Asian farmers visit Karnataka’s natural farms- Day 2

Srirangpatnam

November 3th, 2011

Tilly Gifford

Stephanie Wang

Delegates are interviewed by local medias in Shivalli

The caravan started this second day with a visit of Boregowda’s seed bank in Shivalli. In traditional India, 1 lakh (100 000) varieties of paddy existed, however the Green Revolution and the aggressive marketing of hybrid seeds by the Indian government along with agribusiness has resulted in a drastic loss of native varieties. Concerned about this loss of biodiversity, Boregowda makes available to farmers a seed bank of 70, mostly native, varieties of paddy. He has evolved a program to provide seeds to the small peasant farmers. The latter can either buy the seed at minimal cost, or simply borrow them if they return double the quantity after their harvest.  The important role of seed-banks such as Boregowda’s became apparent when it was explained that other seed banks do exist - in Tamil-Nadu, and Karnataka universities for example - but are used for the detrimental projects of Monsanto, Gargil and Mahyco, and largely inaccessible to small farmers.

In Bannur, delegates made their way, bare-footed, through paddy field to reach Krishnappa’s land. With great enthusiasm, Karnataka’s model farmer of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) guided the guests in this journey through this wild, but methodically planned form of farming. Different fields with different growth stages and crops visually demonstrated that ZBNF can prove successful within a very short period of time. 

Beginning at a vegetable plot planted only 1 month ago, we were lead to an adjacent plot  5 months old, then 1 year old, all the way through to 4 and 5 year old plots. On the first plot one could clearly see the layout and pattern in planting – sugarcane, onion, marigold, pepper, bean and ladies finger. The second plot was dominated by huge sugarcane plants where up to 12 stems per seedling could be observed. The 8X2 feet beds were separated by water channels, through which Jeevamrutha circulates and bring its nutrients to the soil.

On the last plot the areca nuts and coconuts tower overhead, with cocoa plants and teak trees for natural fencing. The careful architecture of the layout of the planting was explained. On a 9 X 9 feet area, Krishnappa plants one banana tree, surrounded by 4 arecanuts, 2 coffee and 2 gliricidia plants. Gliricidia is a nitrogen-fixer whose leaves are used for mulching and pest control. Such configuration not only brings biodiversity to the farm, but provides a diverse and profitable source of income for the farmer throughout the year. Krishnappa’s popularity can be attributed to the fact that he explains clearly the economics of ZBNF, which is the crucial aspect for any farmer who considers switching from chemical to natural farming. In fact, Krishnappa says that anyone undertaking ZBNF as he does can gain an income after 3 months only, covering the initial expenditures and bringing the final input to zero.

Prasanna , a civil engineer by training, is under Krishnappa’s tutor age for this 1 acre model farm in Arkere.  Krishnappa visits his site twice a week, providing advices. Prasanna began Zero Budget Natural Farming just 3 months back and the visitors could see all the standing crops. Along with banana, which is the main crop, an interesting diversity of inter crops are grown: cauliflower, pepper, brinjal, cabbage, tomato, pulses, chilli, bean, marigold, onion and maize. Prasanna argues that all first inputs will be covered by the profits made of the inter crops, and that a good profit will be left in the farmers pocket. 

For this type of farming, Jeevamrutha is a key element. It is not a fertilizer that feeds the crops, but a microbial culture that promotes microbial activity of the soil.  

Finally, the caravan head back to Srirangpatnam for a second night at the Ashram.