Recently, eight women students from Thanthai Hans Roever Agriculture College in Perambalur explored and experimented various issues and developments in organic farming at a 10-day camp organized by Kudumbam, a non-governmental organization founded by G. Nammalvar.
The camp was organized as a part of the college’s Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE) module in the final year of B.Sc Agriculture course. The camp which was held from September 14 to 21 was a new initiative to help students to understand sustainable farming in a practical manner.
As per the report, the students and the participants have stayed at Kudumbam’s model 30-acre Kolunji ecological farm in Odugampatti, Keeranur, Pudukottai district where the students learned about the importance of reviving heirloom seeds, water conservation, and management and other concepts.
The students have also interacted with organic farmers in Kovilveerakudi village, who explained how they gradually phased out conventional chemical-based agriculture on their fields.
The students were able to put their lessons on water and biodiversity mapping, learned at Kolunji, into action at two government schools in Udaiyalipatti and Valiampatti villages in Kunnandarkoil Union. They were able to create awareness of the depletion of groundwater in the schools.
The Roever College students and schoolchildren also collaborated on making and sowing 300 seed balls on tank bunds.
Oswald Quintal, Director of Kudumbam said, “Such programs are a good way to help agriculture graduates gain something beyond bookish knowledge”.
“At the end of the camp, all students were actively considering taking up rooftop gardening as well as dedicating a small part of their family fields to organic farming”, he added.
