🌾 A simple question for today

When we buy food, what are we actually paying for?

Is it only the rice, dal or vegetables in our bag?

Behind every food item there is:

👨‍🌾 A farmer who grows it

🌱 The soil, water and biodiversity that support it

⏳ Months of time, patience and hard work

🌿 Natural inputs and additional labour involved in chemical-free farming

⚠️ Greater effort and risk in managing crops without chemical shortcuts

And chemical-free farming is still practised by a relatively small proportion of India's farming community. There is no single official number for the percentage of all farmers practising chemical-free farming, but the Government's natural-farming programmes are currently reaching millions of farmers as adoption gradually increases.

There is also an additional cost of storage.

For example, when paddy is carefully stored for 2 years to naturally age, the farmer/producer has to bear:

🏠 Storage space

🛡️ Protection from moisture, insects and pests

👷 Labour for handling and monitoring

💰 Money blocked in the stock for 2 years

⚠️ Risk of spoilage or loss during storage

So, naturally grown and properly aged rice cannot be compared only on the basis of price per kg.

When we choose such food and pay a fair price, we are supporting:

🌱 Healthy soil

👨‍🌾 Farmers and their livelihood

🌾 Native and traditional varieties

♻️ Sustainable farming practices

🙏 And the future of good food

Next time you buy food, pause and ask:

👉 "Am I only looking for the lowest price, or am I willing to pay the true cost of good food?"

Food is not just a commodity. It is a connection between us, the farmer and nature. 🌱🙏