Organic farming promises to yield a sustainable future for India's rural poor

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/mar/15/organic-farming-india-rural-poor


A cabbage on an organic farm near Ahmedabad. Organic practices have the potential to improve rural livelihoods in India. Photograph: Sam Panthaky/AFP/Getty Images

Sixteen months ago, Delhi-born Ashmeet Kapoor returned to India with a wish to make a difference. The 26-year-old graduate, who had recently completed his masters in innovation management and entrepreneurship at Brown University in the US, knew he wanted to improve the lives of India's rural poor in some way.

"I wanted to work to improve rural livelihoods using enterprise, but I needed to get my feet on the ground to explore where I could have the most impact," Kapoor explained.

It didn't take long for him to identify agriculture, which accounts for almost half of India's workforce, as his chosen sector.

Kapoor's search began with a train journey across India, the Jagriti Yatra, where he joined 400 other young people eager to gain inspiration for entrepreneurial work. The experience introduced him to the challenges facing farmers in India, as well as the attendant opportunities.

[GliderGuider]

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