1. School Visit to Government Primary School, Honnaganahalli

 Kalosmi Foundation conducted an impactful program at Government Primary School, Honnaganahalli, located in Kanakapura Taluk, Ramanagara District. The visit aimed to create environmental awareness among young students and engage them in activities promoting a connection with nature. The program targeted students from classes 1 to 5, offering them a fun and educational experience focused on the environment and sustainability.

During our visit, Raju expressed deep concerns about the dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides in modern agriculture. He emphasized that without them, farming seems impossible due to productivity pressure and financial survival. While skeptical about natural farming, he showed interest in learning from real-life examples of successful farmers. The key barriers to transition include lack of confidence, market uncertainty, and absence of practical exposure. To support farmers like Raju, we propose exposure visits, demonstration plots, direct market linkages, and training programs, ensuring a gradual yet impactful shift to sustainable farming.

The Vishwaja Fellowship Program is a flagship initiative by Kalosmi Foundation aimed at empowering young minds to become ambassadors of environmental conservation and sustainable living. Recognizing the crucial role of youth in shaping a sustainable future, the fellowship engages students in innovative activities, awareness campaigns, and hands-on learning opportunities to promote natural farming, biodiversity conservation, and eco-friendly practices.

Launched on World Soil Day, December 5th, 2024, the program's inaugural edition welcomed talented students who demonstrated exceptional commitment to the environment and a desire to make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Hanumanthappa shared his perspective on the shift from traditional, chemical-free farming to modern chemical-intensive agriculture, highlighting its negative effects on soil health, crop resilience, and farmer finances. He expressed concerns over rising input costs, declining food quality, and the growing debt cycle among farmers. Willing to experiment with natural farming, he agreed to convert 1/3rd of his land, provided he receives market assurance, financial stability, and technical support.

Key challenges include dependency on costly inputs, lack of profitability, and declining farmer interest in agriculture. To address these, our action plan includes training programs, direct market linkages, policy advocacy, and consumer awareness initiatives, ensuring a smoother transition to sustainable agriculture while protecting farmers’ livelihoods and environmental health.