Farming is a way of living that is more sustainable: Kishore

By Pratibha JoyonJul. 13, 2018in Perspectives
Kishore is looking at nurturing the idea among farmers that growing food crops is the need of the hour
Kishore is looking at nurturing the idea among farmers that growing food crops is the need of the hour

When our stars portray larger-than-life versions of the common man on the big screen, we are often thrilled to bits. But what if we saw them actually doing chores like us and getting their hands dirty? What if this turn of events is spurred by a love for the environment and all things eco-friendly? Wouldn’t that be exciting as well? That’s exactly what we set out to find out when we caught up with actor Kishore, who spends a lot of time working at his farm on the periphery of the Bannerghatta National Park.

We first caught a glimpse of the actor as he whizzed past us on his motorcycle, only to find him in the midst of a snake hunt at his farm. “We have a store room for the produce from the farm, as well as other organic products sourced from farmers who collaborate with us. The stacks of sack provide a perfect and cool hiding place for reptiles,” he tells us, as he joins the workers to chase the snake away. Once done, we settle down on the foyer of the quaint old-time house he has constructed on the premises. Amid the smell of healthy snacks being fried by the women from the neighbourhood who have been working with the actor and his collective, and a steaming hot plate of Avalakki Bath, we spoke to Kishore about his love for nature, the objective of the farm and more.

ALL THINGS GREEN AND BEAUTIFUL

Back when I was in school, I was sent to stay at our native village with my grandfather after I had flunked an exam. My uncle was newly married at the time and had moved to Bengaluru city and I had to take care of my grandfather. There used to be a lot of farming activity happening there, and I guess that my initial interest began there.

Like most urban dwellers, I also wanted to do something related to farming, but wasn’t sure where and how to get started. At the time, we had bought a house in Bengaluru and were set to rebuild it, for which we had gathered finances. A friend brought the farm to my notice and I had these romanticised ideas of relaxing and spending my free time here. I had told friends that someday I would settle down in a place with a hill in the backdrop, the forest nearby and a stream or water body in it and I found all of that here. Over the course of time, we not only realised the potential of the soil, but also figured that the farmers in the area and their families were rather malnourished, as most of them had moved to sericulture for a steady income. These were people who used to grow food crops and consume them too, but the lure for better money got them all into rearing silkworms. Even if they grew ragi, they would sell it as the government provides free rice. When we came here, it took us a while to convince people to come and work with us. It was easier with the women, as they understood the nutritional needs of their families. We began on a modest scale, growing ragi and greens. They use some of the produce and give the rest to us. I now think that farming is a way of living that is more sustainable.

LESS IS MORE

Consumerism is being promoted at an alarming rate across the country and as long as keep consuming so much, the demand for everything will also increase, which, in turn, puts pressure on farmers to produce more and that is where chemical fertilizers and pesticides come into play. Farmers have become slaves of the urban populace that is looking for a superfood every day. In the process, farmers are being forced to grow even those crops that are not indigenous to the area. For instance, if you have diabetes, the doctor tells you to have chapatis, but where do you get wheat in Karnataka? If it is grown here, you never know how it is grown and if it isn’t, you contribute to the carbon footprint by importing it.

Ideally, we need to learn to consume less, to reduce the pressure on farmers and allow them to use native seeds that are pest resistant. For this, the consumer needs to be aware of what he eats. You are what you eat, but we rarely check what goes into our bodies. Once we become aware, it becomes easier to convince the farmer that organic is the way forward.

The danger there, though, is that multinational companies will hijack the idea. At the moment, millets have gained popularity and there are already multiple brands claiming to sell organic varieties.

We want to bring back the culture of the neighbourhood kirana store, wherein the shopkeeper is known to you and he would not want to poison you or anyone in the area by supplying adulterated food.

We Indians tend to accumulate wealth for future generations, but give no thought to what kind of future we are leading them into. The real wealth that we should be leaving them with is good soil and water.

STOP MIGRATION TO CITIES

The idea is to set an example that farming can provide a steady livelihood and prevent migration of villagers/farmers to cities. A lot of the younger generation heads out for better job and we want to show them that they can earn the same amount back home. We are hoping that in the next four to five years, at least some of the kids will stay back after their basic education and take to farming, along with what they are doing now, say, sericulture. There are infinite possibilities in farming once they get started. What we are doing is setting up a model farm, where we are going to grow everything — all kinds of fruits and vegetables – and include dairy and fish farming as well. We want to encourage others in the neighbourhood to follow suit. Towards this, we have been conducting workshops wherein we have also explained that there is a huge demand for organic produce, with the supply not meeting that.With the farmers here, I am just trying to build a sample of how farming can benefit them, not only in terms of money, but in terms of soil health, their health and that of their families.


First published by The Times of India

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