Tamil Nadu   

He is an ardent votary of bio-dynamic farming

T. Navaneethakrishnan

His life revolves around the sun, moon and constellations in the sky, as well as seeds, saplings and crop transplantations on the earth.

And between them, farmer T. Navaneethakrishnan of Mettupalayam sees a world of links and opportunities to pursue something called biodynamic agriculture.

On his 5.4-acre farm, he has been practising biodynamic agriculture for about a decade. Coupled with organic farming, he claims biodynamic farming is the best way to pursue agriculture.

He talks to Karthik Madhavan about biodynamic farming on the sidelines of an agriculture exhibition in Komarapalayam.

Mr. Navaneethakrishnan says he practises biodynamic farming, as advocated by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, who suggested that agricultural activities be planned according to lunar movements.

For example, the farmer says he will plant when the ascending moon is in the Fire Constellation, and transplant when the descending moon is again in the Fire Constellation.

Likewise, pesticide spraying, seed germination, ploughing, etc. will be carried out according to the moon position, which can be read from a biodynamic calendar, prepared exclusively for the purpose.Such a practice, Mr. Navaneethakrishnan argues, will help the plants make best use of the "elemental energies and cosmic power".

"We humans do not eat at all times of the day. We do certain things only at certain times of the day.

"Plants are no different. They live through a natural cycle, which the biodynamic farming makes best use of by doing appropriate things at the needed hour," he says.

Two New Zealand-returned environmental studies students taught him the techniques.

"It was about 10 years ago that I learnt it from them. While one of them is no longer associated with the practice, the second, Mahesh Melvin, is still into biodynamic farming, and is advocating the same from Udhagamandalam."

Mr. Navaneethakrishnan says the results have been excellent in that the yield is good, and all the 1,200 varieties of plants that he raises on his farm in keeping with the farming technique, produce toxic residue-free leaves, vegetables and fruits.

Mr. Navaneethakrishnan says he is ready to teach the techniques free of cost to farmers.

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