In 2012, life took a heartbreaking turn for Reeva Sood when her husband, Dr. Rajeev Sood, was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. What could have been a story of despair instead became a journey of rediscovery, resilience, and renewal.
Returning to her ancestral home in Una, Himachal Pradesh, Reeva found solace in the soil. What began as a personal search for healing evolved into a 70-acre chemical-free farming venture, now known as Agriva Naturally, a beacon of sustainable living that generates ₹1 crore in annual turnover while empowering over 300 rural women.
A Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
“When my husband was diagnosed, it shook our world,” Reeva recalls. “We began to question everything, especially our food habits.”
Her husband’s response, “It’s the food,” became a revelation. The couple realized how deeply chemicals and pesticides had seeped into their diets and lives. Determined to make a change, Reeva decided to embrace a healthier, more natural way of living not just for her family, but for her community.
Turning Barren Land Into a Blooming Future
Leaving behind the comfort of city life in Delhi, Reeva returned to her village to transform barren, rocky terrain into fertile farmland.
She chose dragon fruit, a resilient cactus species she had seen in Thailand and Taiwan. “It thrives in arid conditions, requires minimal water, and even keeps animals like monkeys and nilgai away,” she shares.
Starting in 2017 with just 2,000 saplings over 5 acres, Reeva relied solely on natural fertilizers like buttermilk, vermicompost, and jeevamrut (a mix of cow dung and urine). Slowly, the dry hills of Himachal turned green with life and hope.
Empowering Rural Women, One Crop at a Time
But Reeva’s mission didn’t end with cultivation. She founded an FPO (Farmers Producer Organisation) called Him2Hum, bringing together 300 women from Himachal, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Delhi.
These women now grow and process dragon fruit, moringa, and ashwagandha learning not only sustainable agriculture but also financial independence.
Women like Mamta Rathee from Haryana have seen their lives transformed. “I earn ₹10,000 extra each month by processing crops for Reeva Ma’am’s venture. More importantly, I’ve learned how to build something of my own,” she says.
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