Merchant Navy captain leads organic farming initiative on ancestral land in Hoshiarpur village

In a village of Bimrampur in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, a tale of dedication is inspiring a new generation of farmers. Paramveer Singh Bimbh, a seasoned captain in the Merchant Navy, has been steering a remarkable organic farming initiative back home as well, since 2016.

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Born into a family where farming was a tradition and banking was a profession, Paramveer inherited both discipline and love for the land. While his father worked in banking, he also looked after their 15 acres of ancestral farmland. Initially reliant on chemical-intensive agriculture, the family shifted to organic methods driven by their vision for healthier food and sustainable soil.

“When soil is healthy, crops are naturally resistant to diseases,” says Paramveer. “There’s no need to spend heavily if you follow nature’s rhythm,” he further adds.

Splitting his time between sea and soil, Captain Bimbh spends six months navigating the oceans and the other six months nurturing his fields. His farm now thrives with a diverse array of produce including seasonal vegetables, rajma (kidney beans), moong (green gram), mustard for oil and a variety of fruits such as apples, papayas, bananas, and guavas. He follows a multi-cropping pattern, which he believes is key to maintaining soil fertility and reducing pests without the need for chemicals.

His efforts have not only cut farming costs but have also sparked conversations in the local farming community about the long-term benefits of organic agriculture. From composting to natural pest control, Captain Bimbh is blending traditional wisdom with modern insights to show that farming can be both profitable and planet-friendly. On the farm, he uses ‘khatti lassi’, cow dung manure and neem oil as insect and fungus repellents.

Paramveer Singh Bimbh is an example of how passion, when rooted deeply, can sail far—both on land and sea.

In a time when many seek opportunities abroad, Paramveer has firmly rooted himself in Punjab. “I’ve never wanted to go abroad. Everything we need is here—if we’re willing to put in the work,” he says.