with a handful of soil and a drop of water”—that’s how he describes his approach. The way he explains the science behind his farming and his deep understanding of nature is truly remarkable. His work is defined by a sincere heart, profound trust in nature, and an intelligence that turns scarcity into abundance.

Factory to Fields

Born into a farming family, he says that his father shifted from agriculture to factory work due to the instability of farming. Although agriculture ran in his blood, Marimuthu never had the chance to learn directly from his father, who only farmed occasionally, depending on rainfall. The lack of access to water, limited capital, volatile markets, and low profits kept his family from farming. Marimuthu, too, began working in the same factory at a young age, as its steady income was far more reliable than what the land could provide. But destiny had other plans.

In his early twenties, he came into contact with Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation. He attended yoga classes and became a full-time volunteer with their outreach project—Isha Agro Movement. During this period, he encountered G. Nammalvar, a stalwart of natural farming in India, an agricultural scientist, environmental activist, and one of the most respected experts in natural farming the country has ever known. For nearly four years, he traveled and learned alongside him and the movement, absorbing rich knowledge in natural farming. However, since he was volunteering full-time, he never had the opportunity to practice what he had learned.

The Moment of Shift

In 2013, after a shift in family responsibilities, Marimuthu returned to his village. He received 60 cents of farmland from his father during the division of family assets. Determined to begin farming, he and his wife secured loans and started cultivation. He says that although he was trained in natural farming principles, applying them was a different story. Water availability was low, and the market for natural produce was nearly non-existent—both chemical and natural products were sold together for the same price, making it hard to earn a fair price.

Given the circumstances, he reluctantly began farming with chemical inputs. He cultivated 4 to 5 vine vegetables—such as bottle gourd, bitter gourd, and others—on a trellis, while also working as a daily wage laborer to support his family, as the income from farming alone was insufficient.

A few years into farming came the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many, Marimuthu faced extreme hardships. But he also witnessed a collective awakening—people started seeking healthier food, realizing how poor nutrition made them vulnerable. This reinforced his belief that he could no longer feed his own children food grown with chemical inputs. At that time, he came to know about the newly initiated farmer training programs conducted by the Isha Agro Movement—now known as Thaimann Kaakum Vivasayam (TKV)—and enrolled himself to revisit the techniques and concepts of natural farming.

Trusting Nature and Traditional Farming Knowledge

Armed with renewed resolve, he took one final leap, investing everything he had into full-scale natural farming. His first bold experiment was cauliflower. Since cauliflower was the most commonly grown crop in his area and suited to the region’s soil and climate, he thought he would start his natural farming with cauliflower. But it is also known to be one of the most chemically dependent crops, typically requiring daily pesticide sprays and root treatments to survive frequent fungal and pest attacks. As expected, his crop was hit with root rot, wiping out 20% of his yield. He tried various natural pest repellents, but they didn’t work. As a last resort, he used neem cake on the advice of the TKV mentors—and it worked! Just after tackling the root disease, worms started to damage the leaves and the curd (the white edible part). He didn't have the time to experiment—he wanted an ultimate weapon that existed in the realm of natural farming. He was advised to use a bio-repellent called Agni Astram Karaisal, a powerful blend of garlic, green chilies, ginger, and small onions. Initially, it showed no effect. But by the second day, the pest population noticeably declined, and by the third or fourth day, the pests were gone. People thought cauliflower could never be grown naturally without chemical pesticides and had never tried it—but seeing that Marimuthu had succeeded, everyone was surprised. Cauliflower turned out to be a big success. People started buying from him from faraway places, saying they had never eaten a naturally grown cauliflower. Soon, they began asking him if they could buy a variety of vegetables from him in one place—all naturally grown. But he was growing only 4 to 5 vegetables. They wanted as many vegetables in their diet as possible to be grown naturally without chemical inputs. Marimuthu had only 0.6 acres of land—growing a variety of vegetables seemed impossible, but he was determined to find a way.

A Farming Genius: The Science Behind His Success

Through two to three years of experimentation and dedication, Marimuthu discovered the remarkable method of layered farming, which in his words, is akin to “growing seven different crops with a handful of soil and a drop of water.” What he means is that seven different crops are intercropped within just one square foot of space, all managed with a single round of inputs at a time with drip irrigation. This means that one round of input serves all seven crops, drastically reducing resource use. Each crop is sown at a different time, follows its own unique growth cycle, and is harvested separately. He emphasizes that sunlight plays a crucial role in farming, and to make the most of it, he strategically combines crops of different heights and leaf structures. The shorter crops—those with broader leaves—are sown first. Once they germinate and begin to grow, taller crops—those with narrower leaves—are introduced. By the time the taller plants grow significantly, the shorter ones are usually harvested. This ensures that sunlight is shared efficiently, with the broader leaves capturing light early on, and the narrow-leaved plants rising later without overshadowing the rest. For example, within just one square foot of land, he grows Coriander (0.5 feet), Cauliflower (1.5 feet), Green Chilli (2.5 feet), Cluster Beans (4 feet), Sweet Corn (6 feet), Cowpea (ground-trailing) and bitter gourd (on the trellis) making full use of both horizontal and vertical space —all with varying heights and harvest cycles ranging from 30 to 150 days. He divides his 0.6 acres of land into two or three sections, growing different sets of crops in each. This is how he ingeniously utilized the land to cultivate more than fifteen varieties of vegetables at a time.

Marimuthu explains that in chemical farming, we cannot implement this method as each crop has specific requirements and needs a different type of fertilizer and pesticide. He says, “If we try to grow plants in close proximity as we do in natural farming, the chemical input meant for one plant can negatively affect the growth of the others. In contrast, natural farming relies on a single type of input focused on enhancing soil health.” A healthy soil ecosystem then provides the necessary nutrients to each plant according to its needs. Similarly, a common natural pest repellent is used for all crops, which works by creating an allergy that drives pests away, rather than killing them.

In addition, Marimuthu shares other fascinating aspects of the science behind his success. The vine crops grown on trellises provide natural shade, protecting the soil from direct sunlight. Meanwhile, ground-level crops are planted closely together, forming a living cover that further shields the soil. This natural shading effect greatly reduces evaporation, helping to retain soil moisture and significantly lowering the need for frequent watering—enhancing the sustainability of his farming practices. Also, with this rotational farming system, he says that the land only needs to be plowed once every nine months, and it remains fertile and productive without frequent tilling.

Intercropping – A Natural Pest Control Strategy

He also observed that growing a diverse mix of crops at the same time had a powerful ecological effect. He says, “Harmful pests got confused and were unable to locate their host plants, causing their populations to decline. The pests that used to trouble me have disappeared. Even the Agni Astram—the natural pest repellent—is just sitting on a shelf now,” he laughs. We couldn’t believe this was scientifically true, so we did some fact-checking—and it turns out it is! Research supports the idea that increased plant diversity in agricultural systems can disrupt pest behaviour and reduce infestations. Letourneau et al. (2011) conducted a comprehensive review showing that diversified cropping systems often suppress pest populations by making it harder for insects to find their preferred hosts. Similarly, Finch & Collier (2000) proposed the “appropriate/inappropriate landing” theory, explaining that when non-host plants are present among crops, pest insects are more likely to make unsuccessful landings, ultimately reducing their ability to establish and reproduce. These findings support what the farmer observed in the field—that diversifying plants really can serve as a natural pest control strategy.

Thaimann Farmers’ Organization

Farmers today face numerous challenges—water scarcity, prolonged dry spells, high input costs, unstable markets, and irregular income. Marimuthu highlights that most farmers cultivate their land for only 120 to 150 days a year, leaving long periods without any earnings. In contrast, his rotational farming system allows him to farm for nearly 250 to 300 days annually, using the remaining 60 days to prepare the land for the next cycle. Farming is his sole source of income—and it has become regular and dependable.

Motivated by his success, Marimuthu took on another important mission: helping fellow farmers. He founded the Thaimann Farmers’ Organization, a collective that supports farmers who cultivate their crops using natural farming methods. He personally verifies their farming methods, and the farmers get to set the prices for their produce. All the farmers in the collective are from the same region, which greatly streamlines logistics and addresses several challenges typically faced by small-scale farmers such as transportation, market access, and finding reliable consumers—creating a cohesive and supportive farming community.

Marimuthu’s Thriving Farm

Today, Marimuthu’s farm is a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem. He grows 15 to 20 crops at a time, stacked in different intercropped layers—from ground to the trellises. This multi-layered rotational system reduces input costs, minimizes water use, controls pests naturally, reduces weeds, and eliminates the need for repeated tilling. Each crop has a different lifecycle, ensuring continuous harvesting throughout the year. Shade from tall crops and vines slows evaporation, making irrigation efficient even in a drought-prone region. While others struggle with monocultures and rising costs, Marimuthu’s plot bursts with diversity, resilience, and flavour.

Marimuthu’s story is not just about successful farming—it’s about reclaiming the passion for nature, feeding his children with nutritious food, helping fellow farmers, healing the land, and leaving a healthy land for the next generation. His message is both powerful and grounded: don’t blame your land and your situation. Every piece of land is unique—with its own climate, water availability, and soil characteristics. The key is to truly understand your land, discover what works best for it, adapt accordingly, and success will follow naturally. As he puts it: “It only takes one mad, passionate heart. If you are willing and determined, unimaginable things will unfold in your life.”