One of the foundational philosophies of modern breeding of plants in the 20th century has been to increase the productivity of singular crops. Now, we have reached a situation in the 21st century where we are having to research and implement bio-fortification for staple crops like rice. This is a clear indication that over the…
Why it might not be a good idea to quit the city life and start living on a farm?
I did not move to the farm because i wanted to be left alone in life. Everyone is an ambivert. I am an extrovert, more than an introvert. I love the company of people. I now love the company of all the people and species that call Vaanavil Farm & Food Forest home. Everytime someone…
6X increase in soil organic carbon in 6 years at Vaanavil Farm & Food Forest
It has been 6 years since we started organic farming in our land. We are very happy to announce that we have achieved an average of 5.75X increase in soil organic carbon at Vaanavil Farm & Food Forest, Vikramasingapuram, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. The results were very encouraging especially because the improvement was seen across…
Personal Finances of farmer folks working with us
6 of the 9 people working at our farm are in debt. The rest of the 3 are helping other people in their families pay off debt. The interest rates that they are paying ensure that they might never escape the debt trap. The only way to get out of this is to ensure that…
Why Are Indigenous Cow Dairy Products Expensive?
Recently, the A1 vs A2 beta-casein debate was reignited when the FSSAI issued a notification requiring food business operators to stop labeling dairy products as A2. However, due to significant backlash, the FSSAI quickly withdrew this advisory. Beta-caseins are proteins found in all dairy products except ghee. Since ghee is pure fat with no protein…
Sri Lanka’s failed attempt of transitioning to organic farming. Explained.
It is sad that Sri Lanka’s 2021-22 case study is often used to justify not making any move towards Organic farming at all. Sri Lanka’s experiment should be used as a case study by governments HOW NOT to transition to organic farming, NOT WHETHER. FOREX crisis The local religious tensions after the 2019 easter bombings…
Why you should not listen to Masala Lab and why you should choose A2 over A1 milk & milk products?
Krish Ashok (@_masalalab) made a video in 2022 about how there is very little difference between the milk of native cows and non-native cows. TLDW : there is no scientific proof that A1 beta casein, the protein found in the milk of cows cross bred between indigenous and exotic breeds, has any adverse impact on…
Why Masala Lab needs to look at agricultural systems from an Indian lens and not an American one?
Krish Ashok is at it yet again. He thinks he has built a nuanced position for GMOs. Nothing could be far from the truth. His recent video conflates artificial selection that has happened over thousands of years with lab developed GMOs which have a questionable history over 50 years. At its broadest, the definition of…
Why Masala Lab needs to update his understanding of pesticides and organic farming?
Krish Ashok is at it again. He admits that food and agriculture are complex topics; yet he continues to make reels that over-simplify. Krish Ashok’s recently uploaded a video on Instagram reels “Pesticides in spices : Do we need to worry?”. The conclusion he wants hs to draw is that “We don’t”. His understanding of…
Tangy & Spicy Tamarind Rice, புளி சாதம் Recipe
We have two mature Tamarind Trees in our farm. But, only one of them fruits well. It more than suffices for our personal consumption. We have been selling this super sour Tamarind to our friends, family and via our online store. The processing of the tamarind to deseed is not similar to the flattened ones…
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