Isha Agricultural Movement planted carrots intercropped between lady finger this time on our farm in the village of Chemmedu in Coimbatore. After 110 days the carrot is yielding thicker and longer than we expected.
Coimbatore: Isha Agriculture Movement has amazed farmers by cultivating carrots grown in hilly areas like Ooty and Kodaikanal in the plains of Coimbatore. Swami Srimuga, the co-ordinator of the movement, said, “We have been conducting nature farming exercises all over Tamil Nadu and have been developing and maintaining model farms at 4 locations in Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruvannamalai and Thanjavur. We are cultivating a total of 60 acres of different crops using different natural techniques as an experimental effort."
"In that sense, we planted carrots intercropped between lady's fingers this time on our farm in the village of Chemmedu in Coimbatore. After 110 days the carrot is yielding thicker and longer than we expected. Usually if you go to the grocery store and buy 1 kg of carrots you will catch 12 to 13 carrots. But, these naturally grown carrots weigh 1 kilo with just 6 or 7 carrots. We have intercropped not only carrots but also beetroot, radish and coriander in one place. This time there was no reduction in the profit due to heavy rainfall.
Similarly, we have been cultivating the traditional Kavuni rice naturally for the last 3 years. Last year the yield was only two quarter tonnes per acre. It is to be noted that this is more than the yield taken by the farmers who do chemical farming near our garden. As such, we pass on to the farmers all the natural farming techniques that have been tested and succeeded as live field training. So far we have provided natural agriculture training to 12 thousand farmers. Many of them have become successful and profitable farmers. Since then, we have been teaching natural agriculture training to new farmers across their farms across Tamil Nadu."
Commenting on the importance of organic farming, he said, “The products of organic farming are well received in the market. Thus, not only the income of the farmers increases but also the soil fertility increases. Soil fertility has been badly affected not only in Tamil Nadu but globally by the use of chemical fertilizers. According to the UN Environment Program, fertile soil can be said to contain at least 3 percent organic matter. But, in our India its size is less than 0.5. If the same situation persists, this soil will be completely depleted and pushed into an environment where no agriculture can be done. Therefore, natural agriculture with tree cultivation is the only solution to restore soil fertility. Realizing this, the Central and State Governments are now taking steps to promote organic farming. This is very welcome. More and more farmers will be more interested in organic farming if special subsidies are given to farmers who are involved in organic farming as they are subsidized for chemical fertilizers. ”
"In that sense, we planted carrots intercropped between lady's fingers this time on our farm in the village of Chemmedu in Coimbatore. After 110 days the carrot is yielding thicker and longer than we expected. Usually if you go to the grocery store and buy 1 kg of carrots you will catch 12 to 13 carrots. But, these naturally grown carrots weigh 1 kilo with just 6 or 7 carrots. We have intercropped not only carrots but also beetroot, radish and coriander in one place. This time there was no reduction in the profit due to heavy rainfall.
Similarly, we have been cultivating the traditional Kavuni rice naturally for the last 3 years. Last year the yield was only two quarter tonnes per acre. It is to be noted that this is more than the yield taken by the farmers who do chemical farming near our garden. As such, we pass on to the farmers all the natural farming techniques that have been tested and succeeded as live field training. So far we have provided natural agriculture training to 12 thousand farmers. Many of them have become successful and profitable farmers. Since then, we have been teaching natural agriculture training to new farmers across their farms across Tamil Nadu."
Commenting on the importance of organic farming, he said, “The products of organic farming are well received in the market. Thus, not only the income of the farmers increases but also the soil fertility increases. Soil fertility has been badly affected not only in Tamil Nadu but globally by the use of chemical fertilizers. According to the UN Environment Program, fertile soil can be said to contain at least 3 percent organic matter. But, in our India its size is less than 0.5. If the same situation persists, this soil will be completely depleted and pushed into an environment where no agriculture can be done. Therefore, natural agriculture with tree cultivation is the only solution to restore soil fertility. Realizing this, the Central and State Governments are now taking steps to promote organic farming. This is very welcome. More and more farmers will be more interested in organic farming if special subsidies are given to farmers who are involved in organic farming as they are subsidized for chemical fertilizers. ”