Organic Farming goes viral in Maharashtra!
The Maharashtra incident was an eye-opener for urban India. In worrisome times, farmers had no hope from their acres of lands to ever yield a solution for their debts. They did not know the answer to prevent the soil from losing its fertility or bring back the days when the store room would be filled with sacks of grains.
In dire need of a solution to the crisis (or even otherwise), organic farming is the new super technology for our farmers.
Shrimant Ganu Shelake, a humble farmer from the holy land of Pandharpur, is one such farmer who feels blessed after being saved from the menace of chemicals. His five acres of land requires less water, labor and investment than that required in chemical farming. "Earlier, only one acre would cost me approximately a whopping Rs 25,000, but now it is very less! Let me also tell you, my yearly income is now Rs. 1.5 lakhs," his grateful voice starts choking as he further adds, "my family is very happy now!"
He dismisses the statement that organic farming cannot be a national solution for all the farmers, "Every farmer can start with it and it's suitable for the Indian soil, for any crop." Ironically, America is demanding five lakh tonnes of organic custard apple from India; however, there is not enough supply from the farmers. "It will be good for our nation; farmers lack awareness and this has stopped the progress for us," mutters Shelake. He owns a three-acre spread of banana field and one-and-a-half acres of red berries and custard apples each. "My custard apple and banana land will increase to five acres in January, all thanks to organic farming," his voice expresses the much-felt happiness.
Shelake's counterpart Ranjith goes a step further and is creating awareness about organic farming among other farmers in the state. "I have been practicing chemical free farming for just two years now but I am very happy with the progress I have made. I have even reached out to the rest of the farmers in Maharashtra, guiding them on the same," his voice expresses the confidence even on the phone.
Dinesh Chauhan, The Art of Living Teacher and Organic Farming Trainer initiated the promotion of organic farming three years ago. Bhaginath Jadhav from Khokar village in Shrirampur Taluka of Ahamadnagar District in Maharashtra had started organic farming in five acres of pomegranate land and Jayant Patil is growing banana organically. Where other farmers invested Rs 70,000 per acre, he could manage input cost just to Rs 15,000 per acre for pomegranate.
He further says that even people at Vidarbha (the host of mass suicide in Maharashtra a couple of years ago) are now more interested in knowing about chemical-free farming.
for full article click on the link below.
http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/organic-farming-goes-viral-in-maharashtra
http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/detour-organic-farming
Ravi
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