{% extends 'base.html' %} {% block extra_head %} {% endblock %} {% block content %}
Most of us are aware that profit from food is impossible if farming and food supply is carried out in the spirit of ahimsa. In spite of the fact that food is an everyday necessity or perhaps precisely because it is one, the proportion of income spent on food decreases as income increases. It is why our country's (and other countries') farmers are in the state they're in. It is also why our earth is in the state it is in.
To underline our efforts to reclaim food from the clutches of commodification we are proposing the idea of family farms/ farmers (similar to that of family doctor). We want to encourage the deepening of trust, responsibility and reciprocity within our human and ecological communities.
20 farmers have pledged their lands and labour to the practice of sustainable farming methods for this monsoon season (2011). This growing cycle begins in May with sowing and a harvest is expected from July to October. MOFCA will support the farmers with sharing of technical know-how and other farming resources, creating an assured market and a fair, consistent price for their produce and creating and managing the supply chain logistics.
We have available to us a total of 4 acres of farm land, cultivated by the 20 farmers partnering with us for this season. We are estimating a yield of 100 kg. / week from each acre which will give us a total of approximately 400 kilos. We have 200 farm shares available this season for public issue each worth Rs 2500/-.
Accounts from HBT's 1st winter season (Sept 2010- March 2011)
COSTS | ||
---|---|---|
Vegetable | (-) | 77,926 |
Transport | (-) | 42,500 |
Misc (phone, seeds, jute and partial payment for crates and bags) | (-) | 32,500 |
Additional resources: | ||
Time for transport, pick up, sorting and packing, coordination, management, etc (60+ hours per week): | Donated by volunteers | |
Space and resources at the pick up points : | Donated by volunteers | |
Total cost | (-) | 152,926 |
INCOME from sales | (+) | 94,886 |
LOSS | (-) | 58,040 |
Loss shared among consumers (135) | (-) | 429 |
Initial Deposit paid by Consumers | (+) | 500 |
Balance payable after cutting losses | (+) | 70/-per partner * |
*rounded off except if defaulted on picking up a tokri; in which case the amount is deducted from deposit. |
Our first season's accounts give some indication of the costs involved in growing and transporting food from farm to table. Of course, this being our first season there was more learning than efficiency. While we will get better at it, cheap food will never be our goal for market prices do not reveal the true costs nor the extent of exploitation, of people and resources. A model that is just and sustainable and with minimal loss is what we are aiming for.
At this point we are committed to paying farmers a rate of 25/- per kilo for any vegetable they supply. For the long duration crops like roots and tubers they receive a slightly higher rate. This is far above the rate they typically receive in the market.
For the monsoon season, we are also factoring in the costs for those items that were donated for the first season, largely labour, space and resources. Some amount of resources, donated as well as included in the costing is earmarked for long term projects (please refer to extension activities) and other supportive tasks. Keeping these in mind the investment cost for one share, for an estimated weekly delivery of 16 weeks of harvest for the monsoon season is Rs 3,000/-.
Because we believe healthy food is everyone's birthright and we understand that there may be some that cannot afford to give a downpayment of Rs 3,000 we request those who are interested to come and speak to us. We are willing to work out a resource exchange commitment (typically time and energy) for the season.
We have become accustomed to "what we want, when we want". We must now re-learn how to eat what Nature provides in plenty "where we are, when we are".
Consumer education and community building to facilitate use of the tokri veggies might include;
dealing with large quantities of seasonal food- recipes, preservation
introducing "new" foods- uncultivated, forgotten,
celebrating (slow) food- sharing traditional food preparation methods, cooking together, film screenings, food meditation newsletter, blog, recipe exchange, etc.
Also farm visits. Linking to other closely related food movements- urban farming.
Developing an internal certification process.
While we initially considered a participatory guarantee scheme (PGS) system which emphasises peer group accountability with regards to on-farm policy and practice, because of the distances between farms this is not quite viable. So using various criteria drawn from the PGS standards MOFCA will create a team including both farmer and consumer representatives that will visit farms and understand their views and practices of sustainability. We will support farmers as they transition to organic and eventually natural farming.
Seed saving and other resource sharing, networking activities to support on farm work needs to begin.