Go natural: A Goan farmer's impassioned plea

Goan farmers can expect a 50 per cent to 80 per cent increase in net profit by transitioning from chemical farming to natural farming, which renders a farm entirely self-reliant on organic produce and fertilisers generated on-site, guarantees Padma Shri awardee and natural farmer Sanjay Patil.

While speaking at the recent MOG Sundays talk titled ‘Goa’s Green Evolution’ held at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne, Patil, a staunch proponent of natural farming since 1991, said the shift from utilisation of chemical input to organic fertilisers has yielded him a profit of 80 per cent.

"I believe that all Goan farmers should engage in natural farming on their land, not just for the sake of profits, but also to preserve the fertility of the soil and reduce harm to the environment caused by chemical fertilisers,” stated Patil.

He urged farmers in Goa to make use of the existing agricultural schemes and subsidies the State offers, which he touts as “the best schemes for farmers in India”, and if every Goan farmer engages in natural farming, “Goa will transform into its agricultural prime in the next five to ten years”.

Patil was recently conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award by the Government of India for his contribution to the agricultural sector by promoting natural farming methods as well as implementing a zero-energy micro-irrigation system with technical assistance from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CCARI), Goa.

Patil practises natural farming at his Savoi Verem-based kulaghar, a conventional homestead system of farming that is unique to Goa and employs an integrated method of crop plantation to conserve resources.

A full-time farmer since 1986, Patil first utilised chemical fertilisers on his farm and realised that there was little to no net profit.

“The overall revenue generated was high while utilising chemicals. However, the cost of production was extremely high as there was around 50 per cent out-of-pocket expenditure on chemical fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides and weedicides and the net profit was greatly lacking,” he stated.

According to Patil, chemical and even organic farming methods are financially detrimental to farmers, as in both cases, the corporations from which the external fertilisers are purchased benefit.

Natural farming renders one’s farm wholly self-sufficient, as all produce needed to sustain the farm are generated on-site, he added.

“The transition from chemical farming to natural farming takes approximately five years, with organic farming as the intermediate stage to enable the crops to acclimatise to the changes. Once natural farming is being practised in totality, it will take one to two years for crop yields to reach their zenith, with a 50 per cent profitability for farmers,” said Patil.

He credits the usage of jeevamrut, a microbial liquid comprising the dung and urine of local cattle breeds, jaggery, chickpea flour and fertile soil from his land, manufactured on-site for his kulaghar’s flourishing output, and encourages other farmers in the state to replace chemicals with this organic alternative that will simultaneously replenish the soil and promote crop health.

Patil also stated that there is a need for “the young generation to be aligned with the traditional farming techniques through interventions in the local education system, which should include information on non-destructive farming practices and reverse the belief that farming is a lowly occupation”.