SHWETA KAMAT
PANJIM: Chanting vedic mantras and meditation by farmers are some of the unique ‘cosmic’ techniques that Agriculture Department is exploring with the aim to increase farm yields and minimise production costs. Also, zero budget natural farming is another practice that is being considered.
‘Shiv Yog Khethi (cosmic farming)’ and ‘Yogic Farming’ are two methods the department is looking at as alternatives to manure and fertilizer. While under cosmic farming, the farmer will have to chant the mantra ‘Om Rom Jum Sah’ for 20 minutes daily, positive thought and meditation under Yogic Farming are believed to make plants healthier and give a better yield.
Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai has already launched a ‘Shiv Yog Cosmic Farming’ project at a field near his residence in Fatorda with a view to increase crop yield.
Speaking to Herald, Agriculture Director Nelson Figueiredo said it wouldn’t be wrong to assume that India is at the centre of an organic revolution that is set to take the world by storm and Goa wants to contribute to this. “Government is clear that it wants to go organic in the field of agriculture. And for that various techniques are being considered,” he said.
The Agriculture Minister and Director had recently visited Guru Shivanand in Gurgaon, Haryana, the promoter of Shiv Yog Kethi. “Guru Shivanand was of the opinion that a farmer needs to spend at least 20 minutes chanting the vedic mantra ‘Om Rom Jum Sah’ for 20 days. According to him, the mantra draws cosmic energy of the universe into the field and helps the seeds to sprout better and give quality yield,” he said, adding that cosmic farming has a lot of followers across the world.
Sustainable Yogic Farming is a research project carried out by the Rural Development Wing of the Brahma Kumaris. They claim that over 1000 farmers throughout India are combining organic farming with meditation, which is showing remarkable results.
“I had an interaction with the Brahma Kumaris also. They showed me how sustainable Yogic farming has resulted in lower costs to farmers and reduced the pressure on the environment. Other benefits have been improvements in farmers’ emotional well-being and enhanced community resilience,” the Director explained.
Apart from these vedic and yogic methods, the department is also looking at a project by Subhash Palekar called ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’. He is a known name in the agriculture sector, who has held workshops on natural farming and agrarian crisis. “Through his techniques he makes the soil alive. Palekar claims it a historic approach and it eliminates the cost of fertilizers, pesticides and special seeds,” Figueiredo said.
Palekar speaks of natural ways of soil and seed treatments, where he uses local cow urine, cow dung, and soil from the farm.
