Dr O.P. Rupela, Chief Scientist (retired), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, visited the farm recently and reported:
“The crop production system in this Homa farm reflects a complete balance, which can only be achieved when Nature is in perfect balance and harmony. The farm is a good place of education and research for agricultural scientists…”
Abhay Mutalik Desai:
“This year (2008), India is experiencing erratic rains which have resulted in heavy crop losses. March is supposed to be hot and dry. But streams and rivers were flooded and ready-to-harvest wheat in Northern Karnataka, rice in Kerala and pulses in the coastal area of Karnataka were destroyed. In the last 50 years, I have never seen a monsoon climate in this area in the month of March.”
“Surprisingly, these rains happened after I had harvested my 4 acres of wheat, intercropped with sugarcane. And actually these heavy rains were a boost for my coffee, pepper, sugarcane and one month old summer groundnut. Then, the month of April up to May 20th was a dry spell. Four Agriculture students from Dharwad Agricultural University stayed on our farm to study Homa organic principles. ”
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Sugar cane intercropped with wheat |
“Three of them were not sure about the effects of Homa; they thought that just organic is enough. I had already told them about my earlier experiences of 2000, 2003 and 2004 when it had rained only on my farm and village. On May 13th, we were all working on the farm; it was hot and there was no trace of a cloud anywhere. Exactly at 2.00 pm in the afternoon a small cloud formed over our farm only, the remaining sky was clear blue. Suddenly a sound of thunder came from within the cloud and rain drops poured down only on our farm area with bright sun rays in the background. All the workers, the students and I were surprised about the 20 minute rainfall.”
“Pre-monsoon rains started on May 20th. My 5 acres of summer groundnut were still not fully matured because of late sowing in February. Only in the 1st week of June I was able to harvest and I needed sunshine that week to dry the harvested groundnut. The meteorological department had predicted an early monsoon. It rained till 28th of May and then it stopped. On June 10th I finished my harvesting and drying of the groundnut along with sowing of 3 acres of rice and then the Monsoon continued till 16th of June. I immediately sow 1 acre of groundnut and once again the rains followed!”
“During monsoon there is always a shortage of farm workers. I had to undertake weeding in 14 acres sugarcane, 3 acres rice and 1 acre groundnut and I needed the rain to stop. Unbelievably, there was a dry spell in our area between 24th of June till 4th of August in which I could finish all the weeding. But farmers all over Northern Karnataka who had done sowing in May were losing their crops. I absolutely had no problems. However, I did increase the hours of Om Tryambakam Homa beginning from July 20th.”
“The heavy rains started again on August 4th and our Ghataprabha river was flooded and the Hidkal Dam was full in just one week. The back water entered into one acre of our rice field and one particular variety, Krishna Kumud, was totally submerged in water. (right) I thought I would lose the seeds of a rare variety of black aromatic rice as the dam was full. In the third week of August the water in the dam reduced and our Black Rice was saved. Now, all the rice is out of water and we are looking forward to a good harvest.” (photo below)
“So, in times of drastic climatic changes which are occurring in every part of the world, we survive and succeed using Homa Therapy. I had the same experience in past that whenever there was need of rain, it rained, although surrounding area was all drought. And when in the surrounding area heavy rains came and it harmed the crops, just in our area no rains came and there was no destruction. Reading today’s (11th Sept 2008) newspaper headlines: “Heavy Rains in Bidar District of Karnataka destroys millions of Rupees worth of pulses”, “Neem tree, which flowers in the month of April is flowering now” – the weather is crazy. We are thankful for having Homa in our life.”