In tune with nature

Safe Harvest, an organisation promoting non-pesticide farming, is the reason behind many happy farmers in north Karnataka, writes A Varsha Rao.

When we eat our food, we rarely give a thought to its origin. We know that our veggies and food grains come from the local market, but we hardly know anything about farming practices – seeds and pesticides use and cultivation methods employed in the production of the food that ultimately lands at our dinner table.

We know conventional produce and we are aware of organic produce too. But are we aware of something called non-pesticide farming? Sounds like a synonym for organic farming, but it isn’t. Safe Harvest, a collaboration of eight NGOs spread across the nation, including Karnataka, is attempting to dispel false notions of organic and non-pesticide farming. In a bid to give the farmers and the customers something fresh and safe, Safe Harvest is making its mark in the field of agriculture.

The inception

Ever since the Green Revolution invaded the Indian agricultural fields with its chemical fertilisers, pesticides and large-scale mechanisation, pollution of all forms has made a permanent home in our land. Also contributing to these problems is the cost factor. Many farmers couldn’t afford the cost of Green Revolution farming methods. While some farmers progressed with mechanisation and earned well, many others were left behind living in sad conditions. Safe Harvest introduced the non-pesticide farming programme to reduce input costs and give a market representation to them.

Working with an NGO Samuha (Raichur) in the state, Safe Harvest is transforming the lives of many. “The major problem in North Karnataka was lack of knowledge about the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Farmers blindly bought chemical fertilisers sold by traders in the local markets without keeping in mind the soil composition of the farm. With Safe Harvest, we wanted to change such practices. It is not been an easy task to change the mindsets but since we have an extensive training programme, with regular classes for farmers, we have been able to reach out to almost about 460 farmers at the first go. Last year, we saved Rs 5000 per acre by adopting non-pesticide farming (NPF),” says Saravanan, Director of Agriculture, Safe Harvest.

But if no chemicals are being used in this process, isn’t it organic farming? “No,” clarifies Rashmi Kanthi, Manager, Standards, Protocols & Partner Relations, Safe Harvest. “Non-pesticide farming is all about using natural substitutes in farming. When you shift from conventional methods to organic, you see a sharp dip in the produce which is a major drawback of organic farming. Non-pesticide farming focuses on the plus points of organic farming and also adds its own flavour.”

“For example, we use neem cakes as pesticides that also helps maintain the nutrition of the soil. We encourage crop rotation, use cow dung as manure in a large fashion and weed the farms right before flowering so that we don’t lose out on the seeds. These practices may seem very simple but they go a long way. NPF concentrates on an integrated nutrient management system,” she says.“NPF is a step towards organic farming. We don’t completely cut off the chemicals but gradually ease into it,” adds Saravanan.

The differentiator

Organic farming doesn’t just happen in a day. It is a laborious three-year conversion cycle through which regular tests track the progress. Also, in organic farming, the land is certified as organic not the produce which means the land has to be fixed. On the other hand, NPF takes lesser time and gets the produce certified not the land, thus giving the farmers some breathing space. There is also the factor of cost that comes into the picture. Yes, we all want to eat healthy but doing so takes a toll on our pockets. Fortunately, NPF eliminates this fear by giving us natural products at normal prices.

Safe Harvest doesn’t just stop at the farming practices but goes beyond that and offers to buy the produce from the farmers directly. By giving a fair market representation, this organisation ensures that the farmers also benefit from the scheme. Through a label called ‘Zero,’ Safe Harvest markets and distributes the produce to all the major markets in the state. They also help out with farmer loans.

Basavanagowda, a farmer in north Karnataka, speaks about his experience with NPF. “Initially, I used chemical fertilisers in my farms. But, it led to chemical run-off and ruined the balance of my land. Safe Harvest came to our village and demonstrated the NPF model. Since then, I have been religiously following natural methods and it has helped me immensely. Moreover, Safe Harvest buys the produce directly from me, which helps get proper rates for my produce.”

To have 100 percent safe products at normal prices seems like the perfect combination. But, due to capital constraints and general ignorance, these products that can be found at Auchan, Mother Earth, Bigbasket.com and Mother Diary outlets don’t have many takers. Safe Harvest aspires to change this trend and gain recognition at the national level. Such naturally employed procedures also impact the environment slowly but surely. Since the amount of the chemical residue is reduced considerably, the land retains its natural composition.

With indigenous practices of farming, large-scale usage of locally available resources and completely natural production and storage, Safe Harvest ensures safety of consumers, producers and the environment.

For more details, visit www.thesafeharvest.com, www.zeropesticides.in.