Asian farmers visit Karnataka’s natural farms- Day- 3

4th November

 Tilly Gifford

Stephanie Wang

In the morning, a programme was organized by the Ashram with music, offering of garlands and speeches. KRRS general secretary Chukki Nanjundaswamy, KRRS president Puttanaiah and Chandravan Ashram’s swami welcomed the international guests to Karnataka and spoke about Indian agriculture. 

The caravan arrived at midday at Kailashmurthy’s farm in Doddindavadi village, Kollegal taluk, Chamarajanagar district. Inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka, he practices non-intervention, or “Do-Nothing Farming”, ie no tilling, no ploughing, no weeding, no fertilizers or pesticides. One may use jeevamrutha or farm manure the first 2 years. He strongly believes that all plants take most of their needed nutrients from sunlight, not from the soil; hence there is no need to use any kind of fertilizer. The only input, provided through drip irrigation, is water.

Kailashmurthy stresses the importance of introducing resistant, high quality varieties. For instance, he introduced an American variety of plantain banana which is resistant to panama disease and nematode pest, both destructive for banana crops. Eager to be sure of the resistance of the variety, Murthy had to rely on this imported variety which is issued from tissue culture. Then, he waits for each variety planted to adapt to conditions of that micro-environment.

“The banana trees sulked for 4 years before bursting into fruit. Essentially, you’re training them to go wild again”, he explains. “Once they adapt, they’re off.”

He planted this land 18 years ago with areca nut as a main crop. He explained that now he regrets this choice, as his philosophy would steer him clearly towards food crops.  Kailashmurthy advocates non interference, but also suggests creating conditions of stress – drought conditions for example, to increase the resilience of the plants and encourage them to fruit.

International delegates were concerned about how to grow short term vegetables with this kind of farming. Kailashmurthy is convinced that although delicate to grow, any vegetable crop can be grown successfully if grown in its proper agro-climatic zone:

 “Not many different vegetables are eaten now in India. Before, each crop was seasonal. Vegetables from the rainy season offered health benefits accordingly. Vegetables are delicate to grow and so the variety is being lost. ”

Now, we are growing winter vegetables in summer and summer vegetables in winter. Such unnatural process requires higher inputs from the farmer as he fights against nature.

He drives a rod into the earth. Impressively, it sinks at least 1m into the ground. “This is due to encouraging the biodiversity and creatures living in the ground. Also we don’t use tractors and machines that make the ground compact.”

Driving through the nature reserve, home to tigers and deer, we arrive at BR Hills. The Tribal Welfare organization welcomed us with a meal and a performance of tribal songs and dances.  This residential school educates and feeds 600 children from the area. Delegates joined the stage with peasant songs from Korea and Nepal, before retreating to bed. The next morning the first evaluation of the project was due.