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| site_visit_and_survey_notes [2008-04-15 12:01] – sanjeev | site_visit_and_survey_notes [2008-05-16 14:20] – sanjeev |
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| ====Delhi, India==== | ====Delhi, India==== |
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| | India, which has been traditionally known for its diverse culture and strong traditional agricultural methods is today synonymous for rapid growth and transformation. Demographically, more than 66 percent of the people reside in rural areas. This dominant rural demographic will continue till 2050 and is an important difference between India and Europe, which has a reverse trend in terms of percentage of people residing in cites. New Delhi, situated within the metropolis of Delhi, is the capital of India. With a population of over 15 million the city is undergoing rapid change. A couple of decades ago the area surrounding the city was mostly agricultural. Today, the situation is different. Now the city is increasingly in the midst of a continuous urban sprawl. Delhi has over 40% of it citizens living in slum like conditions and over the past decade they are being systematically thrown out. The river banks too were till recently a site for the poor. As demand for scarce land rises, there is an ongoing change in the demographics of residential areas. After a concerted city action in early nineties over 7500 hectares of forest are now legally protected in the city, and through another law, tree cutting needs special permission. Similarly Non Governmental Organisations along with the Courts forced the conversion of public transport from diesel to CNG, a cleaner fuel. At the social and physical level, Delhi remains a historical, multi-layered fragmented city, with each fragment contributing in its own way to the city. Such multi layered city character is very common in India and creates a complex dynamic within the city. |
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| | In Delhi, apart from the ridge forest which is the capital's green lung, substantial green stretches are seen in schools, universities, military campuses, religious institutions and parks. Home gardens are commonly seen in New Delhi with the role of the local 'maali'(gardener) crucial in maintaining the gardens. Some of the most common plants grown in Delhi include green chilis, tomatoes, beans, papaya, grapes, jamun(or jamblang), cucumber, bananas, guavas, money plants, marigold(used for offering prayers) and mangoes. A lot of these edibles are consumed within the household or within the local communities. There is hardly any attempt to process, package or value add the produce as one sees them being sold at reasonable prices on the streets. It is not uncommon to see vendors selling seasonal produce from nearby villages too. Organic gardens are not common within the city realms. With the emphasis on rural agriculture in India, the positive contribution that production within the cities can make has hardly been acknowledged. |
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| | Certain religious institutions in India, like ISKCON(International society for Krishna conciousness) lay special emphasis on organic farming and have a very successful model to train people in bio-dynamic farming in their national centre in Mysore, near Bangalore. This is part of the Bio-Dynamic association of India(BDAI).((http://www.basilacademy.in/html/aboutBasil.htm)) |
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| Some pointers related to organic farming in Delhi: | Some pointers related to organic farming in Delhi: |
| * As India struggles to deal with stagnation in its crucial agricultural sector, small-scale organic farming initiatives near the capital are providing clues on how to reap healthy profits from the land. | * As India struggles to deal with stagnation in its crucial agricultural sector, small-scale organic farming initiatives near the capital are providing clues on how to reap healthy profits from the land. |
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| * Around New Delhi, free-range and organic goods from newcomers to farming are showing that money can be made by growing specialty products that consumers are willing to pay more for. High-value crops which include fruits, vegetables, milk, poultry products and fish are the focus and not cereals. A French Farm in Gurgaon, a suburb of New Delhi known mainly for its call centres, raises thousands of free-range Peking and Muscovy ducks on feed that is free of pesticide and antibiotics. A lot of these products are sold to five star hotels and not the common man on the streets. | * Around New Delhi, free-range and organic goods from newcomers are showing that money can be made by growing specialty products that consumers are willing to pay more for. High-value crops which include fruits, vegetables, milk, poultry products and fish are the focus and not cereals. A French Farm in Gurgaon, a suburb of New Delhi known mainly for its call centres, raises thousands of free-range Peking and Muscovy ducks on feed that is free of pesticide and antibiotics. A lot of these products are sold to high end hotels and not to the common man on the streets. |
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| * A more recent start-up, **Heritage Health Food**, delivers boxed organic food grown on 80 acres of leased land. The two-year-old firm makes 200 to 300 deliveries a week, priced at between 200 and 400 rupees (five to 10 dollars) depending on weight, and is still to become common with the middle class household. | * A more recent start-up, **Heritage Health Food**, delivers boxed organic food grown on 80 acres of leased land. The two-year-old firm makes 200 to 300 deliveries a week, priced at between 200 and 400 rupees (five to 10 dollars) depending on weight, and is still to become common with the middle class household. |
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| * "Organic exports are growing by 100 percent a year," according to S. Dave,from the agricultural export council APEDA. | * The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed standards for organic exports, and mandatory domestic standards are in the works. This will make it easier and cheaper for farmers to get the kind of accreditation that is recognised abroad. According to S. Dave,from the agricultural export council APEDA, "Organic exports are growing by 100 percent a year. Many people are still going in for traditional farming, which is mostly organic. Four million hectares (9.8 million acres) of land are now devoted to certified organic farming for export, including of mangoes, spices and nuts." |
| "Many people are still going in for traditional farming, which is mostly organic. Four million hectares (9.8 million acres) of land are now devoted to certified organic farming for export, including of mangoes, spices and nuts." The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed standards for organic exports, and mandatory domestic standards are in the works. This will make it easier and cheaper for farmers to get the kind of accreditation that is recognised abroad. | |
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| * In New Delhi, the **Navdanya** outlets started by environmentalist Vandana Shiva source organic oils and lentils from small farmers. Through their direct market initiative, they also bring different varieties of rice, wheat, flour, dals, rajma, spices, edible oils, breakfast cereals, natural sweeteners, millets, cookies, jams, pickles, squashes, culinary herbs etc. Recently they have partnered with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) to avail an existing network of HPCL centres which double up as organic outlets.((http://www.navdanya.org/organic/outlets.htm)) | * In New Delhi, the **Navdanya** outlets started by environmentalist Vandana Shiva, sources organic oils and lentils from small farmers. Through their direct market initiative, they also bring different varieties of rice, wheat, flour, dals, rajma, spices, edible oils, breakfast cereals, natural sweeteners, millets, cookies, jams, pickles, squashes, culinary herbs etc. Recently they have partnered with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) to avail an existing network of HPCL centres which double up as organic outlets.((http://www.navdanya.org/organic/outlets.htm)) |
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| * One of the country's best known brands, **FabIndia**, which began four decades ago selling clothes that drew on craft traditions, has recently branched into organic spices, teas and granola. Introduced in 2004 under the brandname of Fabindia Organics, FabIndia has successfully diversified and positioned its organic range. While it is becoming a source of huge profits for the group, it is also creating an interest and strong market for trsitional agricultural techniques.((http://www.fabindia.com/faq.asp?cate=30)) | * One of the country's best known brands, **FabIndia**, which began four decades ago selling clothes that drew on craft traditions, has recently branched into organic spices, teas and granola. Introduced in 2004 under the brandname of Fabindia Organics, FabIndia has successfully diversified and positioned its organic range. While it is becoming a source of huge profits for the group, it is also creating an interest and strong market for traditional agricultural techniques.((http://www.fabindia.com/faq.asp?cate=30)) |
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| * Elsewhere in India, more than 5,000 farmers in 250 villages of Surat in Gujarat have switched over to organic farming, according to agro-expert Chandrakanth Mandavia of the Abhyuthan Gram Vikas Mandal, a Surat-based organisation. The most common crops are mushrooms and mangoes. | * Elsewhere in India, more than 5,000 farmers in 250 villages of Surat in Gujarat have switched over to organic farming, according to agro-expert Chandrakanth Mandavia of the Abhyuthan Gram Vikas Mandal, a Surat-based organisation. The most common crops are mushrooms and mangoes. |
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| In Delhi, apart from the ridge forest which is the capital's green lung, substantial green stretches are seen in schools, universities, military campuses, religious institutions and parks. Certain religious institutions like ISKCON(International society for Krishna conciousness) lay special emphasis on organic farming and have a very successful model to train people in bio-dynamic farming in their national centre in Mysore, near Bangalore. This is part of the Bio-Dynamic association of India(BDAI).((http://www.basilacademy.in/html/aboutBasil.htm)) | |
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| Home gardens are commonly seen in New Delhi with the role of the local 'maali'(gardener) crucial in maintaining the gardens. Some of the most common plants grown in Delhi include green chilis, tomatoes, beans, papaya, grapes, jamun(or jamblang), cucumber, bananas, guavas, money plants, marigold(used for offering prayers) and mangoes. A lot of these edibles are consumed within the household or within the local communities. There is hardly any attempt to process, package or value add the produce as one sees them being sold at reasonable prices on the streets. It is not uncommon to see vendors selling seasonal produce from nearby villages too. Organic gardens are not common within the city realms. With the emphasis on rural agriculture in India, the positive contribution that production within the cities can make has hardly been acknowledged. | |
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| For more details about organic farming around Delhi, please click on the links below: | For more details about organic farming around Delhi, please click on the links below: |
| ====Chandni Chowk, Delhi==== | ====Chandni Chowk, Delhi==== |
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| Also known as the 'moonlight junction', Chandni Chowk is a dense and chaotic urban setting, designed in the 15th century by the mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The place has been a dynamic and thriving epicentre of whole sale trade in north India for 600 years and continues to seamlessly absorb the changes over time. In his search for 'green' spots in this place, the researcher witnessed how religion plays a crucial role in creating a narrative which brings much needed spiritual base for having an inclusive ethical approach in wake of growing pressure from real estate groups. During his visit to a 15th century traditional haveli Sanjeev saw a huge 'peepal' tree. The tree has remained there for over 300 years with changes in built form happening all around it. As the researcher walked through the labyrinthine streets to see more informal courtyards and smaller, personal touches of green: marigold flowers in front of the temple, the small 'jamun' tree in the court yard, 'tulsi', 'kadi patta' and money plants, he sees how even in an extremely dense settlement like this, people find ways to establish their links with nature. A visit to one of the oldest jain temples gives a new insight into how most religions have had a sustainable approach to life. A priest informed the researcher, 'Jain monks are like grazing cattle;they never take too much from one place or person. They take small amounts and then move onto the next spot.' | Also known as the 'moonlight junction', Chandni Chowk is a dense urban setting, designed in the 15th century by the mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The place has been a thriving epicentre of largescale trade in north India for 600 years. In his search for 'green' spots in this place, the researcher witnessed how religion plays a crucial role in creating a narrative which brings much needed spiritual and ethical base in wake of growing pressure from real estate groups. During his visit to a 15th century traditional haveli Sanjeev saw a huge 'peepal' tree. 'Peepal' is a local Indian tree which is worshipped by Hindus. The tree has remained there for over 300 years with changes in built form happening all around it. As the researcher walked through the labyrinthine streets to see more informal courtyards and smaller, personal touches of green: marigold flowers in front of the temple, the small 'jamun' tree in the court yard, 'tulsi', 'kadi patta' and money plants, he sees how even in an extremely dense settlement like this, people find ways to establish their links with nature. Marigold flowers are offered during daily prayers in hindu temples while the 'tulsi' plant is a herb and has been traditionally worshipped in every hindu household. A visit to one of the oldest jain temples further gives an insight into how most religions have had a sustainable approach. A priest informed the researcher that 'Jain monks are like grazing cattle;they never take too much from one place or person. They take small amounts and then move onto the next spot.' |
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