In Ooty, This Man With A PhD Does Organic Tea Farming

In modern-day agriculture, chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilisers are commonly used to control crop worms and boost yields. However, there is a growing demand for organically grown vegetables and fruits that are not treated with chemical pesticides. This trend has heightened the importance of organic farming throughout Tamil Nadu. Similarly, farmers in the Nilgiris are increasingly adopting organic farming practices.

Consumers prefer organic produce because it is perceived as healthier and safer for the body. Additionally, educated youths and individuals earning high salaries in top-tier companies are turning to organic farming to consume healthier food. For example, a person in Ooty who took up organic farming after completing a PhD serves as a role model for those in the Nilgiris aspiring to engage in organic farming.

Babu from the Meekeri area of Ooty, who completed his PhD in Tamil literature in 2001 and is involved in organic farming due to his interest in agriculture, shared his insight on organic farming. According to him, in this era of technological advancement, sticking to organic farming is a challenge as even if the land is fertilised naturally, artificially prepared seeds have flooded the market. Babu says that it is easier to cultivate cabbage, and beetroot organically but difficult to cultivate potatoes.

“Due to this challenging environment, we follow a multi-cropping system instead of mono mono-cropping system. Organically grown tea is cultivated by me and sold to other states and districts,” Babu said. As it is a natural tea, it sells for up to Rs 280 per kg, he added.

Also, as wildlife is also a threat to agriculture, farmers have to take extra care to protect their crops. Babu added that organic farming is more suited to one’s garden and backyard and is not feasible on a large scale. It usually takes about three years to prepare artificially farmed soil for organic farming. He said that farmers are not aware of government subsidies although there are associations for organic farming. Farmers should be made fully aware of the importance of organic farming and the assistance provided by the government.