Farming can be remunerative even from an acre of land holding, when practiced through natural methods, utilizing natural resources to the optimum. Thammaiah, a farmer in Karnataka shows how small farmers can make a decent living adopting the multi cropping system, through his one acre model.

Mr. Thammaiah of Chowdikatte village, Hunsur taluk, Mysore district, is an innovative farmer, practicing natural farming since four decades. He inherited his farm from his father who practiced chemical farming. But Thammaiah, being a graduate and aware of the ills of chemical farming, moved towards natural farming approach.

Thammaiah owns 24 acres of land. About 16 acres are under orchards – a mix of mainly 800 coconut trees, intercropped with sapota, banana, mango, ginger, turmeric and seasonal field crops. Crops are cultivated organically in traditional rotation.  About one acre is exclusively kept for raising nurseries of plantation crops, forest crops, fruit crops and timber crops. The saplings raised in the nursery are in great demand and serve as an income generation activity for the farmer.

Water in farm ponds helps in recharging ground water

There are 6 farm ponds, extending over an area of 6 acres. On the bunds, bamboo, cluster fig trees and fodder crops are grown. His farm receives an average annual rainfall of 770 mm, around 53 rainy days, mostly during the Southwest monsoon. Water in the ponds is used for irrigating land, when necessary. When left unused, pond water helps in recharging ground water. Though he is against pumping out water, during summer he uses 5HP motor to lift water for irrigation.

Fishes are reared in one of the 6 ponds, which is additional source of income for the farmer. Also, Thammaiah rears livestock, which he considers important to practice organic farming, besides being a source of income. Around 11 cows (8 Malnad gida and 3 Hallikar), 4 calves, 3 sheep, 12 goats, 2 turkey hens and 4 local hens are reared on his farm. Turkey hens act as predators to snakes.