Dola Basu Foundation

20/04/2026

Salai Arun, a 32-year-old farmer from Mangalam village in Tamil Nadu, has dedicated his hard work and commitment to preserving over 300 rare indigenous vegetable seeds. Passionate about farming since childhood, Arun received training from organic farming scientist G. Nammalvar in 2011, which further fueled his enthusiasm for agriculture.
Arun noticed that farmers lacked access to native vegetable seeds. To address this issue, he decided to travel across the country in 2021, despite having only ₹300 in savings at the time. Undeterred, he covered nearly 80,000 kilometers, meeting over 500 farmers and collecting more than 300 rare vegetable seeds.
Back in his village, Arun started growing these endangered indigenous fruits and vegetables in a small garden. He established a seed bank called 'Karpagatharu,' through which he now distributes a variety of seeds, including 15 types of bottle gourd, 20 types of beans, and 10 varieties each of tomatoes, chilies, and ridge gourd, among many others.
Arun’s initiative not only promotes organic farming but also plays a crucial role in conserving native seeds. His inspiring journey is a testament to how dedication and perseverance can help achieve even the most ambitious goals.

20/04/2026

Salai Arun: The Farmer Who Traveled 80,000 KM to Protect India’s Native Seeds 🌱🇮🇳

At a time when agriculture increasingly depends on hybrid crops and chemical-intensive practices, Salai Arun chose a different direction — one grounded in tradition, sustainability, and responsibility. A farmer from Trichy, Tamil Nadu, Arun undertook an incredible journey across India, covering nearly 80,000 kilometers to safeguard the nation’s vanishing indigenous vegetable seeds.

His mission was clear and deeply meaningful: preserve what modern farming was gradually overlooking. Over the years, he gathered more than 300 rare native seed varieties, traveling from village to village and farm to farm, exchanging both seeds and knowledge with local cultivators. A turning point came in 2011 after he met respected organic farming pioneer G. Nammalvar, an encounter that transformed his personal interest into a broader movement for sustainable agriculture.

In 2021, carrying just ₹300, Arun began exploring remote regions — from and plains to distant rural communities documenting and conserving traditional seed varieties. What he preserved was not only biodiversity, but also generations of agricultural wisdom rooted in India's soil.

Today, his farm, Karpagatharu, serves as a living repository of India's food heritage, nurturing dozens of native vegetables, including rare gourds, beans, tomatoes, and chilies. Arun's journey reminds us that true progress does not discard tradition - it protects and strengthens it.

17/04/2026

FSA 3.0

ITC said it has become the first company in India to receive the globally-acknowledged Farm Sustainability Assessment certification for wheat and paddy.

24/02/2026

Papaya

Krishna Chandra Halder (70) developed a high-yield, disease-resistant papaya in Hooghly, revamping his farm and inspiring local growers with his innovation.

24/02/2026

Salad

23/02/2026

23/02/2026

23/02/2026

CPD Accredited. Limited 50 Seats, Serious workshop and recognised credentials.

23/02/2026

Earth Story Farms is bringing back authentic ‘nolen gur’ in West Bengal, using age-old methods to create pure jaggery while supporting local artisans and tradition.

17/02/2026

Dr Vatsya highlights cloves as a powerful spice with digestive benefits, including reducing gas, body inflammation, oxidative stress, and acidity.  | Health

17/02/2026

I am fine
Kolkata-137

Thanx col Ashish Ray