"I know thou comest of the far-famed race
Of rolling, heavy clouds, -- and changing garbs
At will, thou leadest troops that serve the God
Of Rains, the Bountiful. And I by stroke
Of fate and law from dear ones cast afar,
Would seek of thee a favour."
- Mahakavi Kalidasa in Meghadutam
Who but a poet to describe perfectly that nation we live in? A description that, even in a world of climate change and over-farming, describes much of today’s India and the vast treasure the country possesses in terms of rainfall and arable land. And in a world that considers progress moving farther away from the land that nurtures us, a lucky few have understood that true progress means going back; re-simplifying things; going back to the wisdom of our ancestors, a wisdom that taught taking from the earth with reverence and feeding it with love so it would yield endlessly.
Sempulam is a cherished project, almost a dream, one that has incubated, unwittingly, for over 30 years. What that many years of tireless, joyful work in the field of sustainable agriculture has taught us is that what we are asking of the Earth is simply not sustainable: the planet wakes up to 200,000 new mouths to feed every day and we are using up the earth’s resources at a rate that’s much faster than the planet can take.
At Sempulam, we hope to make a dent, however small, in these statistics by offering our knowledge and guidance to farmers, home gardeners and others who want to commit to sustainable farming. As more and more people discover the benefits of organic farming, as science rediscovers that simple is best, committed farmers and informed consumers around the world are turning towards all-natural food produce. In most Indian cities, it is a rare supermarket that doesn’t have a special section dedicated to organic produce. Community farmers’ markets and urban kitchen gardeners passionately follow the garden-to-plate trail preferring to serve up produce they grow without chemical additives. While the numbers are growing, it would be fair to say the road is long and lonely. Sempulam is a team of consultants that makes that journey just a bit easier. Offering end-to-end solutions, Sempulam hopes to encourage sustainable organic farming by providing expertise, assistance, and knowledge and information.
Why Sempulam?
At Sempulam, our team of consultants includes scientists and researchers who have a wealth of experience in the field as well as off, both of which are necessary to understand sustainable farming. Our repertoire of solutions starts at identifying farmland (or assessing already existing farmland for feasibility) and ends at assisting with marketing the final yield, and anything else in between. That includes training farm labour, identifying the right crop for the type of land available, designing and layout of the farm, and certification of produce and farm as organic. For those who farm at a smaller scale, community and kitchen farmers, gardening kits, publications and advice are just as easily available at Sempulam.
Who needs Sempulam?
"He who turns earth to gold
He who is hailed as the giver of grain
Come sun, cold or a beating rain
He who isn't deterred by any
He whose fate is written by the clouds
He who a middleman cheats
Even then he feeds the world's hunger
And toils under the burning sun and clapping thunder"
- Monika Jain in Kisaan (Farmer)
Quite simply, the farmer is who needs Sempulam. The short answer is anyone who wants to farm and do it ethically. The longer answer, however, is this:
1. Farmers looking to partially (or completely) convert from regular farming to organic farming
2. Communities that are looking to build community farms that allow them to grow produce even though their busy lives may not allow it during the week
3. Communities and individuals who are looking to build a kitchen or terrace garden in their locality
4. New farmers who have the desire and resources to enter the world of sustainable organic farming
“Sempulam offers end to end consultancy services for anyone wants to commit to sustainable farming, at any scale.”
“The planet wakes up to 200,000 new mouths to feed every day and we are using up the earth’s resources at a rate that’s much faster than the planet can take. ”
“As science rediscovers that simple is best, committed farmers and informed consumers around the world are turning towards all-natural food produce. ”