1242. Earthworms are Intestine of Soil....!

“Organic” is the prefix most preferred in sales of any agricultural produce today. In general it indicates that the produce is entirely process with use of natural manure and pesticides with no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.

Ancient India was indeed a world leader in the area of organic farming. Our forefathers knew how to take record harvests using bio manure like cow dung, cow urine and vegetable waste. The pesticide they used was liquid prepared with Neem leaf or a mixture of cow dung and urine.

Neem tree was revered and Cow was worshipped as they both were the central point in farming. Caring and rearing of cow along with planting of Neem sapling was a must in rural India. The economy of rural India depended on the cattle they had. In fact many families in India considered cattle to be one among their family members. Wealth was measured in terms of cattle strength, hence we find in Virata Parva of Mahabharata, Kauravas attempted to capture the cattle of Matsya Kingdom as it was considered the wealth.  

If cow dung and urine nourished the farm, cow milk was a much sought after food. From milk, butter is extracted to obtain ghee. Butter milk was the cheapest health drink which even a poor could afford. Two decades back guests were served butter milk as a welcome drink. Those were the day when “pasteurisation” was not introduced to us (pasteurisation process involves heating milk at 170 degree temperature and rendering it to be “perished milk”). Without pasteurisation there was no scope to preserve milk for the coming days. Whatever they had for the day, they consumed and were happy to share. It was a practise to keep a pot of butter milk outside the house under the shade of a tree for a weary traveller to quench his thirst from scorching sun.  

Among all domestic animals cow is the most docile. It is farmer’s friend and spiritual companion apart from being his wealth. Our scriptures say that our human life we have now is after the birth as cow in our immediate past life. This notion keeps us from protecting this valuable animal. Cows are the only creatures which consume less but give more in return. Some two to three decades ago we lost this thought and have done more injustice to this breed of animals. 

How did we lose it??? Let us analyse. I think we humans have to give a thought to this and educate other too.

Earlier say about five to six decades back farmer was producing only one harvest in a year. The sow to harvest period was only between six to eight months and the rest of the time the land was left to “rejuvenate.” Farmers of our land gave lot of preference to preservation of soil hence the time for the rejuvenation of soil after one harvest was a must. They used what is called “Jeevamrutha” fermented liquid manure prepared from Desi Cow dung and urine. This biodynamic formulation helps to prevent fungus and bacteria thus support the growth of earthworms.

Earthworm in the soil is the best bio-technologist and a true waste manager, they thrive on alkaline soil with good calcium levels. Earthworms are also natural tillers digging the soil to aerate and keep the soil moist.

Our farmers were confused by the advent of “Pesticides” (the suffix word “cide” means “a killer of”, do not know how these pesticides end up killing our farmers rather than the pests). Our farmers lost grip on natural fertilising and their traditional technique of keeping insects at bay. They were lured by saying there is more yield in agricultural produce and literally killed the soil and cattle. A tractor replaced oxen and chemical fertilisers came as substitute to earthworms. 

Good that we are arriving at our basics and rediscovering the art of farming in the name of “Organic”...!