THE SCIENCE BEHIND ORGANIC

HERD Organic Farms undertakes cultivation of vegetables and crops to focus on production of healthy food. At the same time the vision is to maintain environmental health of the land as well as human health. We encourage visitors to visit the farm to see first-hand the latest updates and results at the farmland.

HERD Organic Farms works under the guidance of Dr Suchika Gupta and Dr Amol Deshmukh, managing directors of HOF. The farm operates through the skilled management of previous and current trained agriculturists who studied the subject from Agricultural Universities. HERD Organics – Chargaon Farm projects focus on farming that works successfully through organic farming practices.

All of us are well aware today of the health effects of dietary pesticide exposure.  Increasingly research studies find chemical laden pesticides to negatively affect human health. HOF is therefore very keen to propagate the beneficial health effects associated with organic dietary produce. All efforts are directed to do away with chemical processes in agriculture.

Despite increasing public awareness of these disastrous findings, surprisingly the demand for organic produce remains low in comparison to demand for regular agricultural produce that uses fertilizers and pesticides with chemicals. Regardless of news about dangers of chemicals in regular agricultural produce, majority of consumers do not buy organically grown food supplies. This has mainly to do with slightly higher cost of organic produce.

HERD Organics – Chargaon Farms attempts at every opportunity to inform consumers of the dire levels of exposure to chemical laden food. As part of the organic food growers fraternity HOF is at the helm of affairs to spell out the benefits of organic farming on healthy soil. HOF collaborates with them to advertise the wholesome benefits of organic agriculture and the need to maintain healthy soils.

This is especially advantageous as the region itself benefits from a good amount of sequestered carbon in the topsoil. We have had samples of soils tested for comparison with corresponding conventional samples to determine differences in levels of the components that make up organic matter. In time when we start including local farmers in the campaign, we will offer support for soil analyses to all farmers interested in organic farming practices. HOF has partnered with Beejotsav – a group of organic farmers of Vidarbha to come together for marketing of organic produce.

BEEJOTSAV NAGPUR – 2017 

Farmers from across Vidarbha join together to display and offer sale of organic, chemical free, wholesome, and nutritious food produced organic growers. Visitors to these events can buy varieties of grains – tuvar, rice, millets, forest foods, and organic vegetables that are made available for sale and display.

The exhibition and sale of diverse indigenous seeds, seed diversity, organic farm produce, delicious organic dishes, organic clothing, books and related literature attracts conscientious consumers. The event itself makes every effort to increase understanding and knowledge about  healthy eating and sustainable lifestyle.

Beejotsav becomes an opportunity to interact with a growing organic community that shares and learns about seed savers, organic farmers, khadi-producers and organic consumers. The festival holds talks, discussions and songs & music on organic agriculture and produce. It is an attempt to woo consumers to convert to organic lifestyles. It is a celebration of non-toxic and poison free seeds and foods. It is an effort for creating greater understanding about need of biodiversity and organic farming techniques. It is an opportunity to connect with organic and natural farm producers and consumers. The goal is to offer future strategies to the organic sector and to give an impetus to organic practices and producers.

COMMUNICATING THE BENEFITS OF GOING ORGANIC

HERD Organic Farms continues to make waves within the sector, fraternity members, and consumers. With a steady supply of seasonal produce grown along scientific organic methods, the focus is on making information available to a wider public. In addition, we hope to bring about positive media engagement with proactive accounts on organic farming.

We will shortly be creating our website and offer a robust and interactive social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. We would be sharing organic research information, availability of organic produce and organic recipes. We will share best practices in use of animal-based manure and compost in organic agricultural practices to best prevent risk of soil pathogens.

HERD Organic Farms continues to be an independent agri-research and education organization with a full-time M.Sc. Agriculture staff scientist working on the varied aspects of organic farming. HOF operates under the administrative auspices of HERD EMRF and takes advantage of a fully functional administrative, communications, and policy staff.

CREATING AWARENESS FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Each May, HERD Organic Farms joins in with supporters for the “March Against Monsanto”, an international movement to protest against Monsanto corporation that produces genetically modified organism or GMOs and Roundup – a glyphosate-based herbicide. As part of its agenda to promote organic farming we pitch in with organic farmers and activists of Vidarbha and Maharashtra to be part of awareness campaign to restore agriculture to its pristine nature.

We align purposes with Nagpur Beejotsav Group (NBG) from Vidarbha region that comprises of likeminded farmers, academics, practitioners and activists keen to highlight the need to revert to organic farming techniques. HERD Organic Farms supports the cause and is against all forms of genetic modification of agricultural crops and foods. We advocate against introduction of GMO crops. Scientific studies have shown that GM foods and agrochemicals lead to serious health issues like cancer, infertility and birth defects.

HERD Organic Farms is committed by example to educate farmers about biodiversity, available alternatives for agriculture like organic farming, and use of locale specific seeds/seed varieties for cultivation. We will shortly be demonstrating and training farmers about agricultural practices and techniques to go in for age old traditional farming using organic, home-made pesticides.