Change Maker- Atanu Deb

World of Bhaskar Save

Story of Indian Fukuoka

Bhaskar Save realized the whole situation. He has emphasized on importance of the farming, without hampering natural system. Undoubtedly, Government policies emphasized on the effective natural resource exploitation and additional input based agriculture became the ‘mantra’ of more food production. But Save has a belief to create a sustainable farm which will be managed and maintained by the blessings of nature. Written by Atanu Deb.

Bhaskar Save, in an open letter to M.S. Swaminathan (The Father of Green Revolution in India) opines, “I am an 84-year old farmer with six decades of experience…I say with conviction that only by organic farming in harmony with Nature, can India sustainably provide abundant wholesome food and meet every basic need of all – to live in health, dignity and peace”. For centuries, farmers of India have survived on family based farming system, have maintained their distinctive culture of farming, have sustained on subsistence family farms, and struggled to overcome poor socio-economic condition. India, the largest democracy of world, has a great tradition of farmer centric economy. Most of the village dwellers of the nation is still depending on agriculture. But still, the condition of the agricultural sector was not satisfactory. Because of the ruthless exploitation of the British, the entire agricultural sector was in doldrums. The major reason behind this was the problem of indebtedness. According to the Royal Commission, in 1923, “The Indian agriculturists are born in debt, live in debt and die in debt, passing on their burden to those who follow”. The situation still continues….though not to the same extent. But food crisis in farm families began with these types of practices. It always reduces the power of input supply of the farmers which minimizes the profit margin. It threatens the food security of the rural farm families.

Bhaskar Save, an Indian farmer of Dehri, is also known as ‘Gandhi of Natural Farming’. He belongs to a farm family.

Bhaskar Save realized the whole situation. He has emphasized on importance of the farming, without hampering natural system. Undoubtedly, Government policies emphasized on the effective natural resource exploitation and additional input based agriculture became the ‘mantra’ of more food production. But Save has a belief to create a sustainable farm which will be managed and maintained by the blessings of nature. Various studies reveal that besides, the effectiveness of this kind of farming, Save created a sustainable impact on his own livelihood. Bhaskar Save asked, “Children have a birth-right to suckle the sweet wholesome milk from their mother’s bosom. But tragically, our modern rapacious way of farming, rampant industrialism and consumerist culture draw on Mother Earth’s life-blood and flesh. How then can we hope to receive her continuing nourishment?”

This kind of farming is popularly known as ‘Natural Farming’.

Concept of Natural Farming

Since time immoral traditional farmers are the protectors of the eco-friendly agriculture. Their farming had an unmediated relationship with nature.  The traditional worship, ritual and practices symbolize the symbiotic relationship between these farmers and nature. Based on these believes Masanobu Fukuoka (1913–2008), a Japanese farmer and philosopher, ventilated a concept of ecologically viable farming. In his book ‘One Straw Revolution’ (1975), he coined the concept and principles of ‘Natural Farming’. It is also popular as "the natural way of farming", "do-nothing farming” or "the Fukuoka Method". Bill Mollison in ‘Permaculture 2’ told that “Perhaps Fukuoka, in his book The One Straw Revolution, has best stated the basic philosophy of permaculture. In brief, it is philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labour; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system.”

In the book ‘The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming’, Masanobu Fukuoka cited five-fold principles of natural farming- 1. No tillage, 2. No fertilizer, 3. No pesticides or herbicides, 4. No weeding and 5. No pruning.

Now progressive scientists/ corporates may astonish. But Fukuoka says, “To plant, I simply broadcast rye and barley seed on separate fields in the fall while the rice is still standing! A few weeks later, I harvest the rice and spread the straw back over the fields from which it came.

It is the same for the rice seeding. This winter grain (rye and barley) will be cut around May 20. About two weeks before these crops fully mature, I broadcast rice seed over them. After they have been harvested — and the grains threshed — I spread the resulting rye and barley straw over the field.

I suppose that using the same method to plant rice and winter grain is unique to this kind of farming, but there is an even easier way! As we walk over to the next field, let me point out that the rice there was sown last fall at the same time as the winter grain. In fact, the whole year's planting was finished in the field by New Year's Day!”

 Interested readers may collect ‘One Straw Revolution’ for further details.

Who is Bhaskar Save?

Bhaskar Save, a 93 year old young farmer, hailing from Dehri under the District Valsad, of southernmost coastal Gujarat, possesses 14 acres of farm, named as ‘Kalpabriksha’. Dehri village is predominantly of small and marginal farmers. He practiced the natural method of farming on 14 acres of his owned land. Bharat Mansava (2014), a well-known social activist explains his experiences of Save’s farm visit: “Indeed, Save’s farm is a veritable food forest; a net supplier of water, energy and fertility to the local eco-system, instead of a net consumer. His way of farming and teachings are rooted in a deep understanding of the symbiotic relationships in nature, which he is ever happy to explain in simple, down-to-earth idioms to anyone interested….. Some 10 acres of the farm are a mixed natural orchard of mainly coconut and chikoo (Manilkara zapota, an evergreen fruit tree) with fewer numbers of other tree species. About 2 acres are under seasonal field crops cultivated organically in traditional rotation. Another 2 acres is a nursery for raising coconut saplings that are in great demand.

The farm yield is superior to any farm using chemicals. This is true in all aspects of total quantity, nutritional quality, taste, biological diversity, ecological sustainability, water conservation, energy efficiency, and economic profitability. The costs (mainly labour for harvesting) are minimal, and external inputs almost zero”.

Natural Farming as an age-old tradition where an amalgamation of Save’s nature oriented approach is dedicated to farm and it is not allowed to pruning or to tillage or any application of chemicals. Mansava (2014) highlights that Save considers weeds as ‘Friend’. Save says, ‘“In nature, every humble creature and plant plays its role in the functioning of the eco-system. Each is an inseparable part of the food chain. The excrement of one species is nutrition for another. In death too, every organism, withered leaf, or dry blade of grass leaves behind its contribution of fertility for bringing forth new life.” Now we may have question if weed control is necessary, then what to do. Save replies, “When farmers shift back to organic farming, their soil steadily improves in health each year. Correspondingly, crop growth gets better, while weed growth declines. In just 2-3 years, there should be no need for any weeding at all. Until then, the farmer is better advised to cut and mulch the weeds”. Save suggests to use weeds for mulching.

The farming of Save could be an important model to ensure natural resource conservation: This farm contains a large number of microorganism in its soil and is considered to be a treasure for next generation. This farm has an immense wealth of soil health and provides safe source of food.

During 1996, Masanobu Fukuoka visited Bhaskar Save’s farm. He recognized that Save’s farm might be the best farm in world. He called Save as ‘Second Gandhi’.