In the quiet fields of Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, a young farmer named Akash Chaurasia is making music for his crops. For over ten years, Akash has been playing classical melodies to his plants every morning and evening. What started as an unusual experiment has become a successful method for him.
Akash believes that just as music can relax humans, it can also positively affect plants. He was inspired by old Bollywood songs that celebrated the natural sounds of farms. He realised that nature’s own music is important for healthy growth.
He treats his crops like patients in a music therapy session. Different types of music are played at different stages of the plants’ lives. For seeds, gentle classical music helps them sprout. As the plants grow, the music changes to suit their needs. When it’s time to harvest, the music changes again.
Akash follows a strict schedule: three hours of music in the morning, from 5 AM to 8 AM, and two hours in the evening, from 5 PM to 7 PM.
To test his theory, Akash compared two plots of land. Both plots had the same soil, seeds, fertiliser, and care. The only difference was that one plot had music played to it daily, while the other did not.
The results were clear. The crops that listened to music grew faster, matured earlier, and produced 15 to 20 per cent more yield than the crops that didn’t hear any music. Akash explained it like comparing students who study in a quiet library to those who study in a noisy cafeteria.
One of his most impressive trials was with black turmeric, a valuable medicinal crop. The music-treated black turmeric plants not only resisted diseases that affected the other plants but also had a higher curcumin content, which makes turmeric valuable.
Akash has also experimented with playing music to cattle and earthworms. Cows that listened to music daily gave about half a kilogram more milk. Earthworms in the soil also seemed more active when music was played.
Dr. Ashish Tripathi, a scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Bijora, supports the idea. He said that natural farming is about creating healthy environments for plants. If music can improve people’s moods, it makes sense that crops would also benefit.
For Akash, this isn’t just about getting higher yields, although the extra 15-20 per cent increase helps his family’s income. It’s also about reconnecting human creativity with nature’s ability to provide.
As the sun sets, Akash looks over his healthy fields with satisfaction. He knows that tomorrow morning, his crops will once again be serenaded by classical music, and they seem to appreciate every note.
