Coimbatore farmer wins UN FAO 'Soil Hero' award, promotes natural farming
V.T. Valluvan, a 59-year-old natural farmer from Vettaikaranpudur in Pollachi, Coimbatore district, has secured third place in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) 'Soil Hero Guardian' contest. He achieved this recognition by increasing soil organic carbon to 1.56%, marking the first time this award has come to India.
Mr. Valluvan's journey began after suffering three consecutive years of losses from 2006 to 2009 while growing monocrops on 7.5 acres. He then transitioned to a multi-level, multi-crop, tree-based farming system. Today, he grows over 14 varieties of crops and has 9,600 trees on 32 acres, with his income increasing more than 2.5 times per acre.
His sustainable approach helped him manage the 2015-2016 drought without purchasing water or cutting down coconut trees. He advises farmers to first conduct soil and water tests and land surveys, even if they know their land well. Installing drip irrigation, with government support available, is a recommended initial step. Proper planning before the rains reduces investments and water consumption.
For those with coconut groves, Mr. Valluvan suggests planting inter-crops of varying heights, including tubers. He uses cow dung and cow urine as inputs, and mulching to retain soil moisture. Crops like banana and coconut yield revenue from the first year, with other crops adding compounding returns over time.
Mr. Valluvan emphasizes that traditional agriculture was self-sustaining, and natural, tree-based farming can revive that ethos. His son, a doctor, has learned natural farming and contributes ideas during visits. Since 2017, Mr. Valluvan has trained over 7,000 farmers in natural farming methods.
