Sadhguru’s Organic Model Farm in Coimbatore Shows What Small Land Can Grow

Caption: Sadhguru in the farmland.

By Vividha Snehamayi

Let’s see the model farm of this youth center located near the Kolingal paddy field in Coimbatore.

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Good agriculture with Sadhguru is presented here through soil care, traditional paddy, vegetable gardening, organic fertilizers, drip irrigation and youth-led farming.

The Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, founded by Sadhguru, the holistic form of Indian culture, is an encouragement not only for the ashram residents but also for those who consider agriculture sacred. While the venture is new, an infinite element to be dedicated to Sadhguru’s soil is the love for agriculture and the environment.

It is not that farmers are without struggles, including those from the changing climate. He has been engaged in agricultural projects such as ‘Save Soil’ aimed at increasing the ‘soil’s organic content’ to counter continuous natural calamities affecting the environment.

The ashram is located on 24 acres on a hilltop. There, he suggested forming a village like ‘Edayarpalayam Gramam’ on a farmer’s hill. ‘Farming that lasts forever, farming that provides income forever’ is the message Isha propagates.

With this intention, the protection of 4 acres of fallow agricultural land was also undertaken. This itself has become a part of the project formulated for farmers in districts including Tiruppur, with Coimbatore as its base.

Out of the 37 acres of fallow land adjacent to the Isha Yoga Center, about 20 acres were set aside for paddy cultivation. The instruction for the farmers in the farmland was to cultivate 100 superior varieties of paddy.

On the 37 acres of farmland, which has a tradition of being cultivated in India, farming was started organically for the first time. Bhavani, Saramathi, Vazhavella, Vadakkendasan Sanna, and other traditional paddy varieties were cultivated.

Along with paddy, crops like sesame, black gram, green gram, and cowpea were also cultivated. Currently, the ashram is preparing for cultivation. Good farming is initiated by utilizing agricultural techniques that have been popular since ancient times, aiming for higher production.

Caption: Farm in-charge Mr. Karuppuswamy

Sadhguru also showed interest in getting into the paddy field to do farm work. He ploughed the land driving a tractor and sowed the seeds. He got into the muddy field and engaged in farming activities. Along with Sadhguru, his followers also took part in the farm work.

Sadhguru became an inspiration to get down into the soil and farm as a part of living in harmony with nature. He worked alongside the farmers and tried to understand their problems. He tried to experience for himself the challenges that a farmer faces.

He spoke with the farmers about their methods of cultivation. He educated them about new farming techniques. He gave instructions to promote organic farming. Sadhguru reminded them that farming is a way of life, and through it, one can get closer to nature.

Caption: Remove the mulch and sow the seeds.

The Isha Foundation has also started a vegetable garden in the adjacent area. Brinjal, tomato, chili, ladies’ finger, beans, spinach, bottle gourd, snake gourd, bitter gourd, and cucumber are cultivated here.

It is a completely organic farm. Drip irrigation is the method used for watering. It is managed by a group of youths. The soil is enriched with organic matter. Jeevamrutham and Panchagavyam are used as fertilizers.

The specialty here is that the harvested vegetables are sold fresh to consumers on the same day. Vegetables are harvested every 15 days. The farm operates as a model for organic farming.

Vegetable farming was the next step. About 20 cents of land was set aside for it. A good harvest was obtained from it. Vegetables like ladies’ finger, brinjal, tomato, and beans were cultivated.

A group of youths who are followers of Sadhguru lead the farming. They are completely dedicated to agriculture. They believe that providing poison-free food to people is a great service.

Caption: Helper in Sadhuguru Farm

Although nature was not always benevolent, the harvest was not bad. Scant rainfall affected the crops. They also had to face pest attacks. But these problems were overcome using organic farming methods.

Only organic fertilizers were used in vegetable cultivation. This helped to increase the soil’s fertility and enhance the quality of the crops. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides were completely avoided. This ensured healthy food. It also helped in protecting nature. Farmers were given training on organic farming methods.

The land for the vegetable garden was prepared by the farmers themselves. It was ploughed, weeds were removed, and the soil was conditioned. Jeevamrutham was sprayed to enrich the soil. After planting the vegetable saplings, mulching was done to retain moisture. This also helped to prevent weed growth.

The harvest started within 60 days. In the first phase, 200 kg of vegetables were obtained. The harvested vegetables were marketed with the help of volunteers. Volunteers were actively involved in all stages of the farming process.

The unique needs of each vegetable were taken into consideration. For example, some vegetables require more sunlight, while others grow well in the shade. The planting was done by taking such factors into account.

A systematic method of cultivation was adopted. Regular care and attention were given to the plants. As a result, a good harvest was obtained. This farming model proves that even a small piece of land can be used effectively for cultivation. This is an inspiration for all those who are interested in agriculture.