Chennai: The food we consume has to be safe and only then it will help us remain healthy, says organic farming activist Kamakshi Kumar, a resident of Valmiki Street, East Tambaram in the city suburb.
‘News Today’ spoke to her to know about her passion towards organic farming and how it took shape.
“It all began during my stay in USA from 2001 to 2009, where I worked with children with autism. I kept wondering as to what caused these problems. The harmful elements found in food can endanger human life. So, after returning to India in 2010, I decided to focus on healthy food,” she said.
Kamakshi took up organic farming on three-fourth of an acre land owned by her mother at Singaperumal Koil in 2015. The first crop she cultivated was Poongar red rice, followed by sesame.
“Before taking up organic farming, I underwent training at Thirunindravur. I met a lot of like-minded people there and learnt a lot. The passion for organic food motivated me to start a roof-top garden in my house,” she said.
“Whatever we eat at home – vegetables and fruits – are sourced from the garden,” she added.
Kamakshi helped establish an organic farm at HLC International School at Karanai, where her son studies.
“Students were involved in this effort. It was a learning experience for them also. We want them to know how the food we eat is cultivated, and how it can be made healthy. A similar effort is being taken up at Christ King Middle School in Tambaram. A plot is kept ready there. We will soon sow seeds and turn it into an organic farm,” she said.
Kamakshi is also conducting awareness sessions on safe food. She has covered Government Girls School at T Nagar, NSN School at Chitlapakkam and Christ King Middle School at Tambaram.
Her next step is to provide computers to Christ King Middle School, where she is an alumna. “We are also planning to conduct self-empowerment classes by teaching them some courses like painting,” she said.
Kamakshi can be reached at 89399 92080.