Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jun 21: Soora Kulal from Kumbarakolli, Avarse in Udupi taluk, is one farmer who has always believed in natural methods of farming, and at the same time, taken care to perfectly balance scientific ideas with traditional farming methods.

Kulal presents a refreshing change as compared to the present day youth who are averse to the idea of organic farming. Although his land holding is very small, his tremendous interest in cultivation has moulded him into one of the few successful farmers of the state besides becoming an inspiration to young farmers.

Kulal proudly says he has never ever used any chemical fertilizers to his land so far, and has always used dung, dry leaves, greens etc for enriching the soil through a methodical approach, and duly keeping himself updated with latest knowledge.

Kulal owns only less than two acres of land, that too in hilly terrain that is not at all fertile. He became a household name in the region by growing vegetables like okra, ash gourd, and cucumber. After he joined Pragatibandhu self help group under Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (DRDP), he could implement modern technological and systematic improvements in farming. Hundreds of interested people have visited his tiny field to learn from him and get inspired to follow his methods of cultivation.

Kulal grows several crops, both short and long term, right from vegetables, jasmine, pineapple, jackfruit, mango, cashew, areca nut, coconut, black pepper etc. Because of the varieties of things he grows, he gets income on a regular basis. As supplement to agricultural activities, he has also undertaken dairying and animal husbandry in the form of rearing of goats.

Kulal makes certain none of the waste products are thrown away. Right from cashew fruit remaining after the separation of kernels and other wastes including dust collected by sweeping the courtyard, are poured into the biodizer. He also has facility to manufacture earthworm manure, compost units modelled after Japanese system, and pit for preparation of invigorating liquid for vegetation. His gobar gas unit not only makes him self-reliant for energy, but also gives out fertilizer.

Kulal does not loosen soil at the base of areca nut trees. Instead, he spreads dry leaves at the bottom, and spreads slurry of dung over them, before sprinkling liquid through biodyzer. Kulal is regular at the farm Melas organized under the aegis of DRDP. He had bagged best farming award in 2010, while Anita Soora Kulal secured 2010 Agricultural Woman award and district level progressive agriculturist woman award.

Kulal has two sons and equal number of daughters. His sons are in hotel business. Kulal need not work now as his future is secure, but he never tires of tending to his agricultural land.

It goes entirely to Soora's credit that he solely dug his 40 ft deep well with a circumference of 23 feet. When digging the well, he used to pull rope attached to basketful of mud, and when the basket reached land surface, his children emptied it. He confesses that he had to do this, as his economic condition did not permit him to hire people.

Perhaps he follows purely organic methods of farming, over 500 areca nut trees of Soora Kulal have never been affected by rotting disease. When questioned about the methods he uses to treat trees affected by rotting diseases, he said with a smile that he did not have to do so, as his trees have never contracted this disease, which is surprising, considering that this disease is common elsewhere.

All the waste from the cattle shed and house are transferred into a tank, into which all the waste including skins of fruits and weeds are also thrown. Water from this tank flows directly to the areca nut garden and gets sprinkled through jets. Kulal has found that this waste water is more potent than chemical fertilizers.

A board which advices people not to carried away by unreasonable desires and not to kill mother earth by using chemicals' attracts one's attention as soon he reaches Kulal's place. The board explains about Avarse, which has attained the title of being an organic village, and the purpose of following organic farming methods. This achiever, who has rich experience in organic farming, advises everyone that farming is a natural activity, and it should remain always natural, without being allowed to be harmed by chemicals.