India - 12’

 

SYNOPSIS

Project 101: A Hundred Farmers & One is the story of a young researcher who set out to introduce sustainable farming techniques to small-scale sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh. But as he learned from the farmers just as much as they learned from him, the project evolved into a collective movement of knowledge-sharing, trust, and empowerment. 

 

Using trench method planting, furrow irrigation, and balanced fertilizer application, the project introduced farmers to precision agriculture techniques that increased sugarcane yields by up to 60% while reducing cultivation costs. Through soil nutrient testing and bio-compost fertilization, farmers restored soil health while cutting down on chemical use. The project also employed drone technology for micronutrient application and Trichoderma-based soil treatments to enhance pest resistance. By merging scientific innovation with traditional farming wisdom, Ek Sau Ek is a testament to how real change happens—not from the outside in, but from within a community that uplifts itself together.

 

CREDITS

Directors:  Yash Dhruv Sawhney, Rajeev Amit Singh

Producers: Akash Premson, Prateek David Kashyap

Writer: T Thomas Koshy

Assistant Director: Yash Dhruv Sawhney

Concept, Story & Research: Yash Dhruv Sawhney

Green Bamboo Pictures Pvt LtdProduction House

Cinematographers: Sean Tuckey, Saji Babu, Chandersain, Mananjay, Ankit Tomar

Editing: Ankit Tomar

Coloring (DI): Jaspreet Rajan

Voiceover Artist: Yash Dhruv Sawhney

Music: Anton Levin, Sound _ Forces, Elians Productions, Coffee Music, Audio Studio, Myth Media

Audio Engineer: Nitin Sharma

Drone Operator: Aslam Abbasi, Rajuddin Khan

Assistants: Raghvendra Singh, Sintu Yadav, Abhishek Kumar, Ganesh Kumar

Post Production Team: Prateek David Kashyap, Aaradhana Ram Kashyap, Divya Verghese, Keren Jonathan, T Thomas Koshy, Yash Dhruv Sawhney

Research & Script Support: Divya Verghese, Keren Jonathan, T Thomas Koshy, Yash Dhruv Sawhney

 

 

ABOUT

Yash Dhruv Sawhney is a student at Winchester College, UK, with a strong academic foundation in mathematics, science, and geography. He founded the Ek Sau Ek (101) Project, which integrates scientific farming techniques with traditional agricultural practices to improve sugarcane yield and farmer income in India. Through this initiative, he has collaborated with over 100 farmers, distributed educational pamphlets reaching 40,000 individuals, and partnered with Hak Darshak to facilitate access to government financial aid. His work has been featured in national media, exhibited at the Chennai Photo Biennale, and recognized in international film festivals through a documentary he helped create.

 

Yash has also conducted research on precision farming and ethical business practices, co-authoring a paper submitted to the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. He has interned at the Winchester College Treasury, contributing to archival projects, and gained experience in art conservation. He also hosts The Mindful Muncher, a podcast exploring food chemistry and agriculture. With accolades in mathematics, physics, and sustainability competitions, Yash has a dynamic and well-rounded approach to learning and leadership.

This film was made in collaboration with Direct Rajeev Amit Singh from Green Bamboo Productions.

 

With over 13 years of experience in broadcast media, Rajeev Amit Singh is a passionate and creative storyteller with a proven ability to produce compelling fiction and non-fiction content across various audiovisual platforms. He has worked with leading media organizations such as ETV, Century Communication, and the Christian Broadcasting Network (US-based production house).

 

Beyond his work with major companies, Rajeev has independently produced and directed numerous documentaries, social awareness films, and co-branded audiovisual content for a diverse range of clients.

 

DIRECTOR STATEMENT

When I first stepped into the fields of Uttar Pradesh, I wasn’t there to make a film. What started as a research internship quickly became something much bigger. I had arrived with data, science, and techniques to improve sugarcane farming, but what I hadn’t expected was how much I would learn from the farmers themselves.

 

At its core, Project 101: A Hundred Farmers & One is about people coming together, exchanging knowledge, and reshaping the way we think about agriculture. I may have introduced precision agriculture, trench method planting, and sustainable irrigation techniques, but the farmers were the ones who tested, and proved that these methods worked.

 

This documentary is not just about farming. It’s about trust, resilience, and the power of community. It’s about mentorship that goes both ways—how I arrived as an intern but became part of something far greater than a research project. It’s about the conversations over chai, the late nights discussing soil health, and the shared victories when we saw yields increase and costs go down.

 

I hope Project 101: A Hundred Farmers & One captures what I felt every day in those fields—the excitement of discovery, the strength of working together, and the belief that real change doesn’t come from outside experts alone. It happens when a community takes ownership of its own future.