Empowering through Organic

Empowering through Organic

Back to our roots!

Going ORGANIC will benefit us and our nature!!

NATCO Trust is empowering Thousands of farmers in going Organic

Organic farmers seeing benefits for themselves, for the soil and for the Environment

Swathi Kantamani

Trustee, Natco Trust

Mumbai In developing countries like ours, where 3/4th of people below the poverty line live in rural areas and where more than 80% of rural people live in households that are involved in agriculture, improving poor farmers' livelihoods is central for addressing rural development. In recent times, organic farming has increasingly gained attention as a way to manage natural resources in a more sustainable way and to raise incomes, especially of smallholder farms. Our agricultural and farming systems need to be reinvented to cater to the changing times. Many of our farmers are underpaid, malnourished, are frequently using chemicals that harm their health, and rely on practices that seriously degrade their land. Not only this, the food that they are producing is often coated in harmful chemicals, has little taste and is low in essential nutrients. Organic farming provides a high premium for the farmers to produce with low capital investment and the ability to use traditional knowledge. Organic farming normally does not involve capital investment as high as that required in chemical farming. Furthermore, since organic fertilizers and pesticides can be produced locally, the yearly costs incurred by the farmer are also low High Premium Organic food is normally priced 20-30% higher than conventional food. This premium is very important for a small farmer whose income might only be sufficient to feed his/her family with one meal. Low Investment Organic farming normally does not involve capital investment as high as that required in chemical farming. Furthermore, since organic fertilizers and pesticides can be produced locally, the yearly costs incurred by the farmer are also low. Agriculture greatly depends on external factors such as climate, pests, and disease. Furthermore, most of the small farmers are dependent on natural rain for water. Therefore, in cases of natural calamity, pest or disease attack, or irregular rainfall, when there is a crop failure, small farmers practicing organic farming have to suffer less as their investments are low. It should be noted that while shifting from chemical farming to organic farming, the transition might be costly Traditional Knowledge Small farmers have an abundance of traditional knowledge with them and within their community. Most of these traditional knowledge cannot be used for chemical farming. However, when it comes to organic farming, farmers can make use of this traditional knowledge. Furthermore, in cases of organic farming, small farmers are not dependent on those who provide chemical know-how. For us at  NATCO trust Promoting rural livelihoods is one of the core focus areas We ignited the thought of organic farming in farmers, for which the process was laid in the year 2017 in Gollamudipadu Village (native place of our Chairman and Managing Director). About 75% of the community here directly depends on agriculture and farm-based livelihoods.  We are actively engaged in promoting ·       Nutrition Gardens There are various social benefits that have emerged from establishing Nutrition gardening practices in four villages. Some of these benefits are improvements in health, enhanced incomes, and nutrition security within the household. Nutrition gardening has also proved cost-effective and a sustainable method for producing organic vegetables. ·       Intervention in Agriculture we motivated the community through a series of awareness programs and imparted technical training to 87 farmers and arranged interaction with the progressive farmers for further learning. Promoting seed bank concept This concept is aimed at the conservation of the indigenous gene pool. It involves the propagation and development of the indigenous paddy varieties having Aroma and Medicinal Properties. We helped to propagate six varieties of indigenous rice varieties for further multiplication and conservation. Distributed seeds to three farmers for multiplication purpose and after cultivation Let's all be a part of this Organic Re-ignition to protect our nature and ourselves!!