To have the fruits of your choice throughout the year is every food lovers dream. But that is not to be, because different fruits are available only during a particular season. But dry fruits can be preserved and consumed all round the year. Such dry fruits were the highlight of a three-day exhibition of bio-diversified products held recently in the city.

On display were dry fruits like mangoes, pears, papaya, dried vegetables, seeds, edible oils, spices and other staple foods like rice and pulses. The exhibition was a part of the International Biodynamic Conference organised by the Biodynamic Association of India (BDAI). 'Dharani' farm products from Bangalore's ISKCON, Kurinji Organic Foods from Tamil Nadu and other such farm organisations had exhibited their chemical free organic foods.

According to the President of BDAI, Sanjay Bansal, bio-dynamic agricultural systems recognise the rhythm of the cosmic and earthly forces and align agricultural activities to these rhythms to bring forth a truly enriched agricultural product. Biodynamic farming is being practiced in many parts of India and the crops include cereals, pulses, tea, cotton, spices, fruits and vegetables. BDAI conducts conferences to spread the practice of biodynamic agriculture system.

At the exhibition, Kurinji Organic Foods Pvt. Ltd. had exhibited its farm products like dried cut-pieces of mango, banana, pineapple, sapota, pears, papaya, tomato, okhra, desiccated coconut, mango pulp, pear puree and biodynamic manures like cow horn manure. Jayakaran started Kurinji Organic Foods in 1990 in Palni Hills area. Like other ecologists in India, he believes that tree planting and organic farming can save India's degraded environment. At Kurinji, bio-dynamic farming is not only an occupation and a way of life, but also a social commitment.

Kurinji processes fruits and vegetables in natural condition. No chemicals, artificial preservatives, white sugar or artificial colouring agents are added during the processing. Kurinji's dry fruits are being exported to Europe for the past 8 years.

ISKCON's 'Dharani' farm had exhibited rice, edible oils, spices, pulses and other dry fruits. All the products were also put on for sale, including seeds and manures. ISKCON has its own farms where farm products are harvested in an eco-friendly manner.

According to the participants at the exhibition, fruit trees are grown on reclaimed lands where good soil conservation measures are now practised. Compost, biodynamic soil activators and compost BD herbal preparations are used in the farms. This helps to create a naturally balanced fruit that has an extraordinarily full flavour. The fruits are allowed to ripen slowly so that you get the best natural fruit sugars.

For more information on biodynamic agriculture and organic farming contact:

Biodynamic Association of India,
Defence Towers, 6th Main, Sultan Palya,
Bangalore-560 032.

Text and photos by Y. Rama Mohan

|