Isn’t it a wonder that a tiny seed sowed into the earth can grow into a fruit yielding tree? The same tree can also nourish the earth and save the environment in the long run. World Environment Day, celebrated every year on June 5, was first established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. This was the outcome of numerous conversations about integrating the environment and human interactions. It has now grown into one of the largest annual global platforms for environmental action, with millions of participants.
Every year, a different nation hosts World Environment Day, with a different theme each year. In recent years, the focus of attention has ranged from air pollution and food waste to illegal wildlife trade and plastic contamination. This year's event on June 5, which is being hosted by Saudi Arabia, will highlight land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. Every year, a different theme is introduced to focus on a specific environmental issue, such as plastic waste, air pollution, energy conservation, or sustainable consumption. The slogan of this event will be ‘Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration’. Land restoration is an important pillar of the theme of World Environment Day 2024 and the organisers wish to unite people around the world to restore ecosystems.
Organic farming provides a multifaceted approach to address issues of land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. By prioritising soil health through practices such as composting and crop rotation, organic farming enhances soil fertility and structure, which is crucial for restoring degraded land and combating desertification. Additionally, carbon sequestration in organic soils enhances soil water retention, which bolsters resilience to drought. Overall, organic farming proves to be a valuable ally in the fight against land degradation, desertification, and drought.
Melanie Vaz, an organic farming enthusiast, says, "Initially, when gardening, I used whatever chemical fertilisers people told me to, but over time I realised that the quantity and quality of my yield were dwindling. My son suggested switching to organic farming and we began making our own compost at home using kitchen waste, which worked out cheap and easy. Yet, I did not reap the benefits immediately due to the damage that was already done to the soil. It took around 7 years for the yield to improve, but it turned out to be much tastier, bigger and had a better texture as well. I use wastes such as spoiled milk and fish as compost requires carbon and nitrogen. Since I do not have to spend a single penny on it, I can lavishly feed the compost to all my plants and also deal with my kitchen waste effectively. I have also given my grandson a patch of land and he enjoys growing spinach and other vegetables on it. He takes good care of them and is overjoyed and proud every time there is a good yield. ”
When asked about suggestions she would give to those who would like to begin organic farming, she says, “You should have a composter, which can even be made with a bucket after making holes. A starter such as Effective Microorganisms (EM) should be added to the mixture of your home wastes and after around a month, the compost will be ready. Start small with a few pots and then move to small patches of land and cultivate indigenous vegetables and fruits. Also, make sure to clear the patch of land by removing all rocks and weeds.”
Agriculture graduate from Don Bosco College of Agriculture, Sulcorna, Priyanka Naik, sharing her experience of organic farming, says, "Organic farming was our way of life from time immemorial, but due to the increase in population and urbanization, farmers had to double their production by using chemicals and fertilizers which had lots of ill effects on our health. I always wanted to highlight the fact that food should be our medicine and not medicine as our food for healthy living. Thus, on our farms in Mollem, we follow and encourage other farmers and students who visit us to follow organic practices. I would also advise others to encourage their children to be environmentally conscious and teach them to grow their own food using pots and containers on their balconies as this can help them to connect with nature and also to have a healthy lifestyle. Organic farming is not a one-day process; it will take time to show the desired results after your soil has replenished its original microbial properties, which must have deteriorated due to chemical usage.”
Sandra Fernandes, who is passionate about organic farming, says, “I chose to get into organic farming because of my love for nature and because I believe that organically grown food is the key to living a healthy life. Some of the fruits and vegetables I grow in my garden are pine apples, jackfruit, mangoes, soursop, love apples, star fruits, pumpkins, tomatoes, spinach, brinjal, chillies and a variety of ginger. I spend around 2 to 4 hours in my garden and spend most of my leisure time indulging in it. My entire family, consisting of 22 members, along with my small grandchildren also like to help out whenever possible. I also work with school and college students on organic farming. I believe that if anything has to change, the younger generation should be educated, as they are the pillars of tomorrow. I would like to advise people to find small ways to create their own kitchen garden and use scraps of leftover food and vegetables as organic fertiliser instead of throwing it away in the garbage and causing pollution. If you have the passion to start a kitchen, just go for it and you will soon find yourself creating a green planet for yourself and the generations to come. Those who grow food organically are peacemakers on earth because they save humanity from death, diseases and other calamities.”
An archaeologist by education, Sawani Shetye, who engages in organic farming says, “My husband and his father own a farm, which I have been helping at since my marriage. I realized that the taste of our freshly grown vegetables is much better than the local organic ones found in the markets. Especially during Covid-19 pandemic, when we were unable to go to the market, we were not too affected since we could depend entirely on our farm products. I would advise others to engage in organic farming as well, because one's health is extremely important and there is nothing better than having a pure source of food that is unadulterated. Although not everybody may have the time, bandwidth, patience or land to grow a plantation, we must at least try to grow a small patch. For those that are city-bound, they can make a deal with certain farmers and just as we have family doctors, we should also have family farmers so we can trust the source of the vegetables and also support their means of livelihood.”