Dr. Naveen Kumar from Chennai promotes organic farming to combat health issues from adulterated food. He grows native seeds on his terrace and helps patients grow fruits and vegetables at home for better health and sustainability.

Dr. Naveen Kumar cherishes childhood memories of playing with mud, splashing water on plants, and harvesting fresh produce from his terrace garden. What started as a fun hobby turned into a passion for growing vegetables after he became a physiotherapy doctor in 2016.

"I would often see patients complaining of gastrointestinal issues, and the root cause of these problems is the consumption of adulterated food made from genetically modified seeds," says Dr. Naveen Kumar.

"The market is flooded with genetically modified seeds that negatively impact human health. There are growing concerns that food made from these seeds may have carcinogenic properties and could contribute to the development of cancer," he adds.

Since 2016, Dr. Naveen Kumar has been passionate about encouraging residents to embrace organic farming at home. Over the past 10 years, the 29-year-old has transformed his 350 sq ft terrace into a lush green haven. Using his grandfather best gardening secrets, he now grows over 250 varieties of fruits and vegetables, including spinach, tomatoes, brinjals, custard apples, lemons, mulberries, and dragon fruits, all in a small space.

Decline of Native Seeds and Their Nutritional Benefits

Since childhood, Naveen was surrounded by vegetables and fruit trees nurtured with native seeds. However, he soon realized that these seeds were disappearing due to modernization and the desire for faster, larger harvests.

"Today, we only see green-colored ladyfingers in the market, but there are several native varieties, including the red-colored, torpedo-shaped one and the light green, long elephant tusk variety, which contain higher amounts of amino acids and iron. Similarly, we only get hybrid tomatoes, despite having over 200 native tomato varieties with unique flavors and nutritional benefits. Unfortunately, these traditional varieties are rarely found in markets," he points out.

Where have these traditional vegetables gone?

"Sadly, we are left with only genetically modified hybrid varieties, which rely on chemical insecticides," explains Dr. Naveen Kumar. "However, we can reduce this dependence by growing our own vegetables."

Every two years, Dr. Naveen travels to Kolli Hills, around 400 km from Chennai, to collect native seed varieties from local tribal communities. "Since these seeds are in limited supply, I grow them at home. After harvesting, I extract and distribute the seeds to the community. By using native seeds, farmers and gardeners do not need to buy new seeds each season, and they can pass them on to others. This is our mission!" he adds.

Dr. Naveen Kumar, along with a group of passionate terrace gardeners, conducts offline workshops in Chennai to promote organic farming. To date, he has reached over 5,000 people across Tamil Nadu, helping them cultivate fruits and vegetables at home. In addition, he provides native seeds to his patients along with health prescriptions to encourage a healthier lifestyle.

Grow Your Veggies with These 5 Secret Techniques

Dr. Naveen encourages everyone to start their organic farming journey at home, beginning with simple vegetables like tomatoes, lady fingers, and leafy greens such as spinach. Drawing from his grandfathers time-tested teachings, he shares a handful of easy techniques for growing vegetables and fruits effortlessly.

Dr. Naveen recommends preparing a potting mix using a simple formula: combine soil, cocopeat, and vermicompost in a ratio of 1:2:2. After mixing these ingredients, place the potting mix in a pot or container for three to four days. Water it once every morning and evening.

"This process enhances microbial activity in the soil, creating a healthier environment for plant growth. Once this is done, you can sow your seeds," he adds.

How to Treat Seeds Before Sowing for Better Germination and Pest Control

To boost germination and prevent pest attacks or root diseases, Dr. Naveen recommends treating seeds with organic fertilizers and insecticides before sowing.

"Instead of water, soak the seeds in panchgavya (an organic concoction made from five cow-derived products—urine, ghee, dung, milk, and curd) for half an hour. After soaking, dry the seeds for an hour in a semi-shaded area. These seeds will be ready for sowing the next day. If panchgavya is unavailable, you can use buttermilk that is 5 to 7 days old," he adds.

The germination process varies by vegetable type. For example, tomato seeds germinate in seven days, brinjals in 10 days, chillies in 14 days, radishes in four to five days, and spinach in just three days.

Boost Plant Growth with Dr. Naveens Unique Organic Fertilizer Made from Fish

In addition to panchgavya, jeevamrita, and vermicompost, Dr. Naveen prepares a special organic fertilizer using fish to enhance plant growth. This unique fertilizer provides essential nutrients that promote healthy, thriving plants.

Dr. Naveen shares his unique method for creating an organic fertilizer using fish to boost plant growth. To prepare it, take 1 kg of fish and mix it with 1 kg of jaggery, a handful of drumstick leaves, and two ripe bananas in a clean plastic container. Close the lid and keep it under shade for 21 to 27 days. This fertilizer, rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, helps boost flowering and fruiting in plants. Dr. Naveen recommends applying it once every 15 days for optimal results.

How to Control Pest Attacks
While treating seeds before sowing helps reduce the chances of pest attacks, Dr. Naveen advises urban gardeners to spray neem oil on plant leaves every 10 days to prevent pests from infesting plants.

How to Store Seeds for Next Season
One of the key advantages of native seeds over genetically modified and hybrid varieties is that you do not need to buy new seeds every season. Dr. Naveen suggests scooping out seeds from harvested vegetables, then storing them in a glass jar with some charcoal powder. This method prevents seed degeneration and increases their shelf life up to 10 years.

Edited by Gayathri