Organic Farmers and Farms in Gujarat
Organic Farmers and Farms in Gujarat BHASKER SAVE’S KALPAVRUKSHA FARM Po : Deheri, Taluka : Umbergaon, District : Valsad – 396 170, Gujarat. Phone No. 0260-2562126 ‘Su-Swagatam’, proclaims a bright blue plaque with white lettering at the gate of Bhaskar Save’s verdant 14 acre farm, Kalpavruksha. About twenty steps from the gate is another sign that says: ‘Co-operation is the fundamental law of Nature’. Further inside are numerous other sign-boards that attract attention with brief, thought-provoking ‘sutras’ or aphorisms. These pithy sayings contain all the distilled wisdom on nature, farming, health, culture and spirituality that Bhaskar bhai has gathered over the years, apart from his extraordinary harvest of food. If you ask this warm humble farmer where he learnt his way of natural farming, he might tell you, ‘My university is my farm.’ And now, his farm has become a sacred university for many, as every Saturday afternoon brings a few dozen or more visitors. Included in the entourage are farmers, agricultural scientists, students, city folk, government officials, VIPs and the occasional foreigner who has read or heard of Bhaskar Save’s work. Kalpavruksha compels attention. For, its high yield easily out-performs any modern farm using chemicals. This is readily visible. The number and quality of the coconuts per tree are among the highest in the country. Some of the palms yield over 500 coconuts each year, while the average is about 400. The crop of chikoo (sapota) is similarly abundant and of excellent flavour providing on average 300-350 kg premium quality fruit per tree each year.
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