There are greenbacks to be made in India too. Ask Mumbai-based industrialist and Rajya Sabha member Kamal Morarka. In 1993, when he decided to do something for his native hometown Navalgarh in Rajasthan, he had philanthropy on his mind. But today the MR Morarka GDC Rural Research Foundation, which started off by identifying problems of 123 villages relating to health, education and agriculture, has helped many small and medium farmers in the region to become agricultural entrepreneurs. In fact, the foundation has supported over 300 such agri-preneurs to establish business centres at an average investment of Rs 5 lakh. And they have earned an average of Rs 2.5 lakh net income in the very first year.

The foundation is now expanding its reach to cover  most of India.  “Our method involves the use of earthworms to generate vermicompost which protects the soil.’’ says Morarka. This new approach towards a sustainable agri-business model has been largely facilitated by Mukesh Gupta, an MBA from Ahmedabad, who heads the foundation as executive director.

Gupta sees organic farming emerging as an economically viable model for agriculture.  The foundation has also tied up with a company called Abha Precision Farming to market the organic products in the US.

In an effort to attract tourism the foundation has started the Shekhawati festival in collaboration with the directorate of tourism.  And all the big plans are pivoted around the human resources built up at the foundation. “We believe in getting the best people and paying them well,’’  says Gupta.  And he is, of course, leading from the front.

ISHANI DUTTAGUPTA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2003 04:38:40 AM ]