1 Dec 2025
In Dadlu village of Shahbad Markanda in Haryana’s Kurukshetra district, 49-year-old farmer Harbir Singh Toor has transformed his agricultural journey into one of India’s most successful nursery ventures. What began over two decades ago with a few thousand seedlings has evolved into a large-scale operation producing nearly 100 million (10 crore) vegetable nursery plants every year.
Originally a wheat and paddy grower, Toor shifted to vegetable nursery cultivation in 2003 after exploring options such as beekeeping. He started with just two kanals (around a quarter acre) and expanded to 16 acres within five years. Today, his nursery supplies a diverse range of vegetable seedlings — tomatoes, onions, capsicum, chillies, gourds, melons, and more — carefully planned according to seasonal demand.
A major factor behind his success is his innovative approach to irrigation and cultivation. Toor uses sprinklers, low-tunnel farming, and an especially efficient soil substitute made from burnt rice husk, river sand, and biogas-plant waste. This growing medium captures atmospheric moisture so effectively that once seeds sprout, seedlings often need no additional irrigation. The mixture is spread on long, raised beds before sowing, significantly reducing water usage.
Toor’s methods have drawn attention internationally. In February 2023, he shared his water-saving techniques at the World Horticulture Centre in the Netherlands, earning praise from global agricultural experts.
His achievements have been widely recognized. He has received numerous awards, including “Kisan Ratan,” “Nursery Ratan,” and the national “N. G. Ranga Award” from ICAR in 2017. Toor also collaborates with agricultural universities, mentors students, and conducts training sessions on low-cost, efficient nursery and irrigation methods.
Looking ahead, he plans to expand into fruit and tissue-culture plant production and aims to make modern nursery technologies affordable and accessible to small and marginal farmers — promoting sustainable horticulture across the country.