"Farmers need spend only a little on input costs and can get good returns on their investment if they grew traditional varieties of paddy"

With government support, they are now falling back to their traditional farming practices for a better living.

Most credit must go to Gati’s residents who have always protected their fields from agro-chem pollution as part of their native traditions.

Traditional crops have medicinal value, are well-suited to the local soil conditions and can survive drought

Pokkali rice, Central Travancore jaggery, Kaipad rice and Chengalikodan nendran banana have received GI recognition.

These small grains are filled with nutrition, and are the ultimate survival food, as they can grow in the harshest of climates and the poorest of soils

“The organic vegetables are more expensive, and I have a family to feed.” “It’s supposed to be better for you, but the imported vegies are bigger,”

"A lot of our products are cheaper than the inorganic equivalent in supermarkets, since our overheads are low."

Sahaja Samrudha farmers have conserved and revived over 700 traditional paddy varieties and facilitated the conservation of more than 68 varieties of millets.