(Experience from International Conference on Organic Farming for Sustainability in
Horti-Agriculture)
Ritesh Kumar
Senior Research Fellow (Plant Pathology)
ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region
Research Centre, Plandu, Ranchi-834010
An
International Conference on Organic Farming for Sustainability in
Horti-Agriculture was organised by Jharkhand State Horticulture Mission in
association with Directorate of Horticulture and Organic Farming Authority of
Jharkhand. The objective of the two day conference (8th and 9th
November) was to create awareness on the recent advances in the field of
sustainable organic farming. Organic farming has become the most talked subject
today. It is an ancient approach to farming and is a gift given by India to the
world. Global presence of Indian certified organic produce in International
markets is receiving wide attention by countries around the world and as a
result India was the ‘Country of the Year’ in Biofach, 2012 held in Numermberg,
Germany.
The
conference dealt with different themes-
o The
Present scenario of different Organic Farming Systems and way forward for their
integration.
o Organic
Produce: Certification, Marketing, Promotion & Exports.
o Organic
Farming: Select Protocols, Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and Improved
Techniques.
Among
all the themes and lecture in between them the most interesting was lecture on ‘Homa’
for organic farming. The concept of ‘Homa’ being used in agriculture was quite
new although it is an ancient method used in prehistoric times. The thing is
only this is now getting scientific validation. It was surprising to know that
rigorous research is going on Homa Organic Farming and people from outside
India e.g. Gemany, Australia, Austia are taking much interest in it. In her
lecture ‘Concept of Homa Organic Farming’ Karin Heschel from Five Fold Path
Mission, Austria said that ‘tremendous amount of energy is gathered around the ‘Agnihotra’
copper pyramid (pot used during Agnihotra) when
Agnihotra performed in Homa therapy. Agnihotra, the basic healing fire
of Homa therapy is a small fire prepared in a copper pyramid exactly at sunrise
and sunset each day. Agnihotra can neutralize the effects of pollution on
plants, animals and human beings and at the same time give nourishment. The rhythms and mantras generate much subtle
energy which is thrust into the atmosphere by the fire. An aura energy field is
created around plants during Agnihotra and as a result plants become stronger
and resistant to disease. Also when the flame dies the energy is locked in the
resultant ash which is used for preparing various folk medicines’.
Ulrich
Berk from Five Fold Path Mission, Germany emphasized Impact of Homa Organic
Farming in mitigating soil, water and environmental crisis. He mentioned in his
lecture that ‘Experiments done with Agnihotra showed indoor microbial pollution
is greatly reduced and regular use of Agnihotra controls pathogenic bacteria.
Also the concentration of negative ions is an important indicator of
atmospheric pollution. The more negative ion in the air, less is the pollution.
Normally smoke particles are charged positive. But when Agnihotra is performed,
the smoke of Agnihotra fire shows a higher concentration of negative ions and
thus it purifies the air in an area around where it is being performed’. In his
lecture “Homa Jaivik Krishi: A Hope for Sustainable Agriculture”, R. K. Pathak,
a Homa Teacher from Five Fold Path Mission mentioned that there is need of
intensive research on organic farming systems by networking of ICAR institutes
and S. A. Us to develop reliable data for convincing policy makers and
promotion of Homa Jaivik Farming.
The
above said concept was quite strange and new for the participants of the
conference. And validation of its effect in farming would be a new horizon of
research for the biologists. It must be mentioned here that there is nothing
new in the Homa therapy and is a quite ancient practiced in our country. It was simply our ignorance which has taken
the attention of others. Is it that we are ignoring our traditional
knowledge/ancient knowledge and we accept when the same get certification from
some others? If things will go like that only time will come when we will be
having everything after getting branded and that will not be in our hands in true sence. Who is going to take
the responsibility of conserving everything we have?
