Bija Vidyapeeth: Centre for Learning

Masanobu Fukuoka

For more than 60 years, Fukuoka-san has been insisting that all methods of agriculture destroy the earthy ecosystem. He has been flatly opposing present farming methods that destroy living things in natural symbiosis. They have only increased the quantity of crops and domestic animals for human's sake. Mr. Fukuoka advocated an entirely new way of farming and put it into practice.

"Natural Farming" employs no plowing, no seedling, no watering, no fertilizer, no pesticides, no weeding. Fukuoka-san explains: "All we do is wrap many kinds of seeds in clay balls and just keep sowing them. Then do nothing, just leave everything to nature."

A variety of fruits, vegetables, rice and wheat would grow along with all other kind of plants, weeds and tree. Seasonable birds, insects, bacteria and small animals, they all live together with plants in symbiosis, and create a rich natural farm.

"One Straw Revolution" released in 1975 translated into 15 languages and acclaimed all over the world. Since 1979, he has been making tours to sowing the seeds of natural farming in the world. For this distinguished work, in 1988, he was given Deshikottan Award, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award. Then in 1997, he received also the Earth Council Award.

In October 1997, Mr. Fukuoka was invited to India to attend an international seminar to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi. In India, his book "One Straw Revolution" was published in 1984.

Since then, many farms began turning to natural farming. During his 19 days stay in India, he visited many places to give lectures and field teaching. Beside his revolutionary method of agriculture, he has been suggesting that we reconsider our lifestyles and sense of values. The nature of earth is being disordered and consequently many problems are arising.

How should we respond to Mr. Fukuoka's suggestion? This is the question.