A Visit to Mandya

Madhu Chandan, the founder of Organic Mandya, ran his own software company and was living in California. He used to come to Bangalore often where his company’s R&D center was located. Coming to Bangalore on such trips, he noticed that so many workers were from his hometown Mandya. What started to bother him was that most of these people were sons and daughters of farmers have migrated to the city for having no income in agriculture.

His visits to Mandya (which used to be one of the richest districts of India), unfolded a disturbing trend of youth migrating to cities, reduced life expectancy, and
increasing farmer suicides. 

He did some research behind the problems farmers have been facing for decades and dared to dream a different dream about his native place. Soon enough, he convinced his family and moved from the US
back to Mandya.

Madhu's Sharp Observations

Madhu made some rather disturbing observations about the widespread farming practices and how it impacted the society. Chemical-based farming had robbed the farmer of his natural competence, turned him into a consumer of chemical produce just like city-folks (in the olden days, a farmer used to grow most things he needed), and made him prone to lifestyle-related diseases that were unheard of in Rural Communities.

It was time to a) change the farming and consumption behavior, and b) for the farmer to get her due.

A farmer has to be self-sustainable, eat organic products grown in her own farm/backyard, and reap the benefits of a natural way of farming. And soon enough, Organic Mandya was born!

Formation of
the Co-Op Society

In 2014, Madhu started talking to a few farmers and introduced them to Organic Farming. He made them understand how Organic Farming uses natural means such as Jeevamritha, Natural Pest Repellants like Buttermilk and Neem Spray, and age-old techniques such as Crop Rotation, Companion Planting, etc.

He assured them that this would bring remarkable changes to their health and wealth.

Madhu started an impromptu group and inspired by his riveting talks every Monday, more and more farmers joined this group, which led to the formation of a Mandya Organic Farmers Co-operative Society. 

PS: As you can see in the picture, Madhu's first Organic Mandya Board Meeting was at a Tea Stall in the Mandya village with his friends!

Enriching
Farmers of Mandya

Organic Mandya was actually formed as a marketing wing to support the Mandya Organic Farmers Co-Operative Society.

Our small movement now has become a way of life for many farmers of Mandya, and the followers of natural farming are delightfully increasing!

We have now,
-> 12000+ Farmers under the Co Op Soc
-> 7000+ Farmers in 300+ Organic Farmers Clubs spread across 270 Villages, and
-> 4500 Women Members (Farmers-cum-Micro-Entrepreneurs) across 200 Villages!