I urge everyone to take up farming: Naresh Vijay Krishna

While most people were breaking their heads trying to find out how to pass time during the lockdown, actor Naresh Vijay Krishna had it sorted out. The versatile actor spoke to us about how he transformed this lockdown into one of his most productive periods in life. He indulged in farming activities at his five acres of farm, named “Amuktamalyada”, near Chilkuru on the Hyderabad outskirts.

Naresh showing a ripe mango from his farm

“I planted around five thousand plants around my farm so far,” says Naresh, adding that he recently even created a rainwater harvesting system on his own in his farm. Naresh tells us that the rainwater harvesting system was inspired by the tanks around Anantapur.

“Lack of rains over the last few years (except for last year) in Hyderabad dented farming. Both Osman Sagar and Himayath Sagar rivers did not fill up,” explains the actor, who himself is an expert in water harvesting. “As a result, there was a water shortage and some of the mango trees were dying. I decided then to go for rainwater harvest pit.”

Rainwater harvest system in his farm

To accommodate more water, Naresh has also expanded his water storage capacity. In fact, says the actor, as a result of the effective water harvesting, the size of the mangoes has increased this year.  Today, his farm has 700 mango trees, Manilkara zapota, gooseberry, blueberry, dragon fruits, etc.

Choosing farming organically

Naresh reveals that he was introduced to farming in Chennai by his mother, late actress-producer-director Vijaya Nirmala, when he was ten years old.
“I used to spend every summer in Chennai working on agriculture; it was my mother who motivated me to become a farmer,” reiterates Naresh, who has been working on organic farming for more than a decade.

Naresh showing his farm to Prakash Raj and Rajendra Prasad

However, the actor feels there’s a lot more to be done to revive farming in the city landscape. “With the growing population farming, water and land are not proportionately increasing. Ecology survives when birds and other creatures can simultaneously live in nature,” adds Naresh.

He believes farming shaped his personality, and contributed to making him a better person. No wonder then that he wants to bring back farming and inspire people through his efforts. “I am 58, but do I look like that?” he questions with a smile, adding that he wants to set an example with his farming efforts through which he realised he derives a lot of peace.

Birds sanctuary at the farm

“Land is available and is just laying idle. If people can pick up a small piece of land and give it a shot, farming can come back.” “Farm houses are not meant for having weekend parties but to bring back what is lost in nature. As an actor, my schedule is completely different. Waking up to greenery, birds’ chirps, etc., makes me feel energised.

In the right space

The actor, who considers the lockdown to have been a golden time for him, predicts cooperative farming is the future of farming. The actor, who claims to be sleeping and waking up in his farm, shares more about his farming experiences.

“Once you get used to organic farming, you won’t leave it. But you have to find the ways and means to farm,” he adds. Naresh had been doing organic fruit farming, with the intent to attract birds. So far he’s spotted around 18 new bird species in his farm. The actor believes farming is something that’s added to even his acting. He reveals that apart from understanding nature better, farming helps in creating engaging conversations with co-stars on film sets.

Naresh's farmland at Chilukuru

“I realise I am energised when I go to shoot. My on-the-sets conversations and the pep talk on farming inspire my fellow actors,” he says, adding that from what COVID has taught everyone, humanity has to somehow return to nature.