Scaling up of Agro-Ecology in India

ASHA’s main thrust of work is centred around promotion of agro-ecology in India. We believe that this will make individual farmers and farming communities sovereign and sustainable. It will help farmers build their own wisdom and draw upon their traditional knowledge too. It is not as though there is no space for modern science and technology in this paradigm. Indeed there is. We are talking about post-modern S&T, which understands Life holistically, with all the complexities that underlie ecosystems. Many pioneers of the organic farming movement are associated with ASHA-Kisan Swaraj. ASHA brought out a compilation of scientific studies from within NARS to show that evidence already exists of organic/natural farming being more profitable, of its capability to mitigate climate change, of its ability to provide safe and nutritious food and of it being productive. ASHA’s members have worked with several governments to create or revise their organic farming policies. ASHA’s Steering Group members have been part of the Government of India’s Task Force on Organic and Non-Chemical Farming. ASHA’s key members have facilitated scaling out of agro-ecology in several states of India.