Jai Ganesh is an IT professional with a company at Guindy. Eight years ago, when he was 26, he was on the lookout for another source of income to improve his financial position. He was very particular that his new venture should also benefit the society. So Jai Ganesh, a native of Reddiyur in Vellore, decided to try his hand at organic farming. His father was a former agriculturalist.
“A main reason for me to take up organic farming was that one of my family members, who is also a farmer, was displaying loss of memory. We consulted a doctor and he said it was the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease.
The reason he cited was undue exposure to fertilisers. That worried me. It also set me thinking. I wanted to get people engaged in large-scale farming to adopt organic means of cultivation,” he says.
So, Jai Ganesh ventured into farming seeking the guidance of his father. “My father discouraged me from taking up farming saying I would only incur losses. Still, I went ahead and started with cultivation of lady’s finger. In the first harvest, I incurred a huge loss. Again, my father advised me to give up agriculture. Yet, I wanted to pursue it. I also did a course in organic farming. Gradually, the harvests were rich. At this juncture, I was able to prove to my father and other farmers in my village, who predominantly use chemical fertilisers and pesticides, that organic cultivation is profitable.”
“Initially, I used to bring the produce from my village and sell it at my apartments. There was a good response and that motivated me to start an organic shop called Organic Tapovanam.” As there was a demand for various kinds of vegetables and fruits, Jai Ganesh formed an association called Pasumai Organic Farmers Association which aims to propagate the fact that organic cultivation is profitable.
“Its members include youngsters who want to take up agriculture and farmers who want to switch over to organic agriculture. I, in turn, buy their produce and market them through Organic Tapovanam. The association has members from Vellore, Hosur, Kodaikanal, Dindigul and Kancheevaram.”
Now, Organic Tapovanam has come up with an online shopping facility as well. As of now, we cater to shops and households at ECR, OMR, Adyar, Besant Nagar, Guindy, Mylapore, Saidapet, Ashok Nagar, KK Nagar, Vadapalani, Porur, Nanganallur, Tambaram, Chromepet, Pallavaram, Madipakkam, Alandur, Guduvanchery and other parts of south Chennai. Those interested in learning about organic cultivation may call Jai Ganesh at 99625 76848.

Source : The Hindu