Working with nature By Aparna Pallavi

Twenty years after the glory days of the Green Revolution, the yield from Subhash Sharma’s farm plummeted, even as input costs increased. He switched to organic farming as a last-ditch effort. Thirteen years on, his farm in Yavatmal is flourishing, and has become a model for hundreds of other farmers .

“You can’t hold on to business and still do farming. The two things are enemies of each other. Agriculture is nature; it demands that you give it your all. Then alone will it be bounteous to you. If you have an eye on business, land will never give you anything because you will be robbing the land.”
When Subhash Sharma talks like this you know he is not merely spouting poetry. Because the month is June, when sowing in Maharashtra’s ‘suicide-prone’ Yavatmal district has just begun, and he is standing against a backdrop of lush, healthy crops of pumpkin, chauli beans and tall, delicious-looking corn at his farm in Dorli village. The crops, as Sharma points out with justifiable pride, were sown in April which is certainly not when farmers in water-scarce and scorching hot Vidarbha wish to sow anything at all.
Sharma has seen a lot of ups and downs to arrive where he is. In his early days as a farmer, in the mid-’70s -- the glory days of the Green Revolution -- his 32 acres of land yielded a record crop of 400 tonnes under artificial stimulation from chemical fertilisers and pesticides. But 20 years later, he was struggling under huge debts as yields shrank to 50 tonnes, cultivation costs shot up, and the land became more and more impoverished under those very same chemicals.
“I was very close to breaking point, in 1994, when I got to hear about organic farming and decided to switch to it as a last-ditch effort,” says Sharma. Today, 13 years on, production has peaked to 450 tonnes on the same 32 acres of land. Sharma even leased an additional 35 acres of land three years ago, to better carry out his organic experiments.
Sharma says he owes this dramatic turnaround to a deeper understanding of the dual nature of science. “The science of agriculture I was following earlier was a destructive science, which destroyed life and ecology for profit. The science I am following now is the science of creation, which is in harmony with nature and enriches nature even while it takes what it needs from it.”
According to him, prolonged use of pesticides had killed the soil fauna on his land, and erosion had drained the top soil. “The entire ecology of the farm -- which involves trees, birds, soil fauna like earthworms, ants and termites, along with crops -- had been destroyed.”
To reconstruct this intricate system, Sharma began with two things -- water management and natural manure.
Water management was very important because Yavatmal district is a hilly area and both irrigation and soil quality are affected by rain water run-off. Sharma designed a simple technique to conserve water – planting along contours. As a result of this, the rows of plants in his fields are often undulating, instead of straight. But the advantage is that the plants in every row are at exactly the same height; each row becomes a miniature check-dam. And when it rains, the water collects in shallow trenches between the rows. The excess water that these trenches cannot hold is channelised through small drains into irrigation ditches located at strategic points on the land. Sharma has dug one small irrigation ditch for every acre of land. “First the contour planting reduces run-off, and, in the second stage, the run-off -- both water and soil -- is collected in the irrigation ditch. So, not a single drop of rain or a single grain of soil from the land is allowed to drain away.”
Constant practice of this method of water conservation has raised water levels on Sharma’s land, and the effects are visible. He now gets three crops from his land every year, while in most parts of Yavatmal farmers have just one.
The manure and pest control problems were solved in stages. Initially, Sharma began making organic fertiliser and organic pesticides out of biomass, cowdung and cow urine. But he soon realised that there was a better way of doing it. “Organic farmers usually make vermicompost separately and then add it to the soil, saving the earthworms, whereas nature has provided for earthworms and other fauna to work in the soil itself and enrich it naturally.”
After a while he stopped making fertiliser and instead started turning farm waste and cowdung into the earth directly. Soon, natural soil fauna like earthworms, ants and termites revived in the soil that began to get softer, richer and more porous.
For pest control, Sharma realised the importance of birds on the land. “Farmers believe that birds are harmful for their crops, as they eat the crop,” says Sharma. “But the fact is that birds are valuable agents of pest control as they eat the pests and their larvae. And their droppings also enrich the soil.”
To attract birds, Sharma started planting different kinds of fruit trees on his land. “Farmers today fell standing trees on their land because crops don’t grow under trees. But they miss the point that trees attract birds, hold water in their roots, bring down temperatures, add biomass to the land through shed leaves, and finally also give you a profit in terms of fruits, leaves, wood and whatever else you can harvest off them.”
Unlike chemical inputs, natural processes do not perform just one task, says Sharma. “A bird controls pests and provides manure. An earthworm enriches the soil by breaking down biomass, makes the land porous and helps conserve water, and the slime off its body -- known as ‘vermiwash’ -- controls fungus in the soil. Termites and ants also help break down different biomass, make the land porous, and attract birds that feed on them. And there may be so many other functions that these creatures perform without our knowing. By opting for chemical inputs we destroy these systems, deny all these creatures a right to life, and finally destroy ourselves and our land.”
The rise in production and drop in input costs has also enabled Sharma to find a solution to the labour problem that plagues farmers all over the country. “When a farmer is impoverished, when his input costs are high and returns are low, he resents labour costs and tries to exploit labour,” he says. “I have done that too. But after turning to organic farming I found a unique win-win solution to the labour problem.”
Initially, Sharma used to pay labourers daily wages. But after production soared, his need for labour increased. Unable to find more labour, Sharma started contracting the day’s work out to the labourers at the same wage. The result was amazing. “Work that used to take eight hours was completed in 2.5 hours. The remaining hours were utilised for other work, and, at the end of the day, the labourers took home three times the daily wages and I got all my work done faster, and without having to employ additional labourers.”
Today, Sharma employs 14 families on his land, on a permanent basis. They receive wages worth Rs 50,000 per couple per year, and enjoy free housing, electricity and water. They also get vegetables from the farm all year round, again for free. Apart from these he also has a loyal non-residential labour force of 35 women and 14 men, all of whom take home anything between Rs 90-Rs 100, sometimes more, daily, and are employed throughout the year.
“My cultivation cost for the 32 acres of land is Rs 9 lakh per year, out of which Rs 7 lakh goes towards wages.” It is well worth it, as Sharma’s turnover is Rs 17 lakh.
Significantly, Sharma follows no fixed pattern for cultivation. He rotates crops a lot, and the choice of crops keeps changing. This year, for instance, he planted a combination of corn and tur on 1 acre, in alternation, something he has never done before. “This rotation is important as it keeps the land rich in various elements,” he explains. He doesn’t even plant the same vegetables every year.Farmers who plant cotton should not do so every year, he urges. “The cotton crop has a nine-month cycle and does not allow for rotation if planted every year. Also, it is a demanding crop. Planted every year it leaches the soil”. His suggestion to cotton farmers: Resist greed and take a cotton crop every alternate year, if not once in three years.While Sharma has not made a conscious effort to spread his knowledge, around 3 lakh farmers have already visited his farm, and all day long farmers call him for guidance. Replying to the propaganda that organic farming is not viable for small farmers, he says: “The problem is not with the size of land but with attitude. The government and input companies have created such a paranoia that farmers are now too scared to trust their indigenous wisdom.”
Sharma admits that organic farming takes time to yield results, and for a small farmer it might be difficult to switch to it all at once. “But surely ways can be found to return to nature in stages? But the attitude of the farmer has to change first, and government agencies have to play a big role in this.”
“Land,” says Sharma, “is the source of life for all creatures, and when you co-exist with them, all prosper. But when man arrogates everything to himself, he can’t survive either. Life, you see, sustains life.”
(Aparna Pallavi is an independent journalist based in Nagpur ) - From http://www.infochangeindia.org/changemakers65.jsp

EARTH DAY

EARTH DAY
Our actions:
Sustainable land development project is moving forward.
We created swale in our EA Farms. We hope after the rains we should increase the ground water.

Soon fruit trees, medicinal trees and other useful trees will be planted along with existing trees. We also thank people sending seeds in advance.

Trying to bring water to all parts of the land and we will achieve that soon. We will be using minimum water for the growth.
Soon we will be starting to rear animals.

BEES
As soon as irrigation is ready we will be making the land more and more green.
We are slowly but steadily achieving our goal - From Barren Pesticide Applied Land to Organic Natural Sustainable Land.

We Pray to God and Earth to make this project more success. We also welcome ideas from all who wants to contribute to Environment Well Being.
Thank You. Happy Earth Day.
MakeSH

Sustainable Organic Natural Agriculture - Regenerative Farming

Sustainable Organic Natural Agriculture 

 Regenerative Farming

EAFARMS

Artificial Chemical Free Natural Farming:

At EAFarms, we practice artificial chemical free farming. We use farm manure, natural defenses in our agriculture practices. Our aim is to produce artificial chemical free produce. Also we  avoid Genetically Modified Organisms. 

We strictly use farm manure instead of chemical fertilizers. We are Tamil Nadu Organic Certified farm:

 

We also laboratory tested our produce and found no traces of artificial chemicals. 

Since food is one of the most important part of human life it is better to produce it in natural way. In Hindi language SONA (Sustainable Organic Natural Agriculture) means Gold. We at EAFarms,  consider our produce as GOLD (Green Organic Land Development).

Creating habitat and protecting Wildlife:
At EAFarms we have created forests with lots of trees. Trees are important part of our EAFarms ecosystem. Lots of birds and animals have come back to this area. One of borders at EAFarms is with a huge banyan tree with lots of living organisms and we call it as 

"Natural Tree of Life". 

The canopy of this big tree is clearly visible in Google maps. When we see these beautiful birds at EAFarms we feel happy and feel satisfied that we have created a habitat for Wildlife.

Water conservation methods:

At EAFarms we really know the importance of water conservation. We have created a Swale 

and Ground Water Recharging Pits to recharge our ground water. 

These methods have improved the ground water level to a better level even when there is low rainfall in a season. We also use drip irrigation and water pits in center of four trees to increase the utilization of the water more efficiently by the trees.

Permaculture - Contours for water conservation

At EAFarms, we practice all these efficiently and want to spread our information to the World. Anywhere in the World, if we work with the tune of Nature without disturbing the Nature, you really feel the satisfaction it brings and it can't just be expressed by words. Earlier I have written about spiritual farming too. Along with the other organic natural methods you include spiritual farming it takes the farming to another level.

Live stock is main part of EAFarms. Cattle grace our farms and we grow fodder in the farm. Cows are important part of our farm system. 
               
Goats also graze the fodder and do their part for the farm. 

Chickens follow them and do their job at EAfarms. 

Because of all these livestock the soil gets richer and this can be visualized clearly by the presence of moisture and earthworms. 

We also see bees buzzing around. 

Wild birds are also frequent visitors to the farm, 

making the farm a regenerative farm.

Some of our Organic Produce free of synthetic chemicals:

Utilizing Renewable Resources for Farming

Solar

BioGas

சுழன்றும்ஏர்ப் பின்னது உலகம் அதனால்உழந்தும் உழவே தலை.

Meaning of this Thirukural by the Great Tamil Poet Thiruvalluvar -

After searching and trying various employments in this revolving EARTH, humans finally resort to Agriculture and understands that it is the excellent form of labor even though it is really hard.

Makesh Karuppiah               Karuppiah Chandrasekar ( Farm Activities )

                                          & TEAM

EAFarms in Facebook

Scientific References:

Science Mag

Biological Conservation

NCBI - NIH

This is our real World experience, just wanted to share to the World. 

With a BS in Biology, MS in Environmental Science focusing on Environmental Chemistry and M.Phil in Environmental Science focusing in Environmental Physiology and a PhD in Environmental Sciences from University of Maryland MEES Program and person who identified the Toxicity of Pocomoke River, MD with scientific evidence and research, before the massive fish kills in the Chesapeake Bay area, and another Master’s degree in Computer Science with focusing in Data, Leading as a technical adviser for compliance software  development, this is not anecdotal nonsense based on the appeal to nature fallacy (mentioned as a comment when presented in a website), but our real world experience.

Makesh Karuppiah, PhD
Environmantal Scientist and Information Technologist

Climate Change

SCIENTIST'S WARNING:
World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency

Kids are voicing their opinion strongly about climate changeas they are ones going to really face the future.  

Climate Change - NASA - Climate - Research and Data

                             NOAA - Climate - Research and Data

It is really sad to see them protest and some of them getting arrested. They must focus on their future too. They need to think and how they can really counteract the environmental problem. 

Another potent Green House Gas: Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a very potent greenhouse gas than other ghgs  and countries are using it at unprecedented rate.

 
A method of counteracting Climate Change - Use renewable resources, techniques and show the world that this can be done.
Some more counteracting methods:

-planting more trees,

-Innovative ideas such as algal lamp,

-inventing new devices such as Carbon dioxide absorption device,

-developing regenerative agriculture practices

I am sure the motivated people will find more solutions when we move forward.

As we move scientifically forward, there is no way for zero pollution any more. Instead we should work how to reduce pollution, emission and rack up solutions to the problem. Moving forward they should become environmental research scientists, data scientists (Information Technology - IoT, AI - MILA Quebec is currently involved - can aide in solving Climate issues and provide solutions), policy makers, create positive projects, politicians, and whatever professions that will help the environment. While pursuing these careers, they can simultaneously   practice environmentally friendly actions even if it is as simple as planting trees, creating gardens, banning plastics, using less water and many other small deeds. If it multiplies more and more and grows exponentially it will be good for the Environment and Earth Inhabitants. When these kids become scientists and policy makers, they can contribute to the betterment of environment.  Even if they shine up in different fields,  they can contribute to environment betterment by

Five Rs - Refuse -> Reduce -> Reuse -> Recycle -> Recover.

In my case, I have long journey of environmental background starting a Biology undergrad degree, studying two masters in Environmental Science and pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science. During these degrees I focused on low cost effluent treatments, bio -remediation and Environmental Toxicology. 

I had a chance to study and research Pocomoke River, a Cheapeake Bay tributary, which indicated the river was polluted before the massive fishkills occurred. Later after some years I am really glad and happy that because of precautions taken in Chesapeake water shed area, the great Chesapeake Bay has revived environmentally but also still facing threats. 
            Building Air Pollution Chambers to study the effects during University days

This is what I mean to the kids, use your capabilities, do positive research, analyze data and tell the World that these are the facts and give the solutions. That way you will have more support, because everyone want to breathe good air, drink uncontaminated water, eat artificial chemical free food and live a quality healthy life in unpolluted land. Some times in life, you don’t get opportunity in the field you love the most. But never give up. I wanted to end up in a University to teach my beloved subject Environmental Science and conduct research and guide students and serve to betterment of Environment. Somehow I could not achieve that. But never gave up. Using the data analyses, modeling and predictive statistics skills I completed another masters in Computer Science and built a career in that field focusing on data. Using it I created my own Environmental projects such as EAFARMS - a sustainable natural organic agriculture development that works together with nature (planting more trees and enriching soil naturally). 

I still learn about current environmental topics, work with environmental scientists and co-ordinate them to do projects that benefit environment, create environmental awareness to children by volunteering, writing blog, twitter, answering in Quora (social media). I work with like minded friends to follow environmentally friendly agriculture, plant more trees and mimic and create small forests wherever I can. Also with my experience I wrote a book called Modern Realistic Environmentalism

and wanted it to be available freely, to share my environmental experience. In our backyard,  we created bird friendly environmental areas and watching them gives us immense joy.

With all these information, if I can make at least one more person to at least follow one environmental friendly activity, I really feel I have achieved something. I think together we can protect the environment and prolong its positives to future generations to come. Thank you.

Makesh Karuppiah, PhD

Environmental Scientist and Information Technologist

Save Forests

 On this March 21, 2022 - World Forests and Trees day, writing this blog article:

Forests are considered as Lungs of the Mother Earth.

It is the Forests that saving us from human induced pollution and Climate Change.

Instead of wars, human kind should join together and work towards planting trees,  building forests and sustaining them for the benefit of Mother Earth's current and future Inhabitants.

Some of the Beautiful forests and trees through our camera:

Disney Wilderness Preserve

Ocala National Forest

West Virginia River Gorge Mountain Forests

Western Ghats, India

Top Slip, India

Sequoia Tree Forests - Mariposa Grove

As these forests are in danger of forest fires, pollution, deforestation we must focus on Saving these wonderful forests and sustain them for sustainability and survival of current and future Inhabitants.

It is shame and sad that people throw plastic, glass bottles and garbage in these areas (Pictures from Volunteers):

Thanks to these great volunteers who are selfless in doing this hard manual labor (rain or shine) to collect these spewed garbage in the forest areas. 

A great salute and appreciation to them. Other great volunteers have created forests:

Forest area we created at EAFARMS

Let us join together, avoid deforestation, avoid polluting in forest areas,  plant trees which will save and protect our forests.

Thank you for that.

EnviroApps - Save Series.

March 22, 2022 - World Water Day.

Moving Forward - Fourth Year - Sustainable Land Development - Building Environmental History

02/09/2007 - Started the blog

What started as a small idea has grown into bigger environmental project.

Four Year Achievements:
Stopped applying harsh chemicals in the land.

EA FARMS SLIDE SHOW

May 2009, KC moved to EAFARMS to work on the following projects:

EAFARMS Environmental Project is progressing:

1) Fence around land along with gate is completed
2) Ground water source identified and borewell dug
3) Obtained electricity for the farm - for bringing the ground water to the surface
4) Apiary - Honey & Pollination - Started with 10 bee boxes
5) Planted Teak trees - around the farm and in the eco-agroforestry area of the EA Farms.
6) Hired a farm worker and built facility for him to stay @ EA FARMS.

Scheduled Activities:
1) Drip Irrigation
2) Green Houses
3) Get cows for Dairy and natural fertilizers
4) Mushroom Culture
5) Plant fruit trees along with existing trees, flowering plants and vegetables
6) Crops and Inter crops
7) Extent coconut farm
8) Swale creation
9) Animal Breeding & Rearing
10) Biochar

We are slowly but steadily moving forward. Once our infrastrucrture is ready we will be planting more and more plants, trees, and crops at EA FARMS and do more Environmental Activities.

Praying for the success.

Communication Tools Positives

Communication tools have become so important during lock down.
Messages reach at faster rate now than any other time from the past. These tools could be used for spreading negative news, but at the same time the tools could be used for faster communication and executing fruitful projects also. These tools should be positively used to immediately eradicate two evils from the face of  Mother Earth -

Poverty and Racism. 

One cannot believe that these exists even in 21st century and even after wonderful leaders sacrificed their precious lives for eradicating these evils.

Have written the following articles 5 years before on eradicating poverty and racism. 

2015 - Eradicate Poverty 


2014 - Ecojustice and No to Racism

But even now real change did not happen, These evils still persists in Mother Earth.

Along with this animal cruelty has also increased. As an avid elephant well wisher it is hard to believe that a pregnant elephant was given a pineapple with explosives in it, 

As much cruelty is seen in that incident more heartbreak comes when a human kneels on another human's neck and choke fellow human to death even when he was screaming for his breath. Where did humane characteristics go?

We cannot change the past. But moving forward changes could be made.

Using communication tools spread, educate and guide future generations to get rid of these two evils from the face of
Earth. Then we can proudly say we are in the 21st century, 
until then whatever progress we make as humans it is still at zero point.

It should start from every individual especially the children (future generations)  and spread the love and equality to the co-inhabitants of mother Earth.

Education is the key tool to eradicate both poverty and racism. 

Using communication tools such as whatsapp and google blogspot we implemented several useful projects with ease. 

In a school whatsapp group, a classmate who is a doctor requested to supply 20 beds to a childcare ward. Our group had a schoolmate who is manufacturing eco-friendly mattress and immediately we all pitched in for required amount of beds. Those beds were supplied within couple of days. This project was completed with such efficiency and on time, because of these communication tools.

These type of activities eradicate poverty and racism was never involved in any step of this wonderful activity.

In a college whatsapp group, we joined hands and selected a small village and to better it through education, we collected funds and disturbed it for current young college students to use towards their education. It motivated those young future generations to do good when they shine. This is how societies are built. 

These type of activities eradicate poverty and racism was never involved in any step of this wonderful activity.

In social whatsapp group we joined hands to clean up main water body of the town. It was used as garbage disposal area that included broken alcohol bottles. After several weeks of communication, team work, hard work the pond became so clean and usable. 

This is how you build clean societies. When young people are guided properly they take up a notch further than what we expect.
We have to positively believe in them and guide them properly and I am sure we are almost there to eradicate these evils. 

These type of activities eradicate poverty and racism was never involved in any step of this wonderful activity.

In another social whatsapp group we communicate, contribute and help a great soul who is serving food for underprivileged poor orphaned old age people daily for the past several years. 

His family does the hard work, cook great food and distribute to these old people who survive only by themselves. We salute him for doing this for 365 days of the year, rain or shine. 

This type of activities eradicate poverty and racism was never involved in any step of this wonderful activity.

Now we are planning to join hands of these people involved in all the projects to plant and grow trees as much as we can.
I am sure when we join hands we will be able to execute the project successfully with these communication tools. Dr. Kalam and Dr. Nammalvar had dreamt of such environment and great society where we live harmoniously with our co-inhabitants. The trees mentioned by Dr. Nammalvar Ayya - such as neem, mango, papaya, curry leaves, amla, coconut, lemon, bananas, jackfruit and cattle feed trees to support cattle growth will eradicate poverty and provide valuable nutritional requirement for any person. When poverty is eradicated  other evils also will automatically vanish.

A small tree planted today on this World Environment Day may be the key to become a forest in the future.

Dear sisters and brothers, eradicate greed and use these communication tools wisely and let us grow as a wonderful human society that takes care of other Earth's inhabitants also, such as trees and animals.

We also communicated through another whatsapp group and gave webinars that contributed towards enriching the faculty members who are really key to instill VALUES into the young minds during the lock down. Thorough our website we have trained many people in IT field especially in databases with easy steps.
It is also free and anyone with desire to learn databases from anywhere can try educating themselves following these simple steps and can enhance their values in IT field. 

Relentlessly we will contribute by sharing our knowledge, bettering the environment and  our societies, communities  for the future generations. That way these two words - Poverty and Racism will be words of past history.

Together let us wipe out poverty, racism and injustice to other species from the face of our beloved Mother Earth. Let us take this resolution, pledge on this precious World Environment Day.