Source: www.thehindu.com
VIJAYAWADA, INDIA, September 12, 2009: Katragadda Ravi is on a mission to promote the cultivation and use of organic brown rice in India, as one step towards encouraging the use of healthy foods.
Mr. Ravi, a software engineer, returned from the US over three years ago to join his father, K. Ramesh, and start the organic cultivation of brown rice on their 20-acre farm at Velpuru in Kankipadu mandal. They strictly avoid chemical fertilizers, instead using organic manure called “Panchgavya” which they make from locally available ingredients. Their produce has earned the National Programme for Organic Production certification issued by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), New Delhi.
Mr. Ravi says there is growing demand for brown rice if it is grown organically in the strict sense of the word. He is convinced that the people will switch to this healthy rice if it is made easily available to them. “Everybody knows brown rice is good for health. We want to sensitize more farmers about this.”