This is the story of women who took organic farming inspired by zero budget natural farming.
This is the story of women who took organic farming inspired by zero budget natural farming.
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| Pic Source | India Today |
Five years ago, Seema Jolly, 38, decided to foray into organic farming, a dream she had cherished since long. It was the backyard of her home in Chandigarh where she decided to make her dream come true. Inspired by Subhash Palekar's zero budget natural farming, she visited farms where his model was being practiced and was impressed.
She has been growing vegetables in over an acre. During winters, it is cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, pokchoy, lettuce, spinach, fenugreek etc., while in summers, it is gourds including bottle gourd, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, pumpkin, melons, moong, okra, chilly, capsicum, tomatoes. Jolly procures seeds from other organic farmers and seed savers as the first choice but she largely depends on hybrids bought from regular seed stores.
"I treat them with bijamrit before sowing. The manure comes from gaushalas and I make Jivamrit and vermicomposton my own." Talking about the natural pesticides, she says, "I make concoctions out of hing, neem, ak, dhatura, garlic, chilly, etc, as pest repellents. Besides, I have been following mixed cropping and companion planting." Marketing of the organic produce was initially a problem and Jolly would carry the produce in her car to sell in the parking lot of the school where her children study.
"But it was after the organic farming convention in Chandigarh last year that an organic farmers' market was started in National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTR) centre. It came as a big relief and now there is an organic section in the Apnimandis' too. However, the government needs to step in with more support." Friends often consult her for their organic kitchen gardens. "I was invited to my childrens' school too to talk about organic farming.
Many local parents' clubs in the tricity call me to share organic/natural kitchen gardening tips with them," she adds. Referring to the high cost of organic food she says that those who find organic products expensive must see the effort that goes into growing food. She encourages people to grow whatever they can at home but limited space and time were common constraints.
Suggesting that an intensive awareness campaign on the ill-effects of chemicals on soil, air water and health should be launched, Jolly says, "Farmers and consumers have to become conscious of how growing and consuming chemical adden food is killing the planet. The government needs to launch more schemes and incentives for organic growers.Exclusive organic farmers' markets and festivals should be supported by the states," she adds.
Source : India Today
This story is published under "Humans Who Grow Food" category. Humans Who Grow Food is an initiative to encourage people to grow their own food.Main objective of this initiative is to connect the community of gardeners and inspire others to grow their own food.
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