Asha Krishnaswamy visits the Hare Krishna Nature Farm at Mahadevapura, on the banks of the river Cauvery, and is impressed by the farming initiatives taken up there.
If only Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, who swore by the farmers while assuming office, had visited the Hare Krishna Nature Farm in Mahadevapura of Mandya district, he would not have set up an organic farming commission. He might even have given up the idea of setting up an agriculture commission. Instead, he would have found readymade solutions and plenty of suggestions to help farmers lead a dignified life without being dependent on, and indebted to external agencies.
When you enter the farm of Iskcon, you will envy the people who have made it their home. It is located on the banks of the river Cauvery, 25 km from Mysore. Way back in 1993-94, the 130 acres of gomala land were full of bushes and pebbles, a waste land due to soil erosion. Now if you begin to explore this place on your own, you are bound to lose your way in the woods. This lush green place looks like a patch of Malnad, though life-size trees are missing. You can spot many varieties of common spices, cereals and horticulture crops. There is a small temple of Rama-Balarama too.
Paddy and sugarcane, vanilla, pepper creepers, coconut, litchi, pomegranate, papaya, banana, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, all-spice, gooseberry, casuarina, ekka and many more plants are cultivated here.
What’s so special about this farm?
There is no trace of chemical or synthetic fertiliser or pesticide in the soil of this farm. It is purely developed on the concept of land and cow-based economy in harmony with nature. In other words, organic farming and biodynamic farming practices are followed here. Now, efforts are on to move towards natural farming because the humification has touched a satisfactory level.
The farm had about 20 per cent government land and the rest of it was owned by farmers. An endowment was formed to purchase land by the devotees and the same was transferred to Iskcon. In the early 1990s, land prices were nominal and it was not difficult to purchase it, according to Jai Chaitanya Dasa, a native of Kerala, and an Iskcon devotee.
About 15 years ago, the mandate given by Iskcon to Dasa was to strive for rural welfare. He was just 27 with no experience or knowledge of agriculture. He is now heading the Mysore branch of Iskcon. He is also the Managing Trustee of Eco Agriculture Research Foundation (EARF), which takes care of the marketing and research aspects of the farm. He bought 130 acres of rain shadow area which had no power and water facilities. He did an extensive practical study of organic farming and implemented the measures at the farm, with the help of 20 local farmers.
“I just wanted the land to have green cover so that moisture can be retained. In the first five years, the farm was infested with many kinds of diseases including viral, pest and microbial attacks because that was the only patch of greenery in the entire area. Organic methods were used to fight the pests. In the last five years, the plants have become disease resistant because we have given such nutrients to the soil,” he points out.
Why did he opt for organic instead of natural farming? Dasa explains, “natural farming can be done if there is biodiversity but that was missing 15 years ago in the farm. Now I can afford to switch over to natural farming because of the diverse ecosystem here.”
Usage of inputs like compost and vermicompost, intercropping sugarcane with legumes, cultivation of banana, ginger, pepper and vanilla as mixed crops in coconut gardens all make it a unique farm. Composts with a composition of plant materials such as green legume crops and dry straw are fermented to make it as manure.
Such mixtures help preserving soil nutrients, says Yogish A, Manager - Inspection & Extension, EARF.
Today the farm and EARF stand as an example to show how agriculture can be economically viable provided you have the determination to make it so. This place has no overtones of religion. It is just a farm where you find people working with passion. One such person is Kulashekara Dasa, a Bangalore youth, who has earned the nickname of ‘Cowpathi’ because he is in-charge of the dairy.
The Foundation has become financially sustainable as it is marketing the agriculture produce under the brand ‘Organic Lifestyle’. To educate farmers, EARF has taken up the role of a teaching institute. It conducts workshops on the merits of organic and BD farming through BASIL Academy located in the farm. Practical training is imparted to farmers for four days in batches. Food and accommodation are provided at a charge of Rs 2,000.
Regina, Training Co-ordinator and a PhD student, says apart from farmers, a good number of software professionals are attending the workshops. Urban educated people are investing on land in rural areas and hence they are attracted towards BASIL, she says.
The Foundation is also conducting counselling sessions in villages in Karnataka as well as in the neighbouring states. Today, it has succeeded in roping in 3,000 farmers who are strictly into organic farming.
The Research Foundation is purchasing the produce including wheat, rice, ragi, chillies and spices from these farmers. While cereals are for the domestic market, spices are being marketed domestically and internationally. The products meet both EU and US standards.
International certification
If a farmer wants to get into the chain, then he has to practise organic farming under the guidance of officials of EARF for three years. Twice a year, the soil will be subjected to a lab test. If the rules for cultivation are followed, then they will be able to get international certification of organic branding for their produce. At the individual level, it is difficult for farmers to get the certification because of the cost factor and elaborate procedure. But if they are members of EARF, then they come under the group certification, says Yogish.
Organically grown black pepper is in high demand in the international market, says Jai Balaji, an MBA graduate who is working for Internal Control System of EARF.
THE COSMIC CONNECTION
Under the biodynamic (BD) method, a series of preparations anywhere between 500 and 508 are done based on various minerals, plant, and animal substances. They are used to improve soil quality, the composts and the liquid manures. In a way it complements the organic method. The BD method is dependent on auspicious positions of the moon, sun and planets. It is similar to that of Indian ancestral method of farming which was mainly dependent on cosmic movement for sowing and planting. But the credit of popularising the BD method across the globe goes to Peter Proctor of New Zealand. He is closely associated with the activities of EARF.
CHECK THEM OUT
Organic Lifestyle products are sold at the Iskcon temple complex and ten other stores in Bangalore. It is now going to be co-branding its products with Nilgiris. It is a fact that organic produce is costlier than those grown conventionally. “The cultivation and processing cost is higher in case of the organic method. Also, we want farmers to get benefits as in the initial years of cultivation they will not make any profits. So, the prices are about 25 per cent higher. We are not into profit making but we want farmers to feel good financially,” Jai Chaitanya Dasa says. He now wants to develop a food processing unit to manufacture jams and pickles among others.
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct72008/spectrum2008100693851.asp |
