The Academy of Natural farming is first of its kind establised near Kollegal taluk in the state of Karnataka in India with the sole aim of bringing awareness on the illeffects of fertilizers and the benefits of reverting back to Nature.
Leading nature activist Kailash Murthy, influenced by Fukuoka's philosophy and the pragmatic approach of Prof. M D Nanjundaswamy is relentlessly working for popularizing Zero input farming in and around Karanataka State.
Human excreta is rich in soil nutrients. In a year, one person craps 4.56 kg of nitrogen (n), 0.55 kg phosphorus (p) and 1.28 kg potassium (k) enough to rejuvenate a 200-400 sq m patch. A billion can produce six million tonnes of NPK, one-third the total fertilizer usage in India.
The morning after
by , Down To Earth Magazine, 01 January, 2009
THE Punjab State Farmers Commission has said that organic farming is not feasible in the state due to shortage of organic raw material. The commission in its report has advocated a mix of organic and synthetic chemical farming. \"Organic material like green manure available in the state is sufficient only for 20 per cent of the land,\" said G S Kalkat, the commission\'s chairman. \"Fertilizers and pesticides need to be used in the remaining cultivable land to maintain yields,\"he added.
No to organic farming
by Savvy Soumya Misra, Down To Earth Magazine, 16 January, 2009
Despite standing apart from the mainstream of agricultural development, organic agriculture is penetrating the farmlands of India, slowly but surely. It is indeed remarkable that the organic model in its modern form (i e, “certified organic”) has found acceptance among diverse categories of agriculturists operating in different parts of India, under varied agro-ecological and financial conditions and often with diverse objectives. Equally diverse are the organisational frameworks that have facilitated the growth of this ecological farming technology. The organisational structures supporting smallholder organic agriculture in India fall into four forms: (1) farmers organised by a company, (2) farmers operating under NGO initiatives, (3) farmers organised or facilitated by government, and (4) farmers forming their own organisations (cooperatives, associations, self-help groups, etc).
Towards a SmootherTransition to Organic Farming
by Kasturi Das, Economic & Political Weekly, 16 June, 2007
Organic farming is often understood as a form of agriculture which uses organic inputs for the cultivation practices. But it is also about the environment, agricultural traditions, traditional seeds, animal welfare, farming communities, sensible energy use, and soil and water conservation. It is also about our family, health and welfare. Its aim is to support and strengthen the biological processes without the application of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetic modification of organisms. It also addresses the economic and social aspect of agricultural production. According to International Federation for Organic Agricultural Movement (IFOAM), \"the role of organic agriculture, whether in farming,
Organic farming: key elements and characteristics
by Ansu Abraham, Vikas Vani Journal, 01 January, 2008
Putting every bit of plant or animal matter back to the soil is key to soil\'s health. Sounds simple. But building soils organically requires a lot of hard work, commitment, dedication and respect for nature. This is what the author experienced in his journey towards building a healthy and fertile soil on his farm.
Building healthy soils organically
by K Raghavendra Rao, Leisa India, 01 June, 2008
Directly or indirectly all food comes from soil. If it is not aliving system, it can\'t continuously produce. Just as anyother living thing, soil possesses physical, chemical andbiological properties. It is also believed that it has physiologicalsystems like digestion, respiration, circulation and excretion. Soilbeing the basis for all human life, our only hope for a healthy worldrests on re-establishing the harmony in the soil.
Living soil
by Madhu Ramakrishnan, Leisa India, 01 June, 2008
About 25 years ago, I came to know about Effective Microorganisms and their use in agriculture, animal health and sanitation through a Japanese friend who visited my farm and also arranged to get literature about Effective Microorganisms. Prof. Teruo Higa, an agronomist, modified an age-old Japanese technology which he learnt from his grandmother. Traditionally, Japanesefarmers used to make `Bokashi\', a concentrated form of compost, apply it to the soil along with other organic manures. The purpose was to inoculate beneficial organisms to improve the quality of organic manure and to check fungus and virus problems in the soil.
Effective micro-organisms for ecological agriculture during transition
by L Narayana Reddy, Leisa India, 01 June, 2008
Microbes are an integral component of a living soil. It is widely being recognized that the presence and abundance of microbial wealth make soils healthy in terms of growth enhancementand protection against pests and diseases. Scientific research also shows that organic farming practices essentially based on natural resource management significantly increase the microbial density and diversity in soils.
Microbial wealth regulates crop quality and soil health
by D P Singh and H B Singh, Leisa India, 01 June, 2008
Night-soil (human waste) has been considered a valuable agricultural resource since ancient times. When handled safely, its use can contribute to reducing soil degradation and water scarcity in the areas like the Lahaul valley. Despite such known benefits, its use is now decreasing with modernisation. Recognising this, the G.B. Pant Institute in India has been taking steps to promote the use of night-soil as one of the organic farming practices promoted in the region.
Traditional night-soil composting continues to bring benefits
by Santaram S Oinam, Leisa India, 01 June, 2008
Earthworms are the friends of farmers. They not only aerate the soil but also help in producing vermicompost, a valuable resource for improving soil fertility. Vermicompost is becoming increasingly popular among farmers, as a source of soil fertility and also as a source of income generation.
Vermicomposting for building soil fertility
by A S Ninawe, Leisa India, 01 June, 2008
Use of chemicals over years has resulted in impoverishing soils of organic matter and micro-organisms. SVARAJ through its action research reiterates that it is possible to reclaim degraded lands with simple, eco-friendly practices like application of compost and vermicompost, mulching and polyculture cropping.
Reclaiming earthly smell and livelihoods - SVARAJ\'s experience
by L C Nagaraj, Leisa India, 01 June, 2008
Excessive use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides has affected soil and water quality in the Jaffna peninsula, Sri Lanka. Students from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Jaffna have been learning about green manures from farmers, and how they have been used to improve soils. Green manures were also used successfully to rehabilitate salinated soils affected by the tsunami. These and other organic practices are now being promoted with and by farmers.
Green manures: Nature\'s gift to improve soil fertility
by Arulanandam Vakeesan, Tharshani Nishanthan and Gunasingham Mikunthan, Leisa India, 01 June, 2008
Shyam Mohan Tyagi can\'t stop feeling jubilant. As he surveys hispaddy field, there is a distinct glint in his eyes. It is puzzling because his crop looks exactly the same as those in adjacent fields. Tyagi is quick to explain the difference: the paddy in his field has been nurtured on a diet of urine and decomposed human faeces. He has stopped using fertilizers since 2006. Tyagi collects urine and decomposed faeces from the special community toilet in his village Asalatpur in Uttar Pradesh\'s Ghaziabad district. It is a dry toilet that separates excreta, urine and water, so that waste can be used as manure with little treatment. It is called ecosan, short for ecological sanitation. Selling the idea of ecosan toilets to the villagers was not easy. When Delhi- based NGO Foundation of Development Research and Action, that set up the toilet in 2005, proposed making use of the collected waste, there were no takers except Tyagi, a 30-year-old history postgraduate. Many farmers use human waste as manure but they baulked at the idea of spraying urine on food crops.
Collector\'s item
by R K Srinivasan, Down to Earth, 16 November, 2008
  1. Organic Farming
  2. Upscaling of organic farming