Dr Naveen Kumar from Chennai is on a project to battle well being problems brought about by means of adulterated meals. For this, he encourages his sufferers to develop their very own meals the usage of natural farming. He cultivates local seeds on his terrace and distributes them to sufferers and others, motivating them to develop fruit and veggies at house.
Enjoying with dust, splashing water on crops, and selecting recent produce from their terrace lawn are one of the vital formative years reminiscences that Dr Naveen Kumar treasures. Rising greens was once simply a a laugh passion for the Chennai resident till 2016 when he turned into a physiotherapy physician.
“I might get a number of sufferers who complained of gastrointestinal problems. The underlying explanation for such emerging problems is the intake of adulterated meals this is ready the usage of genetically changed seeds,” Dr Naveen tells The Higher India.
“The marketplace is flooded with genetically changed seeds which negatively impact human well being. There were considerations that the meals ready the usage of such seeds has carcinogenic homes and may result in the advance of most cancers,” he provides.
Since 2016, Dr Naveen was once desperate to inspire citizens to take in natural farming at house. Up to now 10 years, the 29-year-old has reworked his 350 sq toes terrace right into a inexperienced haven. The use of his thatha’s (grandfather) highest gardening secrets and techniques, he recently grows greater than 250 sorts of fruit and veggies — together with spinach, tomatoes, brinjals, custard apple, lemons, mulberries, and dragon end result in a small house.
Prescription for a protracted wholesome existence
Since his formative years, Naveen grew up surrounded by means of fruits and vegetables timber that had been nurtured the usage of local seeds. Alternatively, rising up he understood that those seeds had been rapid disappearing because of modernisation and starvation for harvesting extra produce in much less time.
“These days, we see handiest green-coloured ladyfingers available in the market when there are a number of local variants together with the red-coloured torpedo formed selection and light-weight green-coloured lengthy elephant tusk selection that has extra quantity of amino acids and iron content material. In a similar way, we get handiest hybrid tomatoes despite the fact that we now have greater than 200 local tomato types with distinct tastes and dietary content material. Without reference to their advantages, you gained’t in finding the ones greens in markets in any respect,” he issues out.
So, the place have those greens disappeared?
“Sadly, we’re pressured to devour handiest genetically changed hybrid types. Genetically changed seeds handiest reply to chemical pesticides,” says Naveen, “Alternatively, we will be able to scale back this dependency by means of rising our personal greens.”
As soon as each and every two years, he travels to Kolli hills — kind of 400 km from his house — to gather local sorts of seeds from tribal other folks within the area. “Because the seeds I supply are in restricted numbers, I take advantage of them to develop produce at house. After harvesting, I scoop out the seeds in huge amounts after which distribute them to the neighborhood. The use of local seeds, farmers and gardeners don’t wish to purchase seeds for the following season, and the usage of a equivalent method, they cross on seeds to others,” he provides, “That’s our motto!”
Curiously, Dr Naveen along side a gaggle of like-minded terrace gardeners behavior offline workshops in Chennai to advertise natural farming. Up to now, he has reached out to greater than 5,000 other folks throughout Tamil Nadu and helped them domesticate greens and end result at house. But even so, he additionally offers those local seeds to his sufferers along side prescriptions to steer a more fit existence.
Develop your veggies with those 5 secret ways
Dr Naveen encourages everybody to embark on their natural farming adventure — beginning proper at house with elementary greens like tomatoes, girl’s hands, and leafy vegetables reminiscent of spinach.
Drawing from the loved teachings passed down by means of his grandfather, he stocks a handful of ways for cultivating greens and end result easily.
Tips on how to get ready a potting combine?
Dr Naveen suggests taking soil, cocopeat, and vermicompost in a ratio of one:2:2. After blending them, stay the potting combine in a pot or container for 3 to 4 days. Sprinkle water as soon as each and every morning and night time.
“This may make stronger microbial actions within the soil. You’ll be able to sow seeds thereafter,” he provides.
Deal with seeds prior to sowing
To spice up the method of germination and save you long term pest assaults and root illnesses, Dr Naveen advises treating seeds with natural fertilisers and pesticides.
“As a substitute of water, soak seeds in panchgavya (natural concoction ready by means of blending 5 pieces received from cow like urine, ghee, dung, milk, and curd) for part an hour. Dry those seeds for an hour in a semi-shade space. Those seeds shall be able for sowing the following day. Should you would not have panchgavya, you’ll be able to use 5 to seven days previous buttermilk,” he provides.
The germination procedure, he says, differs for more than a few greens. As an example, tomato seeds will germinate inside of seven days, brinjals inside of 10 days, chillies inside of 14 days, radish inside of 4 to 5 days, and spinach inside of 3 days.
Fertiliser from fish
As opposed to panchgavya, jeevamrita, and vermicompost, Dr Naveen prepares a singular natural fertiliser the usage of fish to spice up plant expansion.
“Take one kg of fish in a blank plastic container and blend it with one kg of jaggery, handful of drumstick leaves, and two well-ripened bananas. Shut the lid and stay it underneath colour. The fertiliser shall be able to make use of after 21 to 27 days. Wealthy in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, this fertiliser is helping spice up flowering and fruiting in crops. It must be given as soon as each and every 15 days,” he explains.
Tips on how to regulate pest assaults?
Even though treating seeds prior to sowing reduces the probabilities of pest assaults, Dr Naveen says city gardeners can spray neem oil on leaves each and every 10 days to stop any pest assault.
Tips on how to retailer seeds for subsequent season?
Dr Naveen says that one of the most benefits of local types over genetically changed and hybrid seeds is that you don’t want to buy seeds yearly. “You’ll be able to scoop out seeds from greens and seeds after harvesting. Retailer them in a pitcher jar with some charcoal powder. It prevents seeds from being degenerated and will increase their shelf existence to ten years,” he provides.
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Edited by means of Pranita Bhat. All footage: Dr Naveen Kumar.