His unassuming nature may let others take him easily as yet another Indian farmer, which he is not. A pioneering organic farmer from Bangalore East, L. Narayana Reddy recently had the Bajaj top man asking for suggestions to set up an organic farm.
Recognising his contribution to agriculture, the Karnataka Government conferred on him the Rajyotsava Day award. He talks to Karthik Madhavan about the state of agriculture and the fallacy behind green revolution.
“All books related to agriculture in university libraries should be burnt,” he begins on a rather aggressive note. All that the agriculture scientists have hitherto taught farmers in the name of agriculture is bad. “It is a concocted science,” he says in impeccable English, adding that fertilisers and pesticides were introduced into India to favour industrialists. “We don’t need the chemicals. It has only destroyed soil and necessitated more irrigation.” He says traditional crops should be raised, as they are ideally suited for the country. “Many of the indigenous species are drought-resistant and best suited for the land, and will give farmers good yield,” he suggests. He has an equally hard hitting take on jersey cows. “The cows are again not in tune with our climatic conditions.”As for the future of farming, Mr. Reddy asks farmers to bear a while as the future will be great. “Farmers have gone through the worst. Many have quit the profession and for those remaining it will be a golden future as there will be a great demand for their produce.”
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