Like most other farmers in his native Mangalore, southern India, Sunny D’Souza, had always farmed using ample doses of chemical-based agricultural inputs on his crops. It was the only type of farming he had known. Still, he knew that this input heavy approach was getting him nowhere but in greater financial debt, as crop losses began to take hold, yields stagnated, and as the cost of agricultural supplements annually spiked upward. Like countless deeply indebted farmers across India, there was no doubt in D’Sousa’s mind that the status quo was affecting his overall economic condition, and threatening the viability of his life as a farmer.

      Disheartened with the way things were going, in 2004 D’Sousa just happened to attend an APHD Sustainable Agriculture Conference organized by Caritas India in nearby Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu, where he was encouraged to practice organic farming. The Going green has its financial rewards By Haridas V.R., PhD Mangalore, India APHD conference and demonstration on sustainable agriculture offered a compelling alternative model in the form of organic farming. For D’Sousa, this encounter with practitioners of the sustainable agriculture made a huge impression, so much so that he made the life-changing decision to switch to organic farming.

      Two years later (in late 2006), Sunny D’Souza reports that he does not use any form of artificially derived chemical fertilizers or pesticides on his eleven acres of crops. In fact, he uses 100% organic products, producing for himself vermicompost, panchagavya, jeeva jal, gunapajalam, and cytocine to enrich the fertility of the soil. Importantly, he also practices mixed cropping and a system of Rice Intensification (SRI). Moreover, he is very convinced with the effectiveness of mulching.

      On top of the benefits to his local natural environment by ending his use of chemicals, Sunny D’Souza has indeed benefited financially, as he has witnessed a substantial reduction in the cost of inputs such as fertilizers, seeds on a per acre basis. Such cost cutting has translated into total overall increases in his net income. By going organic for his three main crops (aracanut, coconut and rice paddy) he boosted his annual net income by 149,527 (Indian rupees) which is equivalent to US$ 3322 (45 rupees to 1 US$).

      Such financial results have not gone unnoticed with surrounding farmers. In fact, D’Souza has been able to convince more than five-hundred farmers in Mangalore to take up organic farming. This momentum has even led to the formation of a farmers’ cooperative named Malanad Organic Farmers Association, which is a platform for selling and marketing local organic agricultural products. Indeed, several female farmers are now selling their organic products through the organic outlets.

Before: Chemical-based farming (3 acres)


After: Organic, Chemical free farming (3 acres)


      Mr. D’Souza is now cultivating aracanut, coconut, pepper, beetal leaves, rice paddy, and some pulses. When he shifted to organic farming, he started growing glycedea trees as a perimeter to form of natural boundaries (as pictured right), which he says protect the aracanut, pepper and beetal leaves. He is now doing mulching, which is found to be very good for improving the humus.

      Humus particles have been derived by the decomposition of plants, which had taken all the essential elements from the soil while they were living. These can supply all kinds of food required by the plants. Humus improves the physical condition of the soil, the content in the soil and improves the Water Holding Capacity. The water holding capacity of a soil is the amount of water it will hold when all the free water is allowed to drain out. Some clay soils will retain about 40 percent of water. Sandy soils might have a water capacity as low as five percent). In addition to mulching he is applying growth promoter named “Jeeva Jal” every 20 days.

What is Mulching?

      Mulching refers to the practice of applying a layer of materials such as compost, leaves, or grass clippings to the soil surface in order to modify soil temperature and moisture as well as control weeds and soil erosion. Mulches made from plant material are organic mulches. Over a period of time, organic mulches decompose and become part of the soil. This is a great advantage as the decomposition adds organic matter to the soil, helping the soil to retain water and nutrients in a better way, resulting in healthier plants. Organic mulches will have to be replenished from time to time.

What is Mulching?
Jeev : “Life” and Jal: “Water”

      Jeeva Jal is a growth promoter to enrich the soil and plants, and is the easiest way of preparing organic manure. It contains many microbes. So depending on the fertility of the soil, this manure has to be applied to the field. It is suggested that this solution be applied every ten days in the beginning.

Method of preparation of few biorepellents and growth promoters
Ingredients required:
      Mix all these items well and keep it in a mud pot or plastic bucket, cover the mouth of the pot with a cotton cloth or any lid. After forty-eight hours the solution will be ready. Before using it in the fields, water has to be added ten times. It can be sprayed on the field or applied to individual plants. The result can be seen within a week.

The main reasons why Sunny D’Souza believes organic farming is superior in every way to the chemical-based approach:

• It has increased his crop yield and his income.
• Since he practices mixed cropping, and does not use chemicals, several birds and butterflies have started coming to his fields.
• The quality of his soil and water has improved dramatically.
• Community Interest: He has initiated an organic farmers’ cooperative in Mangalore, as well as outlets marketing organic products.
• The income he gets by selling beetal leaves (4000 India ruprees) is used for the local promotion of organic farming.
• He strongly believes that the consumption of organic food products will improve the health of people. Ever since he started organic farming in 2004, he has been observing positive changes in the health of his family members.

      Mr. Sunny D’souza is very grateful to Caritas India and APHD for giving him the opportunity to attend farmers’ conferences in India, Cambodia and Nepal. Rarely do farmers get the chance to learn from each other and have a good exposure to sustainable agriculture programmes. APHD is special for allowing this to happen.