Steven Moctezuma
Jul 30, 2017 · 2 min read

Vive Kanand Organic Farm Research Center — Stories from Jhalawar, Rajasthan

As the entire group of students that consist of the International Summer School, New Delhi take a seat, we all take notice of the beauty of the fields around us. Our speaker, Hukamchand Patidar, a representative of the center, begins with the questions: why organic farming?

Hukamchand Patidar

Every time we eat food that is treated with pesticides and insecticide, we put those chemicals in our bodies. It kills our bodies and we wonder why we are not able to keep humans healthy and live longer lives. It kills our land on top of that. We have to continuous make new land for chemically treated soil. Organic farming is the only way we will be able live healthier and keep our soil healthy.

One of the students raise their hands and asks how organic farming can produce enough food for everyone in India.

A field of crops at Vive Kanand Farm Research Center

Organic farming is thought to produce than less than chemical farming. This is true of course. But this does not mean that organic farming cannot feed all of India. If you stay with chemical farming, the soil becomes damaged and the food is poisoned. The soil becomes hard and full of heavy metals which becomes harder. The soil does not absorb water as well and the land becomes arid after many years of chemical treatment. Our project is to show people that while organic farming may be slow, it can reap long term benefits and feed a billion people in India.

Organic garlic grown for food and as a natural insecticide

Anything that isn’t rubber, plastic, and such, can be used for something. When we eat fruit, we throw away the skin. Don’t do that. There was a US scientist that explained how all things made from organic material can be used as a product for farming. The peelings of papaya, for example, can be thrown in rice water, with added sugar and there you go! You have fermented plant juice for the farm soil. You have plant food!

Steven Moctezuma

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Chicano philosopher with soul but not a soul!

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