With passion, this teacher promotes organic farming

Vizianagaram: After 10 years as teacher in government service, D Pari Naidu one fine day decided it was time to practice and propagate organic farming for the health of current and future generations.

The 58-year-old from Thotapalli village in Garugubilli mandal in Vizianagaram district, started an organic farm on the banks of River Nagavali in Thotapalli village and began cultivating various crops using only organic pesticides and fertilisers and has been setting an example by achieving wonderful results by way of yield and quality of produce.

“We need not spend loads of money to protect our health. Simple living makes us happy. We should consume the food produced in organic way. I have been distributing plants cultivated under organic farming, even Jeevaamrutham (organic manure made out of cow dung and urine) to farmers here to encourage best practises. I even visit their farms and advise them to be a part of nature,” he told The Hans India.

Peri Naidu produces ‘Jeevaamrutham’ from six cows he has. Apart from this, he produces organic fertilisers from his own vermi-compost unit and distributes it to farmers free of cost. He has mango, sapota, guava, banana, lemon grass, and a variety of vegetables trees and plants in his farm besides saplings for distribution to those who are interested in organic way of farming.

Peri Naidu has another half-an-acre farm named ‘Annapoorna’ where he grows different types of vegetables, leafy vegetables, millets, maize and others using only organic manure. Determined to take the message of organic farming to the farming community, he wrote books in Telugu for easy understanding specially for semi and illiterate farmers.

“Farmers barely understand what government agricultural officers tell them, as they use technical, jargon-filled language. Hence, I wrote books in language they can understand,” he says. He also wrote and sings songs explaining how to use organic fertilisers and pesticides, dispensing tips on healthy farming.

Besides, Naidu has set up a plant to process millets and to market them in the local malls. Jowar, maize, bajra and ragi are processed in the unit and sold in malls and markets. “Millets are rich sources of minerals like copper, iron and others. We should consume as much millets as possible to maintain good health. These are cheaper but rich in terms of nutrition.

If we consume the mineral-rich grains, we need not buy medicines, syrups or tonics to improve health. Now, people in urban areas are consuming more millets than the rural people as they have become health conscious,” says Naidu.

He even conducts classes for local farmers and explain the easy ways to increase productivity and produce healthy food in farms. District joint director of agriculture Leelavathi said, “Even the government is encouraging production of millets and other organic crops in villages. Fruits and vegetables grown by using organic manure are healthier than the crops grown with chemical pesticides”.

By Koppara Gandhi