Years of labour, advice of agriculture scientists and water experts too failed to revive Raveesh’s areca nut and coconut orchards at Doddahosur in Tumakuru district, Karnataka.

As many as 23 dried up borewells in the orchards stand as a testimony to Raveesh’s innumerable attempts at reviving his orchards.

Determined to find a path to turn his land alive, Raveesh continued his search. A chance encounter with naturalist H Manjunath appeared to be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Under his guidance, Raveesh ensured the overall soil was moistened than merely water specific plants, through critical drip irrigation. To cut evaporation loss he covered the orchard with areca husk that was widely available as dry mulch.

Not stopping at that Raveesh planted a variety of saplings such as banana, cocoa, sweet potato as cover crop, fruit-bearing saplings such as avocado, guava, custard apple, star fruit, fig, nutmeg, cotton and wild flowering trees at the border. Multi-cropping, a key component of natural farming, not only prevented soil erosion but also boosted soil fertility and crop diversity.

Use of Kunapajala and Panchagavya to enhance soil fertility, and a variety of liquid concoctions prepared from leaves extracted as per Vrikshayurveda for pest management strengthened the soil at Raveesh’s orchards.

Great care in tending the soil resulted in good yield. Today Raveesh’s orchards are model orchards and an inspiration to farmers.

Petrichor buys cocoa, mustard and many more produce from Raveesh, for it is grown the natural way. Hence it is safe. Natural farming does not use chemicals or pollute the environment, it is sustainable.

Petrichor through selling natural produce is being responsible towards both the farmers and the consumers.