Welcome!
This is my personal site, which I am modifying after a very long period. I hope to update with information about my projects, my experiences and what I can offer. Sustainable Agriculture, organic farming and participatory approaches in rural extension work have been prime focus of my work.
Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture in all parts of the world has been threatened due to over exploitation of resources. Green revolution in India, although boosted agricultural production, left behind ecological and environmental problems in the form of degrading land resources, declining bio-diversity, polluted water bodies and harmful effects on the humans and the flora and fauna. The unsustainable practices have to be critically looked at and alternative strategies have to be developed. The alternatives need to address the food production to feed the ever growing population, but at the same time ensuring that they do not contribute to pollution of land and water and degrade the resource base on which the production has to be sustained.
All this requires that the farmers, researchers, extension workers and the policy makers understand and apply the concept of sustainability. The term sustainability is generally used to indicate limits placed on the use of ecosystems by humans, or more specifically the way in which resources can be used to meet changing future needs without undermining the natural resource base.
Organic farming is the alternative to green revolution agriculture.
Organic Farming
Organic farming is getting popular day by day. The pollution in general and poisoning of food that we eat with harmful chemicals and their effect on human health and environment is making people to look for organic food.
NGOs along with successful organic farmers had a big role to play in bringing organic farming to this level today. There are several states in India which have declared organic policy with an intent to make the entire state organic in the near future. A new challenge that the organic sector is facing now is the GMO technology. With Government also concerned with increasing the food production, GMO technology is being promoted. But there is a big opposition to stop the spread of GMOs.
Many farmers, researchers and policy makers believe that turning to organic farming would mean lower yields and lower profits. Therefore, argue for a premium for organic produce. Consumers, on the other hand, would not want to pay higher price for the organic produce. The challenge is to develop systems which will facilitate acceptance of organic cultivation by the farmers and the consumers.
Talking of organic, a lot of chemical pesticide is used on the vegetables. They are also consumed raw as salad or half cooked. The pesticide residue definitely affects human health and, of course, also the farmer who is applying these chemicals.
We tried out a system of organic vegetable production and marketing around Bangalore in India taking into account the profitability of the farmers and affordability of the consumers. The project revealed that by following a mixed system of organic vegetable cultivation farmers can always get an average price for the vegetables which ensures regular average profit as opposed to a big loss or losses and occasional big profit in case of mono cropped vegetables grown with chemicals. As the price of the organic vegetables was set at the same market price of chemically grown vegetables consumers from all walks of life; poor, middle and higher class has access to these vegetables. This system, therefore, has potential for attracting more consumers. Click on the link to learn more about the Organic vegetable production and marketing.
FARMS
FARMS is the computer program for monitoring farm performance at farm level on financial, labour and ecological parameters. Click on the link above to read for further information.
Organic Vegetables & Marketing
A concept linking farmers and consumers group in Bangalore, India. Click above to read further for experiences and Learning. Read... ... Click on the link above.
Research
Information on research comparing farming systems and participatory research. This section still under construction.
Services
Services related to consultancy, training and research support in sustainable organic agriculture. Please check later for details. The section under construction.