The danger there, though, is that multinational companies will hijack the idea. Once we become aware, it becomes easier to convince the farmer that organic is the You eat, but we rarely check what goes into our bodies. For this, the consumer needs to be aware of what he eats. Ideally, we need to learn to consume less, to reduce the pressure on farmers and allow them to use native seeds that are pest resistant. For instance, if you have diabetes, the doctor tells you to have chapatis, but where do you get wheat in Karnataka? If it is grown here, you never know how it is grown and if it isn’t, you contribute to the carbon footprint by importing it. In the process, farmers are being forced to grow even those crops that are not indigenous to the area. Farmers have become slaves of the urban populace that is looking for a superfood every day. I now think that farming is a way of living that is more sustainable.Ĭonsumerism is being promoted at an alarming rate across the country and as long as keep consuming so much, the demand for everything will also increase, which, in turn, puts pressure on farmers to produce more and that is where chemical fertilizers and pesticides come into play. They use some of the produce and give the rest to us. We began on a modest scale, growing ragi and greens. It was easier with the women, as they understood the nutritional needs of their families. When we came here, it took us a while to convince people to come and work with us. ![]() Even if they grew ragi, they would sell it as the government provides free rice. These were people who used to grow food crops and consume them too, but the lure for better money got them all into rearing silkworms. Over the course of time, we not only realised the potential of the soil, but also figured that the farmers in the area and their families were rather malnourished, as most of them had moved to sericulture for a steady income. I had told friends that someday I would settle down in a place with a hill in the backdrop, the forest nearby and a stream or water body in it and I found all of that here. A friend brought the farm to my notice and I had these romanticised ideas of relaxing and spending my free time here. At the time, we had bought a house in Bengaluru and were set to rebuild it, for which we had gathered finances. Like most urban dwellers, I also wanted to do something related to farming, but wasn’t sure where and how to get started. ![]() There used to be a lot of farming activity happening there, and I guess that my initial interest began there. My uncle was newly married at the time and had moved to Bengaluru city and I had to take care of my grandfather. Amid the smell of healthy snacks being fried by the women from the neighbourhood who have been working with the actor and his collective, and a steaming hot plate of Avalakki Bath, we spoke to Kishore about his love for nature, the objective of the farm and more.īack when I was in school, I was sent to stay at our native village with my grandfather after I had flunked an exam. Once done, we settle down on the foyer of the quaint old-time house he has constructed on the premises. ![]() The stacks of sack provide a perfect and cool hiding place for reptiles,” he tells us, as he joins the workers to chase the snake away. “We have a store room for the produce from the farm, as well as other organic products sourced from farmers who collaborate with us. But what if we saw them actually doing chores like us and getting their hands dirty? What if this turn of events is spurred by a love for the environment and all things eco-friendly? Wouldn’t that be exciting as well? That’s exactly what we set out to find out when we caught up with actor Kishore, who spends a lot of time working at his farm on the periphery of the Bannerghatta National Park.We first caught a glimpse of the actor as he whizzed past us on his motorcycle, only to find him in the midst of a snake hunt at his farm. When our stars portray larger-than-life versions of the common man on the big screen, we are often thrilled to bits.
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