MONLAR initiates Zero budget farming in Vanni

MONLAR made an initial visit to the Northern region of Sri Lanka to find out the possibilities of helping the war affected and recently resettled people in Vanni, trying to negotiate their way forward through the rubble of what's left of their lives. To restart their livelihoods based mainly on agriculture which is also the main livelihood practice of the major part of the community there.

Jeyapurm, some 40 kilometers south west from Killinochchi in the Vanni region was a strong hold of LTTE before it all came to an end in a heap of destruction, the end result of the 30 year long war in Sri Lanka. The ill-famed 'Black July' of 1983 (the mass exodus of ethnic Tamils in the face of death & destruction at the hands of state sponsored terrorism coupled with Sinhala nationalism) forced Tamil nationals in large numbers from the south of Sri Lanka to migrate and settle in Jayapurum and other areas in the North for their survival. The animosity brew into boiling point and the rest is now history, or history in the making.

"All at once Sri Lanka government and Tigers started a fearsome war. We the people in between had to bear the consequences all the time. When they start fighting we run away in to the jungle and hide. Each house in the village had a bunker that gave safety from aerial bombing and shelling. During this period we had to live in camps for many occasions. Our children feared to live in the village and they went off to Jaffna for studies and even today they do not like to come back "says Shanthie, thinking through the past.

"Then our only concern was trying to be alive and protecting our children. We had to forget about all other matters. The agriculture and animal husbandry that we used to do was very successful and we were quite self sufficient. But when they started the last pace of the war two years ago, we had to move from our houses with all our belongings. We took our cows, goats, bulls and carts with us. Through the war, nearing the end, we had to leave them all behind and run for life, coming back with only a small bag of clothes through the battle zone. But many died. Some of our relatives and family members could not make it….. Then, we were in a refugee camp for a year. Finally, we returned home losing everything and only then we got to see that our houses were all destroyed and in some houses only parts of walls were standing." says Vishvanathan, who was instrumental in organizing the villages for the encounter.

"Now we don’t have any means of livelihood. We have to start all from the beginning. Food rations also have stopped now. It is very hard to find food. Food items are very expensive in the shops, how can we afford to buy them? We barely survived the war; surely, we do not want to die by starvation. Therefore, we want to start farming and animal husbandry again. Seeds, fertilizer and other agricultural equipments are at high price now, because of the demand. It's unbearable, how market people try to make profit of our dire situation. I don't know…., we just have to find other means to start and do farming without money in our hands." adds Ramachandran, an dedicated farmer himself.

Living testimony, Compelling truth! A most important of situations where the response of MONLAR should speak for its mandate, since MONLAR believes that the practice of Ecological Farming is best appropriated with the marginalized communities thrown out to destitution through either the exploitative market mechanisms or the false solutions of governments.

Therefore, the war ravaged community of Jeyapuram deserved the best of our services and more of our resources in uplifting their lives through livelihood development. As we were able to gather through earnest conversation with the villagers, it was easy to recognize that it is only timely and most appropriate to help the farmer households to begin sustainable and ecological agriculture in their land plots. The participants who attended the meeting readily understood the fact that they would have to help rebuild the regenerative capacity of their land in order to rebuild their livelihoods. The war destroyed what they had built on their lands; but the gradual decline of the fertility of their soil had been of their own doings.

Thus, the participants were introduced to the novel concept of 'Zero-Budget Natural Farming' which MONLAR had adopted as the most comprehensive method of farming that suits best for the conditions of the Vanni. With no capital or other inputs required, while making best use of the freely available natural resources that Vanni has to offer, the farmers of Jeyapuram were taken through the first steps of a long process leading to food sovereignty.

Linus Jayatilake, a veteran farmer and a renowned civil activist working with MONLAR lead the team to Vanni in this vital initiative. In his observations, he says "Even before the people resettled in Vanni, and before they were able to take a mental rest from the effects of a devastating war, and even before they started to think of restarting their farming efforts - the agribusiness companies with their loadings of chemicals, fertilizers and sophisticated machinery hand in hand with their financier companies from south have rushed to the North complete with their all too familiar ruthless advertising campaigns. Already they have put-up their sales outlets in many areas. They are already expending millions of rupees to hang-up their advertising billboards along the road sides at regular intervals. They actually are not concerned about the people, but only about their own profits. So, as concerned people, we must take immediate steps to protect the poor and helpless farmers in these areas by introducing them better and cheaper ways of getting back to their own agricultural practices to rebuild their lives and livelihoods. People here suffered unnecessarily from a brutal war for nearly 30 years. That is more than enough for them. We do not want them to suffer from another worst disaster once again."

After explaining the basics of the concept of 'Zero-budget Natural Farming', a training session on the methodology of preparing "Jeewamurtha" (Type of a micro organism stimulant made out of 'desheeya' cow dong and urine) was held at the Jeyapuram School premises with the participation of farmers of the village. Some indigenous vegetable seed verities were also distributed among farmers. The enthusiastic participants were thrilled to learn about the 'no input' farming system and vowed to kick-start the process and continue with it. The farmers were deeply appreciative of the precious opportunity given and the interaction of the group from the south. They all requested the group for a second visit, ideally, just before the maha season promising to organize another meeting with a much larger participation of farmers in the area.

"It is clear that the people here are in a desperate situation. It is our duty and will to lend our hands for them to stand-up on their own feet. Hence, this is only the beginning of a long journey. We of MONLAR pledge to honor our partnership in taking this initiative forward" Lakpriya, the coordinator of the program on behalf of MONLAR, said in conclusion.

By Shamila Rathnasooriya
Mobile Media Unit
MONLAR

11Th July 2010

Posted in Killinochchi , Vanni , Zero budget farming