About Us
Vision & Mission
Urvarasa is a project that seeks to partner with farmers who voluntarily implement and uphold a set of guidelines established by Jeeva Bhavana to grow their crops for conscious consumers who are seeking fairly-trade, sustainably-grown, cruelty-free and healthy food.
Farmers are duly compensated for their know-how and labour. We mentor, support and empower them to ensure their economic autonomy. They are connected with conscious consumers directly through established channels to ensure they get a fair price for their produce through optimal logistics.
Farmers take their role as guardians of seeds and soil health seriously by neither using chemical inputs nor any other inputs coming from outside their farm while using minimum to no heavy machinery. Crops must be adapted to the soil and climate of each farm, and low water-intensive crops are privileged.
Animals that live on the farm are not bred, exploited or sent to slaughter, but instead, live out their lives alongside their human caretakers who ensure that their basic, species-specific needs are satisfied. Natural farming techniques often use cow manure and urine as fertilisers; there is nothing amiss in using waste to maintain soil fertility as long as no animal is exploited.
Whole plant-based food is as good for human health as for environmental health. We ensure a holistic transition for our farmers and their families while ensuring their nutritional needs are met through a plant-based diet and their farms are transitioned to grow sustainable plant foods.
Goals & Objectives
- Help farmers in India transition from animal-based to plant-based agriculture.
- Promote plant-based agriculture and the products derived from plants.
- Educate the Indian public on the health benefits of adopting a plant-based diet.
- Educate the Indian public about the environmental destruction due to animal agriculture and pastoralism.
- Promote natural, toxin-free agriculture.
- Promote the research and documentation of the current agricultural systems in India, including at Urvarasa farms.
- Help to restore and rejuvenate ecosystems and rewilding in India.
- Promote and help to establish food forests in India.
- Build a waste-free farm products distribution system.
Natural & Veganic Farming Techniques
In natural farming, nutrients for the soil are derived from biomass available in the form of crop residue and foliage from trees, grasses and weeds growing on the farm itself. Crop rotation and multi-cropping practices also help in adding nutrients to the soil. Practices like ploughing, tilling and weeding are kept at a bare minimum. Animal waste in the form of Jeevamrut, a fermented mixture of cow dung, urine, gram flour and jaggery, may be used if animals exist on the farm. Natural, farm-made pesticides like Dashparni Ark and Neem Astra are used to control pests and diseases.
Taking it a step further, veganic farming means farming without the use of any animal products or by-products. Instead, bio enzymes, prepared from vegetable and fruit peels are added to the soil for nutrition. Soil fertility is maintained by using green manures, cover crops, green wastes, composted vegetable matter and minerals. Human urine and ‘humanure’, which provides nitrogen, produced from compost toilets can also be used to supplement the organic fertilisers.
Importance of Transitioning Food Systems
Animal agriculture, even on a small scale, is not economically viable for most farmers. Government subsidies have lured farmers into animal rearing on their farms. The hidden but very real costs incurred by the farmers to raise those animals, like fodder, veterinary care, medicines, electricity, etc., are seldom factored in and are usually unaffordable and unsustainable. After surveying several farms, we’ve concluded that farmers do recognise the flip side of animal-based farming and prefer to transition out of it if they are provided with solutions and support towards economic stability.
Plant-based foods are the best way to achieve and maintain optimal health and well-being, strive towards food sovereignty and security, and ward off a host of debilitating and deadly chronic and zoonotic diseases. Instigating and promoting the shift toward plant-based diets will ensure that demand follows supply and prompt a positive feedback loop for farmers, encouraging other farmers to follow suit.
The decline of animal agriculture will free up a tremendous amount of land. This greening of India will coincide with national developmental goals and programmes aimed at creating a sustainable economy and ecosystem.
Read More: Animal-based versus Plant-based Agriculture – Jeeva Bhavana
OUR PROCESS
OUR STORY
Past, Present & Future
After successfully organising the Pune Health and Sustainability Conference in 2019, Madhavi Kolte and Julie Wayne joined hands with Sanjeev Naik to co-found an India-centred environmental non-profit, Jeeva Bhavana Foundation.
Aligned with Jeeva Bhavana’s mission, Punarbharan Foundation, a Pune-based organisation which works on soil protection and water conservation, extended support to mentor farmers in their transition to natural farming practices. Interestingly, when we met Urvarasa’s lead farmer Ramhari Kadam, he was already exploring the natural farming practices as he understood the potential. He had already given up his dairy business after becoming aware of the unethical aspect of dairy farming and seeing first-hand the devastating environmental impacts of using animals as a source of food.
Thus ‘Urvarasa’, from the Sanskrit term for ‘procuring fertile soil’, was born to ensure that none of the elements in the food production system – whether that be the animals on the farm or the living organisms in the soil – are depleted, damaged or exploited, aiming to achieve healthier and a more just world.
Urvarasa is working towards setting up a model farm close to Pune to have the freedom to execute the vision in its entirety and work as a laboratory to find solutions to various natural farming-related hurdles. The farm will become a living example of how one can farm sustainably without the use of animals and in safer and healthier surroundings. We are also looking to create a social enterprise for the produce coming from the farm and engage urbanities to understand holistic and ethical farming practices. This farm can provide education to all stakeholders – farmers, consumers, experts, educationists, students, environmentalists and health professionals.
OUR Farmers
Ramhari & Laxman Kadam | Gopalpur, Pandharpur
Firm believers in the Ahimsa way of living and having experimented with a variety of different farming practices, brothers Ramhari and Laxman Kadam finally settled on the natural farming technique as the resulting produce was the most favourable for the health of their family and the practice proved best for soil health and fertility in a particularly water-stressed region. The urge to stay connected with their roots motivated them to develop their ancestral land, and the opportunity to work with Urvarasa has given them renewed optimism for the future of their farm.
Farm Showcase
Challenges & Limitations
Fundraising for Urvarasa farms and animals.
Dealing with the effects of climate change on the farms.
Creating a social enterprise to sell Urvarasa farm produce.
Taking care of the existing animals on the farm.
OUR PROTECTED ANIMALS
Kosi
She is very friendly and loving towards people she is familiar with and tries to reach out to people who stay away from her.
Sukri
She is very shy and does not let anyone come close to her. But she does not harm anyone.
Farm Name
Vishwajeet Natural Farm, Ramhari & Laxman Kadam
OUR TEAM
Julie Wayne
Co-Founder & Director of Jeeva Bhavana Foundation
A recognised photographer and writer, Julie Wayne is a passionate environmentalist and an animal and climate rights activist. She conceived the concept of Urvarasa as a solution to combat the climate and food crisis as well as to protect animals from cruel farming practices in India.
Sanjeev Naik
Co-Founder & Director of Jeeva Bhavana Foundation
With a professional background as a software engineer, Sanjeev Naik’s passion for the environment and animal life has driven him to volunteer with various environmental organisations and direct the financial aspects of Jeeva Bhavana.
Madhavi Kolte
Co-Founder & Director of Jeeva Bhavana Foundation
The Project Leader for Urvarasa, Madhavi Kolte is a recognised artist as well as a climate and animal rights activist. She continues to use her art to sensitise people about the beauty and fragility of the natural world by conducting eco-sensitive art workshops for children.
Ramhari Kadam
Urvarasa Lead Farmer
Urvarasa lead farmer from Gopalpur, Pandharpur, Ramhari is the inspiration behind our project. Adopting a lifestyle based on Ahimsa, he has acquired knowledge of natural farming practices and is a keen learner. He is also a trained Ayurvedic practitioner and advises the residents of Pandharpur and surrounding areas to adopt a plant-based diet to deal with health-related problems.
Hemantsingh Chauhan
Urvarasa Advisor
A senior agricultural scientist and retired Maharashtra Government Official, Hemantsingh Chauhan has researched extensively alongside the pioneers of natural farming to evolve a robust sustainable farming technique called ZBNF [zero-budget natural farming]. The technique has since been adopted by Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh as the recommended farming method. He is also credited with organising scores of farmers into well-knit direct-to-consumer marketing outfits. He brings his experience and expertise to Urvarasa farmers, giving them the confidence to overcome the vagaries of climate and market conditions.
Pratiksha Rao
Urvarasa Communications
An animal rights and liberation activist with over a decade’s experience in the advertising and marketing industry, Pratiksha Rao is the communications lead at Urvarasa. She is an artist, designer and writer who uses her professional skills to create holistic strategies for an ethical and sustainable future of the planet.
OUR PARTNERS
