True to Nature

20 years ago, Shillong was a quiet and quaint place in India. The drive from Guwahati Airport to Shillong on the single-lane highway was mesmerising. As we travelled across the lush green landscape, a river on the side of the road became our constant companion. Monsoons in Meghalaya are particularly beautiful. The name Meghalaya means ‘the abode of clouds’ and it is the wettest regions in India. One could literally touch the clouds here with the car windows rolled down.

The beauty of Meghalaya was multiplied manifold by its people who aptly represented its simple, quaint and peaceful cover. At that time, indigenous practices and customs thrived as the people and place were untouched by modernisation. Their traditional way of being displayed a precious ‘oneness’ with nature. The society was largely agrarian, following primal agricultural practices, living in wood and bamboo homes. Music was the soul of life here and a guitar was a prized possession of every household.

Today, the single-lane highway from Guwahati airport has become a 4-lane highway. The Shillong Chamber Choir has become a phenomenon, making the world swing to its tunes. And Meghalaya has become a major center for trade with Bangladesh. Even so, nearly 70% of the state remains forested, the rainfall is just as heavy, the clouds are still within reach and its unique culture remain untouched. In that sense not much has changed in Meghalaya.

But a lot has changed in the world around us. Well-being, health consciousness and concern for environment have developed into full-fledged industries. The traditional natural way of life has come out of the shadows into the forefront bringing us back to our agrarian roots. That is pushing the cause of organic farming the world over. This is where North East India and states like Meghalaya can play a big role in shaping not just India’s but the world’s future.

North east India accounts for approximately 7.64 % of the total land of the country. It is believed that North East is ‘Organic by default’ since farming on approximately 18 lakh hectars is still traditional in nature. Small farmers in the region have never used pesticides and fertilisers on their farms as they were out of reach. This has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Today, pristine land is the biggest strength of North East India.

The Indian government has recognised this as a big untapped opportunity and is pushing the region to become India’s and the world’s organic food hub. Several government bodies are now trying to create awareness among the local farmers to switch to organic farm practices. The government is also helping them in the certification process. What works in favour of the North East is:

• The soil is extremely fertile as it is located on the Himalayan range
• Most farmers practise time-tested indigenous farming methods and use local and traditional technical know-how in agriculture
• Sikkim and Mizoram have been declared organic states
• Northeast is home to some unique indigenous crops and herbs like black rice, sticky rice, Assam lemons, king chilli, birds eye chilli, bamboo shoot which have now become famous the world over and are in great demand
• Northeast accounts for 45 % of India’s pineapple production and 72 % of its ginger production
• The natural topography and climate of the region also add to its attractiveness as an organic farming hub. Many parts of North East are naturally cold, permitting comparatively longer storage of agricultural commodities. The region’s altitudinal variation from foothills to alpine zones offers opportunities to grow a variety of crops and animals to thrive. Thus increasing the scope for integrated organic farming
• Today, North East India is one of the richest reservoir of genetic variability and diversity of various kinds of fruits & vegetables, spices, ornamental plants, medicinal plants & aromatic plants. Meghalaya and Assam have made small but significant steps in exporting organic produce. The area of organic cultivation in the region is expanding exponentially since the past 3 years.

We at IKAI Organic are proud to be participants in this big change. Over the years, we have learnt traditional farming methods, gathered local know-how and combined it with the world’s best organic farming practices to undertake what we like to call ‘Natural Organic Farming’ in our farm in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. We ensure that our agricultural practices do not disturb the natural flora and fauna of the area in any way and make concentrated efforts in maintaining the bio-diversity of our farm. We are a small part of a big group of local farmers who look out for each other. Our endeavour is to grow and develop as a community of like-minded people working for a common cause.

The road ahead is long and winding and we have just about begun our journey. It may not be a smooth ride, but we draw inspiration from the best and take heart from the fact that we are honest and true to nature. Pretty much like the food we grow.