From organic food to organic fashion, we have seen them all. At a time when the term ‘organic’ has become commonplace, have you ever stopped to think what it actually means? “We all know it’s clean, healthy… but do we know what goes into it?” asks Sheela Balaji, of city-based NGO, Aim For Seva (AFS). To answer this question, and to help people understand the vast scope of what is possible with organic farming, AFS, along with its store Spirit of The Earth, is all set to host the India Organic Fair 2018 from September 7-11 in Chennai.
The event — based on a concept suggested by the Ministry of Women and Child Development — is slated to feature over 60 stalls from 14 States, and will also double-up as an educative exhibition space. “Except for the National Seed Festival, we have not had something like this in the city. Farmer-participants will bring produce such as grains, cereals, lentils, oil, honey, cotton, fabric, and spices, and speakers will share the learnings from their field experience,” says Balaji.
Back to the roots
Among the participants are Mahan Chandra Borah, who started the unique Annapurna Rice Seed Library in Jorhat (Assam) to collect heirloom rice varieties and promote their cultivation, and rice warrior Dr Debal Deb, who not only has a seed bank but also raises over 1,300 rice varieties in his two-acre farm, Basudha, in Rayagada, Odisha. There are also those who gave up jobs to take up farming, such as Dr Harinath Kasiganesan who farms in Kalivandhapattu near Maraimalar Nagar, and farmer-couple Sriram and Karpagam who quit a career in Mumbai to farm in Maduranthakam, Kancheepuram district. “We want to show people that there is an alternative and these are people who have made it work,” she adds.
Aparna Rajagopal of the Noida-based farm Beejom seeks to reduce the disconnect between rural practices and urban perceptions. “Many still don’t know how food is grown. Our farm along the Yamuna is learning-oriented — we teach farmers cowshed management, intercropping and companion planting,” says Rajagopal, who, apart from her talk on returning to one’s roots, will be bringing herb pillows, paper straws, grains, cow dung logs and pots, and goat, chicken manure to the fest. City dwellers are also welcome to visit the farm and learn how to grow and cook the vegetables raised.
Heirloom treasures
But it is not just about learning. You can also take home fresh produce from the many participants, including Satish Dhar of the Dehradun-based Association of Organic Farmers who will be there with three colleagues. The group works in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. “Our strength is floriculture, and aromatic and medicinal plants. We bring with us by-products such as floral waters and essential oils.” They will also stock brown Basmati from Dehradun, saffron from Kashmir, almonds and walnuts from Kashmir and Afghanistan, dhoop cones with Himalayan herbs and amaranth seed ladoos from Pithoragarh. “The intention is to allow customers to experience what real organic produce feels like. Once they get used to this, they will know what to look for,” says Dhar.
Reality check
And if this event tempts you to drop everything and start farming, do not miss the talk by Subashini Sridhar of the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems, who will give you a reality check. For someone who has worked with farmers for over two decades, she will highlight the ground realities of the profession, drawing from her experience in Sirkzhi, Tamil Nadu. “Many get into organic farming without understanding that it is a way of life, and don’t know how to do it profitably. Farmers, on the other hand, wonder why they should persist without Government support. Chemical farming is off-the-shelf, organic farming is preventive — the right input at the right time. It takes time to learn that. But if you’re willing to do that, welcome to farming.”
From September 7 to 11, 10 am to 8 pm at Mother Teresa Women’s Complex, Valluvar Kottam High Road, Nungambakkam. Details: 9500060153. Entry is free.
