The Organic Farming Project – In Partnership with the National Centre for Organic Farming

In partnership with the National Centre for Organic Farming (a central government agency located in Bangalore), CTRD commenced implementation of the Organic Farming Project in the beginning of 2009. The project works with farmers in the Gudalur and Pandalur Blocks of the Nilgiri District in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The primary goal of this project is to promote organic farming and encourage existing non-organic farmers to instead adopt organic farming practices.

Organic farming relies on techniques such as biological pest control, production of green manure, crop rotation etc and avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Through organic farming the adverse effects of using chemicals are avoided, and the techniques considered better for people’s health and more sustainable for the soil and ecosystems.

The main agricultural crops in the project area are tea, coffee, pepper, bananas, ginger, turmeric and other vegetables, and an initial base-line survey identified some 1,500 farmers wishing to participate in the project, and who are now enrolled in the scheme.

Training delivered under this project includes instruction in organic farming cultivation techniques; organic manure production, the marketing of organic produce, awareness campaigns on the benefits of organic farming and organic certification.