Snapshot of the farm
|
Year started |
1995 |
|
Current stewards/residents |
Herbert |
|
Total acreage |
10.8 acres |
|
Total cultivated area |
5.5 acres (4 acres
is afforested) |
|
Main produce |
Field crops
(grains, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane), Dairy |
|
Annual turnover |
₹ 1,200,00 |
|
Opportunities for volunteering |
Yes |
|
Please contact farm
directly |
|
|
Contact info |
siddhafarm@yahoo.co.in; 90037-38560 |
Vision and mission of the farm
The vision of the farm is to ensure a good, stable food supply to
Auroville, along with ensuring environmental and financial sustainability.
Current operations
Situated
on traditional rice land near Irumbai lake, Siddhartha farm grows
different varieties of rice, sugarcane and black gram in rotation with green
gram, peanuts, sesame, millets and pulses. The farm also comprises a cashew
orchard, a dairy of about 6 cows, some chickens and geese. There is a bakery
and a small food-processing unit for making cashew butter and organic jaggery. A large
proportion of the farm income comes from processing food, for sale in
Auroville.
Water
is sustainably used with a solar pump for irrigating cultivated areas and lake
water for use in the paddy fields. With 90% of the water coming
directly from the lake, the farm can even have 2 rice harvests a year. The farm
uses biogas for domestic cooking. Biogas serves for domestic cooking.
Plans in the upcoming years
It is hoped that with some support from the
community in terms of financial investment, more area of the farm can be
brought under rice cultivation, with a view towards Auroville being
self-sufficient in its need for rice.
Contact: Herbert, Ph. 90037-38560
E-mail: siddhafarm@yahoo.co.in
