India has been a prosperous country for time immemorial with agriculture as its main occupation. Our country has been a pioneer in farming practices; spreading its fame and popularity across geographical boundaries. But the exponential increase in population and the advent of chemical fertilizers and pesticides provided a quick fix solution to farmers to meet the ever growing demand for food. The entry of GM crops has made mankind guinea pigs. The result? Soil rendered unfit for crops owing to saturation of chemical levels and severe ill effects on the consumers. New diseases have found their way into the dictionaries and our bodies too.
Farmers all over have realized the hazards of quick fixes and the immediate need to go back to our age old farming techniques. All over the world and especially in India, farmers are voluntarily getting themselves educated in agricultural methods which are not just profitable but also ethical. So what is eco farming and what are its benefits? In a nutshell, eco farming conserves our precious resources, enhances production and productivity to benefit the farmer’s pocket and also the society’s nutrition. Let us take a brief look at a few of these methods that are not just ecofriendly but also sustainable.
– Farmers are moving away from agricultural practices that involve the extensive use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and moving on to natural manure – mostly compost and pesticides like neem leaf juice. Choosing natural disinfectants over synthetic ones increases the soil quality and makes the crops more immune to diseases
– Organic farming is the new buzzword. Though a recent terminology, the concept and practices have been in practice from ancient times in India. Though there has been a lot of lobbying about the significant reduction in productivity in resorting to organic farming, this is far from the truth. The central theme of organic farming is about crop rotation. This said, the farm does not have to remain idle after one harvest. The same land can be used to cultivate wheat, lentils, fruits and vegetables on a rotation basis. This not only promotes variety in productivity but also increases the soil fertility for the next sowing. This is the basis of organic farming – it’s about how to grow than how much to grow. Also, due to constant rotation, pests find it difficult to settle and proliferate making the basic practice itself a natural pesticide.
– The biggest challenge Indian agriculture faces is competing for water resources with industrial growth and domestic growth. Scientists, researchers and the government have to devise and implement better management water management methods to make water available for irrigation. It is now critical to enhance irrigation productivity with the concept of “more crop per drop”. For example, drip irrigation, piped conveyance and other efficient mechanisms for delivery of water is of critical importance with the whole world facing a majorly impending water crisis.
Hosachigru realizes and understands the urgent need to merge tradition with technology and has adapted modern techniques that optimize the use of resources with zero residue harvest. Our products include fruits like chikkoo, pomegranate, custard apples and lemons from our Pure Pik collection along with timber. Science and innovation are our building blocks to yielding more than 1000 tonnes of fruits every year
Agriculture is the main occupation of the rural population and is India’s backbone. The government has to develop stringent norms in place regarding agricultural practices and it needs to be done before a crisis actually hits us. Improving the living conditions of our farmers by educating them on safe and sustainable farming methods to provide better yield is the only way our country can move forward and regain its lost glory which is now a thing of the past.