Shimoga: Vijayakant and Chandravati, a couple from Shimoga, have set up Amruta, an outlet of food products grown in the natural farming method on 100 feet road at Rajendra Nagar in Shimoga. Everything from rice, ragi, jowar, pulses and grams, fruits and vegetables, honey, areca, coconut oil and jaggery are available here.
Though a pharmacist by profession in the Department of Health and Family Welfare, agriculture was a passion with Vijayakant, inspiring him to invest a part of his savings to purchase land. Having spent most of his time in villages, Vijayakant has an intimate understanding of farming and participation in a workshop on natural farming further enriched his knowledge.

“My association with the State Natural Farmers’ Club strengthened and I was invited as a resource person for many workshops. Natural farming itself is value addition for food products as there is lot of demand for farm fresh, chemical-free food as people are becoming more and more health conscious. During my interaction with farmers,

“I realised the absence of a proper supply chain for products grown in the natural farming method. This inspired me to start Amruta. Many farmers from Shimoga and Chikmagalur districts who are into natural farming market their produce through Amruta,” he said.

Though the idea of Amruta was mooted by Vijayakant, the outlet is actually managed by his wife Chandravati.
Amruta is proving to be beneficial to both farmers and customers as there are no middlemen involved.
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