Have you ever touched your plant?

By B Jayakishore

Have you ever touched any of plants in your farm? Did you ever walked along in your farm 'bare footed'? Have you ever thought of what not you've done to plants in your farm?

Those were the questions often faced by the visitors to the Kuruvalli M Purushothama Rao's farm near Theerthahalli, Shimogga district, when he was alive. A renowned agriculturist and naturalist, who was once fond of 'Green revolution', finally went on becoming a bonafied nature loving farmer by practicing organic methods of farming. Even he gave birth to several agricultural groups institutions to create awareness among the farmers about 'Organic farming', the only 'Natural' way to 'LOVE' our nature.

An Evolution should happen in Agriculture, not the Revolution- was the punch line he used to deliver in his speeches. 'Once upon a time I was using chemical fertilizers in the illusion of ‘Revolution’ happening in my farm too. But finally, I realized the ill effects of my act, when my mother earth rejected me completely for the reason of ‘Killing’ many of my 'Colleague creatures' of the farm! Still this unkind act of mine haunts me like a nightmare' he used to say.

Some decades ago, a group of farmers visited his farm. Soon after that, another group came to visit and one of the member noticed that a branch of a plant was half broken. Depressed by the harsh act by a fellow farmer, Purushothama Rao said: ' Instead of breaking my plant, why not you break me itself? Obviously, you'll never do that right? Only because it's me not the plant! Then why not the same logic or concern can be applied while dealing with plants also? Even they have life in them; they feed you and inturn give life to you. Are plants are meant only for human beings to exploit them as they wish?'

Nowadays agriculture has become a business practice rather than a practice of life. Rao used to say: The Attitude of loving your nature for 'No reason' has been disappeared from people’s mind. Every thing in agriculture as well as our life has become Money oriented. All are busy with 'Selling' whatever possible. Soil, seeds, manures...even in relationships people are looking for profit. Finding an innocent-child like smile has become a rarest phenomenon!'

'We should be content with what nature gives. That is possible only when we start loving our nature, soil, plants, leaves everything unconditionally. If we force our nature to behave according to our wishes, it won't. If you have 'Commercial' relationship with mother earth, then you are not a farmer. It is sad that nowadays we are witnessing only those kinds of people. We'll buy milk rather rearing livestocks; we'll buy rice rather cultivating it....the thinking which is invading into our farming community is dangerous' he warned once in his speech.

Purushothama rao was always remained unsupportive to the trend of growing only commercial crops. During 80's when areca nut prices were touching its high, though every farms around him was invaded by areca nut plantations, the only farm unaffected was Rao's. He used to warn his fellow farmers that monocropping, growing only commercial crops, neglecting food crops was always dangerous. Finally, his vision came true when areca nut prices crashed severely in subsequent days.

He also showed people how they can make agriculture a viable and rewarding venture by adopting organic farming methods, without disturbing ecology, soil and above all mother earth. Through his ‘Krishi prayoga parivaara’ he was successful in making many of farmers in the region to turn into organic farming.

However, our farmers should become commercial minded only when it comes to selling their crop. But if practiced with mother earth, definitely she won't forgive us. If we keep this in mind, then why can’t we love soil unconditionally? Still, it’s not easy, but not impossible.

Hats off to you rao!