The food and farming challenge

The future is very unpredictable and will unfold in many unexpected ways and we have to be responsive and alive to that. The weather is becoming more erratic and resources like water and energy will become scarcer and more costly. The cost and availability of labour is already a big issue. This means we have to farm more efficiently. Right now each farmer is on his/her own and most of them are hardly breaking even. This is unsustainable and definitely not a very good environment in which to face an uncertain future. 

We need to look at steps to improve the functioning of our farms and food production, to improve food distribution and planning, agree on standards in the different areas of work, look at infrastructure needs and more. Farming in Auroville has to become much more professional. Farmers need to be able to handle increased financial responsibilities, to be computer savvy, to embrace advanced technology and to understand soil/plant/ecology science.  They also need to develop considerable managerial skills to handle it all.

We also need a kind of food board/taskforce which includes, in addition to some farmers, various food/finance/policy makers/techies/water group members who will chalk out and practically support a sustainable way forward. This will be a very challenging task given our current Auroville situation but I see no other way for Auroville farming to progress into the future. It is time to come together instead of fighting or being silent in our corners.

We also need to decide, as a community, to make healthy, local food a central part of our diet and grow it in all its aspects. And we need to be ready to pay a higher price for food which is produced according to our values and high ideals, like good hygiene standards, fair labour conditions, proper animal care, and strong ecological concerns.

In the context of an uncertain future, it’s important to understand that in farming there are no short cuts, no fast fixes, no ready solutions, and that the focus has to be on the quality of the process in what will be an ongoing exercise.