Gratitude farm project terminated early

The Auroville Farm Group reported that the Gratitude experimental Demo Farm project, launched in October 2022 by the GB-FAMC as a two-year initiative to develop natural precision farming methods in Auroville, for which half an acre was set apart and which was developed by a few non-Aurovilians with a subsidy from the Auroville Foundation of 4.75 lakhs [see AVToday # 399 of October 2022], has been abruptly terminated after 1.5 years and that its half-acre of land was handed back to the GB-FAMC. The project had committed to providing training in Natural Precision Farming as per the MoU with the Auroville Foundation, and so benefit Auroville farming through knowledge sharing, but these benefits have not materialised. The Farm group also stated that there have been significant discrepancies between actual and projected crop yields. A letter from the Farm Group to the GB-FAMC requesting explanations has remained unanswered.