Hosted by Shashi Kumar (co-founder and CEO) and Shilpa G (Domain Specialist), we experienced firsthand their innovative approach to sustainable agriculture and dairy farming. We engaged in conversations covering a wide range of topics, including the future of farming, organic food production, soil management, gender economics, sustainable practices, fostering collaboration, and exploring transformative ideas for a sustainable future.

Beyond Dairy: A Holistic Approach:

Akshayakalpa goes far beyond just being a dairy company. They are actively transforming the Indian farming landscape, focusing on improving soil health, animal welfare, sustainable practices, and farmer empowerment.

Empowering Farmers and Expanding Horizons:

Akshayakalpa is expanding the product range into honey, greens, and vegetables. The facility is 100% self sustainable. They treat and reuse waste water, create biogas, grow veggies in the facility and the slurry from the bio-gas plant that goes back to the soil as a manure.

Akshayakalpa works with nearly 1200 farmers and provide resources and guidance in good farming concepts. The goal is to make the farmers role models in their villages, showing others that farming can be profitable and fulfilling. They are also expanding their dairy operations beyond Tiptur, venturing into Chennai and Hyderabad.

Learning and Sharing:

Shashi encouraged us to explore insightful books like:

• Economy of Permanence by JC Kumarappa: In an economy of permanence the relationship and interaction between humans and Nature is of paramount importance.
• Silent Spring by Rachel Carson: This book is about humanity’s misguided attempts to control nature through the use of chemical pesticides.
• An Agricultural Testament by Sir Albert Howard: This is a classic on organic farming and an essential introduction to organic gardening and farming.
• Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual by Bill Mollison: This is a fantastic book showing both how to grow things and how to repair damaged land anywhere in the world
• The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka: This book challenges industrial agriculture. Explores the principles of Natural Farming, the no-till method, and the importance of diversity and reverence for life in cultivating a sustainable and harmonious relationship with the land.

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My Key Takeaways. Our visit yielded a wealth of knowledge:

• Direct consumer engagement: Farm visits are essential to educate consumers about responsible food choices.
• Attracting youth to farming: The population of farmers is diminishing at alarming rate. We need to come up with new ideas, processes to pull more people towards farming. No population under 45 years old is willing to take up farming.The critical task at hand is to make farming sustainable and attractive to younger generations.
• Conscious consumption: Consumers should understand the value of good food and support sustainable practices. It’s imperative to minimize food wastage.
• Individuals must recognise that they should be willing to invest more for high-quality food.
• Gender economics: Women have proven to excel in managing farms and demonstrate remarkable prowess in economics. Akshayakalpa is witnessing such success stories.
• Supporting farmers: Empowering farmers through fair pricing and knowledge sharing is crucial for the future of agriculture.
• The commitment to sustainability is evident in every aspect of Akshayakalpa’s operations.The ground water level has immensely increased in their farm in Triptur due to good farming methods.
• We should contemplate and carefully consider the necessity of plantation farming. Evaluate its effects on biodiversity, soil erosion, and pollution.

Reflecting on this enriching experience, I am inspired by Akshayakalpa’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community empowerment. The visit left a lasting impression, from the delectable meals sourced from their farm to witnessing their state-of-the-art facilities. We left the farm not just informed, but inspired by their commitment to building a sustainable future for all. I encourage everyone, whether consumers or simply curious individuals, to consider a visit to this remarkable farm.

Simi Joshi

Ready to join the journey? Follow Akshayakalpa Organic to stay updated on their inspiring work. Remember, even small changes can make a big difference. Visit Akshayakalpa or similar farms in your area, support sustainable practices, and spread the word!

Together, let’s cultivate a brighter future for our planet.

#Sustainability #OrganicFarming #EmpoweringFarmers #DreamPathFoundation #Akshayakalpa #FieldTrip

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DreamPath Foundation is a non-profit organisation operating from Bengaluru.