Fruit of the desert grows fat on philanthropy

Fields of yellow mustard, colourful patches of rose and lush greenery make for an unfamiliar picture in Rajasthan. Delve below the physical ...

Fields of yellow mustard, colourful patches of rose and lush greenery make for an unfamiliar picture in Rajasthan. Delve below the physical beauty, and the picture acquires another dimension, one painted by corporate philanthropy and nurtured by organic principles.

Consider the Bhandans. The Jat family began using earthworms, recycling waste as manure and rotating diverse crops with three acres of land. Today, the 40-member family owns 100 acres of scattered land across Navalgarh and Jaipur. They are the only suppliers of roses in Seekar and Jhunjhunu, and grow 30 kinds of fruits in Navalgarh.

On their residential farm, the family practises agriculture (producing enough for itself), floriculture (roses and chrysanthemums), horticulture (vegetables and fruits), horse-rearing (for weddings), dairy farming — making use of almost every available resource.

Story continues below this ad

‘‘But the best part is the way it binds the family,’’ says Darlaram Bhandan, 70 and head of the family. ‘‘Every member has a role to play in the farm.’’

A decade ago, the venture was not even a glint in their eye. The initial inspiration came from the Jaipur-based M R Morarka GDC Rural Research Foundation, a voluntary organisation founded by Mumbai-based industrialist and former Rajya Sabha member Kamal Morarka and funded by construction major Gannon Dunkerley.

‘‘When we started, we had no role model for the farmers. We weren’t even sure of the tangible gains after a period,’’ says Mukesh Gupta, Foundation executive director and the hand behind the agri-business.

Beginning hesitantly in Jhunjhunu district, the foundation identified its focus areas in health, agriculture and education with the objective of discouraging migration and raising income levels through eco-friendly utilisation of indigenous resources.

Story continues below this ad

The first hurdles came in the form of years of chemical-dependent farming and generational division of land. Convincing farmers to go organic was tough, but as the Bhandans show, eventually successful.

Tying up with the foundation for know-how of organic farming, vermi-composting, soil and water management, crop management and animal husbandry, farmers have launched more than 400 agri-enterprises.