Collaborative Knowledge Building: Nurturing Changemakers for Regenerating Soil and Communities

At Beetle Regen Solutions, our commitment to soil regeneration extends beyond the field, it begins with knowledge, dialogue and empowerment. This April, we continued our journey of cultivating change by organizing Collaborative Knowledge Building (CKB) workshops across Khargone (Madhya Pradesh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra). These sessions were immersive, hands-on learning experiences designed to equip our Regen Ambassadors (RAs) with the tools and understanding they need to support over 32,000 farmers across these two districts.

Khargone: Deepening Roots in Regenerative Agriculture

Held during the last week of April, our 3-day CKB workshop in Khargone brought together over 70 participants, including Regen Ambassadors from Beetle, Members of CITI-CDRA from three states and representatives from IDH, Bhopal.

This intensive learning space delved deep into a wide range of regenerative cotton farming practices. Participants were introduced to the core principles of Punaryoji Krishi and explored strategies for testing and improving soil health. The program also covered water-efficient irrigation systems, the benefits of multi-cropping, crop rotation, and cover cropping, along with natural approaches to pest and nutrient management. A special focus was placed on biochar—its preparation and application—as well as the use of Weekly Plant Prognosis tools for effective field monitoring. Additionally, the training provided an overview of regenagri certification standards and documentation processes, and introduced the High Density Planting System (HDPS) as a method for enhancing crop yield.

Participants actively engaged through hands-on demonstrations, team games, case study discussions and reflection. The diversity of attendees, from young 12th pass youth to seasoned agronomists, added richness to the discussions and solution-building processes.

Nagpur: Grounding Change, One Village at a Time

On 29th and 30th April, our team stepped into the heart of Nagpur district, holding a uniquely grounded CKB across Narkhed and Katol blocks. Unlike traditional classroom sessions, this CKB included:

· Two field sessions in villages with lead farmers, RAs, Agronomists, and the District Manager

· One day of office training to reinforce the learnings and prepare RAs for field dissemination

The training addressed urgent local issues most notably, the alarmingly low Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) levels in the farmlands. With no slides or screens, discussions focused on practical, accessible regenerative methods like reduced tillage, enhancing biodiversity through crop rotations, intercropping, cover cropping, agroforestry, residue management, usage of short-duration varieties for timely cotton termination and second cropping. The experience reinforced our team's conviction that regeneration is not just about farming techniques, it's about understanding the 'why' behind them. It is in these real conversations, shared meals, and field visits that conviction takes roots.

From Training to Transformation

These CKBs are central to how Beetle builds local leadership and sustains momentum. Our Regen Ambassadors are young changemakers who carry forward this knowledge into the fields, engaging with farmers on scientific practices, regenerative agriculture, field monitoring and record-keeping, Farmer-friendly communication, standard compliance, etc. Together, we are making Punaryoji Krishi (Regenerative Agriculture) a movement rooted in science, understanding, empathy and community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to every participant, farmer, and team member who made these sessions successful.