Towards Sustainable Farming – A Workshop

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this workshop is to provide farmers a first-hand account of what it mean to manage farms ‘organically’ as well as identify clear options for the Club to take steps towards organic farming in their context.

SPEAKERS

Mr. Jayant Vaman Barve: A post-graduate in Physics from Bombay University. He was a researcher in Physical Chemistry at the prestigious National Chemical Laboratory [NCL] and a lecturer in a degree college, who went back to his native town to be with his parents as he was the only son. From manufacturing Para-Nitro Aniline, a chemical dye intermediate, to selling chemical fertilizers and pesticides to becoming an organic farmer producing and marketing both, organic inputs like manure and food products like grapes and cereals, Jayant Barve has come a long way. He is now an ardent apostle of organic farming and his mission is to convert the whole of India to organic farming through the Organic Farming Association of India [OFAI] and its associates in every state.

Mr. Barve spoke of his experience as an orfanic farmer since 1988, touching on the dangers to the environment and to human health, from the use of chemicals in agriculture. He stressed on the importance of the farmer in making the right decisions on the nature of farm inputs used. He outlined key elements of organic farming that need to be followed and the benefits of advanced research in organic farming that helps farmers retain yield levels.

Mr. Miguel Braganza: An agriculturist, Miguel is currently the Additional Director of the Organic Farmers’ Association of India and a Horticultural Consultant. He has worked with the Department of Agriculture in the past and continues to be a very active civil society member. His passion for agriculture and gardening is evident from the various activities he has been involved with. He has initiated and been an integral part of the Botanical Society of Goa, conceptualized and presented the Konkan Fruit Festival since 2003 along with the ICAR and Dept. of Agriculture. He has edited several books on agriculture and presently writes a weekly column called “Green Thumb” for the Gomantak Times.

Mr. Braganza outlined the process through which farmers can obtain an organic certification for their farms. The Peer Guarantee System (PGS) that has been developed by the Organic Farmers Association of India (OFAI) helps facilitate the process of obtaining certification for small-scale farmers through a peer guarantee system.