A government school headmaster has been cultivating a variety of traditional rice, sesame, vegetables and sugarcane in Karaipakkam village in Thirumanur union in Ariyalur district through organic farming for 15 years. He said that he has been eating this food with his family and spreading awareness on organic farming. The headmaster, Sachidanandam (57), is from Karaipakkam village in Thirumanur union in Ariyalur district. He works at Kumaramangalam panchayat union primary school there. Along with his wife Sasikala (48), a graduate, he does the farming.
He said he has been interested in organic farming since his childhood. He decided to farm through organic farming on his 10 acres of land. In this, he has been cultivating a variety of traditional rice including Mappilai samba, Karuppu Kavuni, Kala Namak and Attur Kichili samba for over 15 years with the help of his wife. In addition to the grains, he also cultivates sugarcane, vegetables, sesame and traditional millets like foxtail, barnyard and little millet. He also grows 10 dairy cows. He used the cows' dung as manure. He said that we're also eating organic food from his farm. Learning about his organic farming, people from the surrounding areas and different places come here to buy them.
Sachidanandam speaking to TNIE said, "Conventionally grown crops are affected by pest attack. Yield is also affected by this. Due to a variety of chemical used, the food we eat could be harmful to us in many ways. Even I was weighed 100 kg. I decided to do organic farming due to this and learned it through Nammazhvar books and various advice. Now I am happy that I and my family eat non-toxic food. It also reduced my weight up, I dropped more than 10 kg due to it."
He also said that "I am also raising awareness about organic farming to those around me. This apart, many people know this when I take food made from traditional rice to school and eat it. I tell people that we do not have to depend on any seed and fertilizer company as we do organic farming and cook and eat what we produce in our field."
He said that everyone should shift to organic farming for good yields and profits, and eat non-toxic food.
