USA-based Nanban Foundation launches ‘Mothers for Mother Nature’ project in Odisha

MoU signed with Jagadguru Kripalu University and Sparsh Social Foundation for organic farming

By Subrat Kumar Sarangi

New Delhi, April 3: Nanban Foundation, a USA-based non-profit organisation, which is already contributing to the economic development of local tribals in Odisha’s Rayagada district by helping them market bamboo jewellery through multi-national online e-commerce platform Selwii, on Sunday announced its latest initiative in the field of sustainable agriculture through its ‘Mothers for Mother Nature’ project in the state.

The foundation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jagadguru Kripalu University (JKU) and Sparsh Social Foundation (SSF) of JK Paper for promoting natural farming in Odisha. The MoU with Nanban was signed by JKU registrar Madhusudan Mishra and SSF head Prafulla Dhal.

This Mothers for Mother initiative aims to convert at least 10 per cent of the total cultivated land in the state into organic farms through natural farming techniques between 2022-2027.

The MoU includes provisions for monthly stipends and capacity building programs for farmers willing to adopt natural ways of farming. The foundation has a proven model of natural farming, which was created by Dr. G. Nammalvar, who is known as the green crusader, has been implemented successfully in Tamil Nadu, USA and Peru, South America.  The model demonstrates that there is no upfront investment in going for natural farming compared to conventional ways of farming, which requires pesticides and chemicals. Additionally, after soil has been replenished in 3 years per acre yield is equal to or more than conventional farming, which reduces the risk of food insecurity.

The initiative will be rolled out in Rayagada district of Odisha as a pilot project, and lakhs of farmers will be mobilised during the next phase to adopt natural ways of farming. The state of Odisha has also targeted to convert 2 lakh hectares of land into organic farms in the financial year 2023-24.

Preetha Prabhakar, president and managing partner of Nanban ESG Solutions, said this initiative has enormous potential to scale up natural farming in India and support the government’s efforts to train one crore farmers in organic farming within the next five years.

She further added that “In recent times, Odisha has set an example for other states in the country on how to continue with steady double-digit GSDPs for over decades and reduce poverty with massive social transformations and inclusive growth of its economy.

The state aspires to be a trillion-dollar economy and steel capital of the world by 2030. Our collaboration with Jagadguru Kripalu University and Sparsh Social Foundation of JK Paper will help achieve this vision by promoting sustainable agriculture and creating livelihood opportunities for farmers.”

Ms. Prabhakar also shared her excitement about Selwii, an online e-commerce platform set to launch in May 2023, that upholds the dignity of artisans and celebrates their cultural techniques and traditions.

Selwii started on an inspiring trip to Odisha, where she had the opportunity to visit Rayagada and interact with tribal women artisans who were making beautiful bamboo products but lacking access to a larger platform and essential resources to exercise economic autonomy.