Jul - 2009
| July - 2009 |  |
| Dear Nature Lovers, | |
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Our actions will change the world. It already has.
This year’s monsoon is indicating a major change in climate… It’s July & still we had to wait for monsoon to arrive. Its time to check & change what we do in life… either adopt more environment friendly ways or perish due to unhealthy environment. Our rain-fed agricultural system is in great trouble now. Can we afford to loose our food ? Obviously NO… we need to find solutions… towards a sustainable & healthy living. |
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| Regards, Ketaki & Manasi. |
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| Agro-diversity… Native & diverse crops…Choice of food makes a lot of difference in crop pattern. Local cultivars are vanishing very fast from farming community. Traditionally, India had thousands of rice varieties specific to each micro-climatic region, today only commercially valued few are grown. Few traditional rice varieties are even known to have medicinal values like Njavara, the unique short duration land rice of Kerala. Mango which is naturally growing in our forests had hundreds of varieties but now all cultivation is focused on growing 'Alphanso'. There are many advantages of local, non-hybrid varieties like they need less water, are hardy & adapted to environment, are resistant to pest attack, seeds are locally available, are better for health. On contrary, GM crops may have negative impacts on health of humans & environment. It’s been thought that local varieties with organic inputs will not give desired yields, which is misleading, and was proven wrong by many scientists & practitioners like Masanobu Fukuoka. It is essential to conserve the different traits of native crop varieties evolved through the combined process of natural selections and artificial selections in different eco-climatic conditions over the centuries with their fragrance, taste, medicinal and high yielding properties. In growing market of company monopoly over hybrid or GM seeds, farmers must start conserving & saving local seeds for ensured crop & food security. Population is growing fast… with increased wants & ever increasing demands for resources…. Though technology provides the ‘accessories’ it really can not grow food ! This domain still remains with soil, water & nature without any doubt. We can start with the basic need – ‘food’, - Search for local cultivars - Demand for organic food - Use less processed, natural food - Explore locally grown varieties - Encourage farmers to grow & save native seeds - Grow your food without chemicals using food waste & waste water on small scale |
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| * You can visit link Native Plants to read more about Native Plants. | |
| * Do visit link Course Details about One Year Diploma Course in Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development and Ecological Restoration conducted by Ecological Society, starting in July. |
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Oikos for ecological services
Ph. 020-25451875
Web: www.oikos.in