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History for Elunkathir Natural Farming!.
We grow a wide variety of crops including rice,sugarcane,turmeric vegetables, fruits,herbal tree and spices. We also have a dairy farm where we produce milk, butter, and cheese using traditional methods. We also conduct National farmer training programmes that teach them how to use various natural farming techniques to produce low-cost bioinput from farm products.
Award Nomination Summary of V S Arunachalam.
S.No | Award category – Tamil | Award category – English |
1 | IyarkaiVivasayam | Organic Farming |
2 | kalnadaivalarpu | Animal Husbandry |
3 | VithaiParamaripalar | Seed Collector |
4 | IyarkaiUram | Organic Fertilizers |
5 | UzhavaninNanban | Agricultural Channel |
6 | KalamKandaver | Integrated farm |
7 | EllamVelanThozhilathibar | Young Agri Entrepreneurs |
8 | VelanThozhilathibar | Agri Entrepreneurs |
9 | FPO | Farmers Productive Organization |
10 | VelanTholilnutpam | Agri Technology |
11 | VelanthozhirkalviKarpithal | Agri Teaching & Training |
12 | KudilVivasaii | Roof Gardening |
13 | Thein Segaripalar | Honey Farming |
14 | Pasumaikapalar | Green Man of Tamil Nadu |
About Proprietor V S Arunachalam.
I have been engaged in organic farming since 1998. We were pushed into organic farming back then due to personal reasons bound to certain situations. I practiced this method of farming without being aware that it was termed “Organic” until I was featured for it in a news article. While Dr.NammaalvarAyya heard of this news and had paid a visit to my farm, i gained his acquaintance. Initially my organic farming techniques merely provided organic substitutes (cow dung and urea) to chemical fertilizers. With Dr.NammaalvarAyya’s contact, I could reach out to many other people who were also practicing organic farming. Since then, whenever Dr.NammaalvarAyya would visit Erode and host programs, I always attended them and worked with his team, even at the cost of my graduate classes. I studied agriculture at the Sakthi Institute of Technology. I received good support and encouragement from my peers that took my interest on furthering my knowledge of the techniques.
Later, in 2003 I received a job offer from TVS, Hosur. After the interview and master check-up, Dr.NammaalvarAyya paid a surprise visit to my home. When we told him about the offer, he chose to remain silent. “Do you prefer to graze the cow keeping it tied up or by letting it free?” he asked me. A farmer who grazes tied up cows is burdened with the chores of cattle management including feeding the cattle, whereas in the latter case, the cattle satisfy its own needs. I preferred the latter. At once, Dr.NammaalvarAyya took me with him.
Agriculture Experience .
With over 24 years of experience in integrated farming, I have gained valuable insights into various aspects of agricultural practices such as Agro Forestry (Trees and Fruits), Animal Husbandry (Cow, Goat, Chicks, Fish & Donkeys), and Sustainable Farming. I have been identifying native plant trees throughout the country, contributing to the preservation of biodiversity. Since 2003, I have had the privilege of working alongside Dr. NammaalvarAyya, a renowned figure in sustainable farming. This collaboration has further enriched my understanding and practical application of sustainable farming techniques. I have served as an advisor and trainer at national level for various stakeholders including farmers' organizations, students, government departments, agricultural universities, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). My expertise lies in providing guidance on topics including local resource management, plant size and value addition, crop plans, crop calendars, input calendars, harvest recording, and plant population maintenance. I am well-versed in farm designing techniques that focus on soil development and the use of various types of bio-inputs. Furthermore, I have been actively involved in research and development (R&D) initiatives related to sustainable farming practices. Additionally, my knowledge extends to rainwater harvesting techniques that contribute to effective water management on farms. Through my work as a trainer and advisor in these areas, I strive to empower individuals and organizations by equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge for successful agricultural practices.
Achievement .
In 2003, Dr.NammaalvarAyya inaugurated the organisation named Tamilinavalviyalpalkalaikalagam in kalingarayan village. I continued to work as his secretary. I organised his march from Poompuhar to Kallannai in creating awareness on organic farming. In mid- 2004, we called for a nation- wide organisation of organic farmers, held in Trichy, Tamil Nadu.
Our team was engaged in recovering villages from the aftermath of tsunami. The relief camps functioned on behalf of Tamil Nadu IyarkaiUlavarIyakkam which was again initiated by Dr.NammaalvarAyya. I am associated with this initiative as a trustee since then and have been carrying out and regulating all the fieldworks till date. Later in 2006- 07, a similar awareness march was held in Pudukottai. I continued to gain great experience from Dr.NammaalvarAyya from our fieldwork in Indonesia during Tsunami and I continued with the relief camp at Sumitra for one year. I worked at Banda Aceh in the island of Sumitra in Indonesia where females engage in agriculture primarily and use their organisation called “Urbanpoor Linkage” to market their produce themselves.
Continued Field work at Ampara district in Srilanka during Tsunami,now the district is into implementing a systematic organic farming.
We have been organising our fieldwork in Odisha and Chatisgarh for the past 10 years. Three red zones have been identified in India, namely, Malkangiri, Koraput in Odisha and Dantewada in Chatisgarh. These villages and towns have been witnessing mass migration and joblessness of the natives. They have also been home to Naxalite activities due to which they have been denoted as red zones. We target these zones and work towards converting them into green zones. Around 9600 organic farmers in Koraput have been provided with one acre each and the government has now taken up these development schemes in Odisha. Now the SansadAdarsh Gram Yojana scheme has won the award for the best central government scheme for the year 2020-21.
We implemented a similar scheme with 11000 farmers in Dantewada. Now the farmers themselves are marketing their own products. Their desi cow milk produce is being sold at their government determined price of 41 rupees per litre. The town’s supply chain is being completely regulated by the farmers themselves including warehousing, with the government’s support. They currently hold a stock of nearly 1600 tonnes of Paddy in their government godown.
Exlpore Our Natural
Farming.
Farm Products
We believe that by working with Nature, we can create a farm that is not only more productive, but also more resilient to the challenges of climate change
read morePrivate Forestry
Trees create beneficial terrestrial landscapes which combine agricultural and forest trees to promote a sustainable ecosystem.
read moreDairy farming
Our herds of cow are pasture-raised and fed a diet of organic grasses and hay.
read more24 Years of Experience and Research For How To Growth Gardening & Farming System
Our mission is to promote sustainable living through organic farming and to provide healthy food for our community. We are passionate about what we do and we hope to inspire others to start their own organic farms!
Read MoreNews Article (Links or Pics)/செய்திக்கட்டுரை (இணைப்புகள்).
UzhavukkuUyirootu.
V.S Arunachalam AgriLabor Issues.
MalarumBhoomi.
Organic Farming.
Organic Integrated Farming.
Tree Rearing.
Desi Cows.
