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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Organic Farm Fresh: “Those who quit agriculture are coming back through organic farming”-Sarayu Srinivasan

Organic Farm Fresh: “Those who quit agriculture are coming back through organic farming”-Sarayu Srinivasan

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published Published on Jan 9, 2014   modified Modified on Jan 9, 2014
-The Alternative


Parveen Kumar works in the farms of Uddhampur District, Jammu & Kashmir, where the Government has posted him on a project that allots about 100 to 200 hectares of land each to grow and train farmers in organic cultivation. Parveen grows wheat, maize and pulses in the 100 hectares that he is in-charge of. Crops are chosen by the government after analysing the market demand in the area. Thus, farmers like Parveen don't face problems in marketing and selling their produce. Even the transportation of the produce is taken care of by the Government.

We caught up with Praveen to discuss how organic cultivation in J and K and how it differed from his home town in Himachal Pradesh:

Organic has brought farmers closer together

Disheartened by falling yields, many farmers, according to Kumar, have taken to other jobs, like working in grocery shops or restaurants in the area. In the training sessions conducted, these farmers are brought together and introduced to the advantages of organic farming and how to make the process cost-effective for themselves, and to get more revenue. "The first year of shifting to organic farming is very crucial. Our yield drops by a very high margin. For the amount of work done and the time spent, the expectations are high. It is that phase when most farmers give up, but realising that they can make up for the loss in two to three years would go a long way."

Farmer support at the doorstep

Today, companies like ICCOA arrive right at the farmers' door step to give them organic pesticides and fertilizers. The government gives them aid by supplying tools and taking care of shelter needs. "When we stop using chemicals, we need to substitute it with something else that is effective. For instance we have been asked to drop Urea and instead use manure from cow dung. We are trained in how to make our own manure from cow dung with the help of the earthworms that is given to us free of cost," says Kumar.

Using native seeds

In a big to encourage local and indigenous species, the farmers in J&K are supplied with local seeds. "We use native variety of seeds and not the ones that are imported and especially not the hybrid variety. We are self-sufficient and we know we are doing something good for the ecosystem." The native variety is heavier because it is packed with nutrients and vitamins whereas the other seeds are lighter as chemicals have stripped them of nutritional value, observes Kumar.

Organic for a clean Environment

"Going organic has also helped us serve the environment. Now we have lesser chemicals being drained into our water bodies. Our land is fertile for a longer period of time," says Kumar. More farmers are encouraged to do organic farming, he says, and when we speak to them about it, they receive it very well. Farmers who quit are now coming back via organic farming, says Kumar, and this is a positive trend.

India has 1.02 million hectares under organic cultivation today, catering to a consumer market that is worth 6000 crores. Organic begins with the farmer who uses zero pesticides or fertilizers on his farm and goes through rigorous certification processes in order to bring safe and wholesome food to consumers in the cities. Organic Farm Fresh is an ongoing series on the voices of farmers from across the country on cultivating organic food.


The Alternative, 7 January, 2014, http://thealternative.in/environment/organic-farm-fresh-those-who-quit-agriculture-are-coming-back-through-organic-farming/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_


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