This is the success story of a lady who forayed into organic farming almost a decade ago to grow her own food.
This is the success story of a lady who forayed into organic farming almost a decade ago to grow her own food.
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| Pic Source : India Today |
"Such chemical sprays are a big no." Jain mostly grows palak, dhania, methi, carrot, radish and cauliflower in winters and palak, dhania, tomatoes, bhindi, ghiyaand cucumber in summers. "I also have mango, litchi, lemon and mulberry trees in my garden," adds this 38-year-old psychologist and special educator. She says that it is tough to find organic seeds in Chandigarh and therefore she has been using regular seeds. For manure, she depends on her milkman.
Not being able to find any organic sprays to protect her plants from insects, she lets nature have its way and let the plants be destroyed rather than use chemicals. She says she does not sell the products she grows but if and when she has some extra she distributes among her friends and the domestic help. "The awareness towards organic has increased but much more needs to be done. Every time I visit the local farmers' market and talk to farmers, the response is, 'It's useless, water and soil is already contaminated.
Moreover, how are we supposed to make a living by not using fertilizers?" The customers generally can't trust if the product is really organic Agreeing that most organic products prove to be quite expensive she says that it makes sense that people start growing them at home-in the kitchen gardens and pots, for family consumption.
"The government needs to compensate the farmers for growing organic food by giving them some benefits or maybe better prices, as the quality of food is better and this is surely going to motivate more farmers to grow organic. Organic products should be easily available through a central place as organic food has less shelf life, so that farmers don't have to spend time in contacting consumers," she says.
Jain adds that acquainting children at school about the benefits of going organic will have a long-term positive impact. "They should also be taught how to grow them in their home backyards, pots and on the terrace," concludes Jain.
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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