Chennai
“myHarvest Farms is a novel venture with the objective of helping out both the farmers and the urbanites to transform the health and ecological systems in and around Chennai. People living in the city can rent a mini farm for a monthly subscription fee, choose the vegetables of their choice that they wish to grow, manage the farm and enjoy fresh produce delivered to their home. An 800 square foot mini-farm would be allocated for each individual,” she says.
Archana continues, “A recent study conducted by Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) reveals that vegetables like tomato, green chillies (the most common ingredients in many Indian dishes) contain alarming levels of chemicals and pesticide residues — a few of them being even carcinogenic. The products that are labelled ‘organic’ in neighbourhood stores are also questionable with the lack of transparency in a vegetable’s ‘farm to table’ journey.”
She believe in natural farming because the chemical fertilizers and pesticides used on crops affect the food chain and pollute soil, water and the air.
“Soil fertility, water purity and air quality can be restored when your food becomes natural as it should be,” she says. Archana assures that renting your own farm is one of the best ways to tackle this issue.
“Around 15 to 18 varieties of vegetables and greens, chosen by you from a long list provided by us, can be grown on this land allotted exclusively for you. The fresh chemical-free veggies will reach you at your doorstep on the same day of harvest, amounting between 3 to 6 kg per week. More importantly, you get complete transparency as you can visit the farm anytime. You just need to pay a monthly fee of Rs 3,000,” she adds.
The first of such farms has been launched at a village in Tiruvallur district, which is an hour’s drive from Chennai.
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