Ravi Singh Choudhary is the author of four books – Rishi Intelligence, Chanakya’s Intelligence, Krishi Samhita, and Gau Samhita. He is the Director of Dhanvantri Natural Foundation which is a Consultancy firm for Vrikshayurveda (Agro Ayurveda), Vedic Cow Rearing, and Agroforestry. He is currently in the Sub-Committee of New Syllabus & Curriculum for Bachelor of Science (Heritage of Agriculture; Natural Farming). In this interview he speaks about his work in Indian Knowledge Systems, especially connected to Vedic agricultural practices.
Ravi ji will be offering a course on Vrikshayurveda at INDICA Courses in August. This immersive course aims to bridge the ancient science of Ayurveda with contemporary agricultural practices. It offers practical insights into cultivating crops naturally, enhancing soil fertility, and managing pests through time-tested Ayurvedic techniques. Designed for aspiring natural farmers, this course is open to anyone interested in natural farming, from beginners to experienced growers. Enroll to learn a holistic approach to farming that nurtures the environment and yields healthier produce.
Can you provide an overview of your research on ancient Indian farming practices? Were your books an outcome of this research?
My research revolves around Vrikshayurveda i.e. Ayurveda for Plants. Applying the Ayurvedic framework of Tridosha for curing the disease of plants and enhancing the quality of Agri-produce. Agro-ayurveda is becoming a popular term. Krishi Samhita and Gau Samhita are a compilation of few slokas from Sanskrit texts but are significant as ITKS (Indian Technical Knowledge System) collected from rural people of Bharat.
How do we understand Vrikshayurveda?
We can call it plant life sciences. As Ayurveda is for humans,Vrikshayurveda is for plant health. It is a well-developed separate knowledge system that applies principles of Ayurveda for Plant growth and well-being. It is a combination of basics of botany, soil sciences, agronomy, astronomy etc. It is not precisely focussed on plants but on agro-ecology.
What do we know about some of the key ancient farming techniques that were used in India?
Use of homemade biofertilizers and fermentation are some of the key-techniques that were used throughout India. Fermentation was done using fresh cow dung and jaggery. Also, the addition of cow urine acts as a natural organic solvent that helps in preparing the mixture of macro and micro nutrients.
Relevance and modern application
How do ancient Indian farming practices compare to modern organic farming methods?
Modern organic farming methods prioritise uses of bio-compost while ancient farming methods are more focussed on the soil than the fertiliser itself. What we know today as Natural farming (different from organic farming) is more similar to our ancient farming methods.
Are there any ancient practices that are particularly relevant or beneficial for today’s organic farmers in India?
Absolutely! Taking care of micro-climate, soil is much more holistic than just taking care of plants. Similar to the analogy of Allopathy and Ayurveda. Preventive health care systems, focussing more on life style crises is better than going for crises management.
What challenges do you foresee in integrating ancient practices with contemporary farming techniques?
First is the psychological barrier. A colonised mind never appreciates indigenous methodologies. Ancient farming techniques were based on human interaction, barter systems. Now, people are more and more dependent on finances. They have disturbed their soil so much that it will need some recovery time that will cause financial burden for the farmer. For bigger land-masses adopting ancient natural farming is not an issue.
Sustainability and Impact
How sustainable were ancient farming practices in terms of long-term environmental impact?
I think, that shouldn’t be even asked. There is no doubt on Sustainability of the techniques. When society is based on Dharma, Tri Rin Siddhant, Purushartha, it was never an issue.
Can you provide examples of ancient Indian practices that promote biodiversity?
When it is monoculture people call it agriculture while Integrated farming is something that is said to include bio-diversity and is an inter-dependent system. Actually Monoculture is Chemi-culture and Integrated farming is the ancient Indian farming technique. One of the ancient practices was sowing different kinds of rice in the same plot. Use of different combinations of pulses and cereals in the same farm field.
Cultural and historical insights
How was agriculture integrated into the cultural and spiritual life of ancient India? How does your organisation promote this knowledge?
Planting trees was supposed to fulfil tri-Varga i.e. three of the fourth Purushartha. Dharma, Artha, Kama pursuits can be fulfilled while engaging oneself in plantation. Also, use of Agnihotra is always integrated to the purification of pancha-mahabhuta. The use of yajna in Agriculture is itself a sign of integration of spiritual principles into the practices. Our organisation promotes natural farming techniques and Agni-hotra practices too.
Can you share any specific stories or anecdotes from your research that highlight the ingenuity of ancient Indian farmers?
Santosh ji, a farmer from Karnataka prepared Kunapajala, seeing our videos and few others. He did some upgradation in his banana farm as per his understanding. He called me and said he not only solved his farm issue but also his insomnia that was a problem for him for last 3 years.
Future perspectives
What role do you think ancient farming practices can play in the future of sustainable agriculture in India?
There is a big role in understanding that we have somehow polluted our natural resources, the very fundamentals that are needed for our well-being. Quality food which is healthy needs to be brought back into the mainstream. It just needs pillars of research, Institutional funding and market ecosystem so that it can compete with modern chemi-culture techniques.
How can modern farmers and researchers learn from and preserve these ancient techniques?
Learning by doing is the best way. Many self-made heroes are coming from different parts of Bharat. Sharing of their knowledge and exchanging the desi seeds will sure preserve these ancient techniques. We are also working hard to compile the Indigenous techniques.
Personal Experience
What drew you to research ancient Indian farming practices?
More than anything else, I believe it is Prarabdha. The farming sector needs immediate attention. I just tried every school of thought of natural farming and I was missing out on learning the science behind it. There was a chapter on Vrikshayurveda in Brhat Samhita and finally after reading an article from Infinity foundation, I came to know that there is an actual treatise on Agriculture and that is not primitive in nature but very advanced. The curiosity to know those techniques brought me here.
What is the book Rishi Intelligence is all about? Is it related to agriculture?
When I went to scientists with this knowledge system, they thought it was some kind of Pseudo-science and would not be relevant in the modern era. Rishi Intelligence was an effort to bring ancient metaphysics of all Indic Sciences to the forefront so that people would start our own epistemologies. Applying Western science framework to our own knowledge system is sometimes detrimental and disregarded as not worthy enough to be called Vedic Science.