BREADS was invited to participate in the international conference on Back-to-Nature organised by SAVE Foundation, Belgium, and Jugend Eine Welt, Austria; in Bangalore on 24-25 November 2023. The conference was a platform to bring together diverse stakeholders—from India and abroad—to introduce and promote innovative solutions in organic /regenerative farming. It aimed to connect the global network of the Back-to-Nature programme with Indian innovators, NGOs and the business sector, to promote mutually beneficial long-term partnerships.
The theme of the conference was “Making Organic Farming Profitable for Local Farmers,” intending to foster dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange to drive positive change for the last mile beneficiaries. Field trips on Day 2 of the conference allowed participants to have first-hand experience of some of the innovative farming techniques currently employed in the sector.
As implementing partner of the Back-to-Nature project in Karnataka, BREADS was happy to host Mr Hannes Velik and Ms Christina Lettner of Jugend Eine Welt (JEW) during their visit. Since November 2017, BREADS and JEW Austria, together with Don Bosco Hassan and Don Bosco Kalaburagi, set up two Centres for Training and Knowledge Management on Moringa & Organic Farming for marginal farmers in local communities.
At the B2N Conference, the BREADS’ stall showcased the two farms as well as its produce—the organic moringa, ginger, turmeric, mango, and pepper that are processed for sale. The farms have reached out to 3000+ farmers, 800+ master farmers, women’s self-help group members and youth through training in organic farming methods. They have also established linkages with local Government agricultural institutions. Besides cultivating a variety of fruits and vegetables, rice, corn, coconuts, moringa etc., vermicompost and bio-manure is also produced for the farms.
The B2N conference was in deed, a fruitful experience for BREADS to share its experiences, and to learn the current technology and trends in sustainable agriculture.
