Organic Farming

We learned a lot since the project's foundation in 2010. In 2015 we restated our concept: with his produce the organic farmer firstly supports his own family, and only then his community.

A New Concept: SWASTJEEVAN

SWASTJEEVAN is Indian and means life, natural, biological and self-supporting. The new concept which we implemented 2016, provides that farmers sell their produce decentrally in their own villages and without middlemen. Only if there are surpluses these are brought to the surrounding larger towns and cities. This practice strengthens farmers morally and gives them a solid financial footing.
Yes, even India enters a new era.

Further Information

Here you can download the project's five-year progress report:

JSDA Five-Year Progress Report (PDF, 1 MB)

Join us and support our efforts!

Donation account of Anahata-Stiftung
Account number: 3751240124
Bank code: 70020500
Bank für Sozialwirtschaft (München)
IBAN: DE09700205003751240124
BIC: BFSWDE33MUE

Anahata-Stiftung is recognised charitable by German tax authorities (Finanzamt München für Körperschaften) and authorized to issue donation receipts.

Eco-Green-Project: Our Environmental Protection Program

In the Eco-Green-Project over 1.000 farmers have be trained in organic farming so far: they all abstain from pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Special theatre and movie nights in the villages illustrate the effects of slash-and-burn farming and uncontrolled tree felling.

Men working in the fields — Eco-Farm: planting sugercane (2010)

Organic farming is taught at the two demo Eco-Farms: interested farmers can learn how to grow peanuts, sugar cane, rice, corn, lentils, papaya and various vegetables organically.

Our Engagement

Individual Training by Organic Farming Organizers

Last year Ganganna, a farmer, has successfully planted his small field biologically with peanuts. This year Ganganna has planted his field with various crops such as cereals, lentils and corn. He was so enthusiastic about the biological cultivation methods that he could convince another eight farmers to switch to organic farming.

Staff of Eco-Green-Project and Monika Müller, president of Anahata-Stiftung, Germany, (2011)

They all learned from our Organic Farming Organizers how to preserve seeds for the next year without chemical treatment methods. Castor oil plants and maize are planted around fields to keep pests away from the crop. The fields are sprayed with neem oil, which yields double help: as a pesticide and as a fertilizer, so to speak "2 in 1". So far, over 1.000 farmers have been trained this way so far. The method is much cheaper than the chemical mace. The harvest is guaranteed with healthy, strong plants, with a fraction to be sown the next year.

Kitchen Gardens

Kitchen Garden seeds distribution in Guntipalli (2011)

In the village of Guntipalli, 45 packages of seeds for kitchen gardens were distributed, in the village of Rassimpalli 36 packages and in Cherlopalli 55 packages. One packages contains 18 different vegetable seeds. The women are responsible for the sowing of their kitchen gardens, they take care that no animals spoil the seeding. The men are responsible for fertilizing and watering. For families this is a great opportunity to save money and eat different kinds of vegetables for their own health. The villagers promised to continue these activities, to collect the seeds for future seeding, and to share them with other villagers.

Eco-Clubs

So-called Eco-Clubs were installed in 40 rural schools to introduce children to a sustainable way of life. In an enjoyable way children learn about hygiene, health, collecting seeds, nursing, planting and protecting the forest, as well as water and waste management. They also learn about the environmental damage caused through the use of plastic.

Almost every village has its own State school (Government School). Often, these schools are built in the surroundings of ancient temple ruins, the original locations where wisdom was taught. The schools are usually large and located at the village's edge. State teacher salaries are very good, a daily lunch and toilet facilities are provided. Yet, schools lack of nearly everything.

The Anahata-Stiftung provided the school in Marala with 500 children with a water pipe; before that the children had to carry all the water needed, including for toilets and the watering of plants and trees. The school in Nidimamidi with 370 children was provided with electric light in all classrooms. The school in Enumulapalli with 530 children was in need of four extra classrooms: on the school grounds, there was no tree yet large enough to hold classes in its shadow. The situation at Beedupalli school is not much different. Together with two other schools it is located along Beedualli Road, a road which was planted with 600 trees by our new Street Tree Planting Project. The Eco-Club children are co-responsible for the flourishing of these trees.