Himalayan Eco Horticulture Society

The Himalyan Eco Horticulture Society (Ecohorts) was founded by a group of progressive farmers lead by Mr.Lakshman Thakur in 1999 at Shimla, India. It is a Non-profit organisation and exists to promote/support Agro-entrepreneurship and ecological horticulture in the Northern Himalayan Region. [Ecohorts brings together scientists, farming communities, successful Agro-entrepreneurs, experienced eco-farmers, policy makers and people who care for the environment to exchange best practices to sustain an eco-friendly rural economy.] This is achieved through a series of activities.

Aims and Objectives

The goal of Ecohorts is "Sustainable farming with an environmental conscience". The mission of the society is to provide the future generations with a fair chance to cherish and benefit from the eco-system that sustained our existence for centuries through

a. Sustainable horticulture economy through farming with an environmental conscience.b. Reduced dependence on land through Agro-entrepreneurial initiatives, resulting in reduced pressure on ecology and increased employment for rural population.

Activities of Ecohorts

Ecohorts Outreach The program is aimed at reaching out to local farming communities and Agro-entrepreneurs through farmer/entrepreneur exchange programs, seminars, lectures, demonstration sessions and farm visits by scientists, experts and successful Agro-entrepreneurs.

Ecohorts BLOG Is an online journal where the consulting team of the society post technical and semi-technical articles. These are aimed at sharing knowledge, research and knowhow among the consultants and farming communities.

FREE Advisory services Ecohorts provides free support to farmiing communities who want to make a gradual move to ecological horticulture and organic farm nutirition management through a team of scientists and extenstion workers who are volunteers.

Consulting services for Agro-Entrepreneurs We can arrange free technical support from our volunteer experts to improve your management practices and technical processes.

Ecohorts Helpline is a free service for farmers, Agro-entrepreneurs and enthusiasts to send their questions. The Helpline is aimed at improving farm practices, helping farmers increase productivity and address problems faced by farmers and Agro-entrepreneurs on a day to basis. The helpline questions can be submitted online through their website [http://www.ecohorts.org/helpline.html] .

Influence public opinion Ecohorts conducts seminars, openhouses and awareness sessions to generate positive interest in generall public toward environment and ecological farming. Various scientific/semi-scientific surveys are conducted to draw the attention of policy makers. Farmers and enthusiasts are involved and representations are sent to local and state Governments.

Ecohorts Discussion Board Ecohorts hosts a free discussion board for anyone to share thoughts, experiences, best practices regarding ecological horticulture, preservation of eco-system etc.

History of Ecohorts

Founder

Himalayan Eco Horticulture Society is the brain child of a visionary Horticulturist Mr.Lakshman Thakur born (1949). Mr.Thakur started farming at an early age of 19 years in the 1969 and quickly realised the steady decline in the flora and fauna of the region. Mr.Thakur initiated local awareness activities with local farmers, friends etc. to improve the situation and got technical inputs from his friends in the scientific community in India and abroad. His private initiatives carried on for decades while he offered free consulting services to farmers around him to promote ecological horticulure. The positive impact on eco-system was visible; the lady birds, wild honey bees and butterflies could be seen in the valley. Mr.Thakur proposed to organise his activities into a society to engage a larger community of progressive farmers and scientists.

The society was formally created in 1999 with only 7 members and functions ever since. Ecohorts has a panel of voluteers (scientists, farmers and enthusiasts)who contribute towards the objectives of the society.

References

[http://www.ecohorts.org/index.html] [http://www.ecohorts.org/Our_activities.html] [http://www.ecohorts.org/about_us.html]

External links

* [http://www.ecohorts.org] The main Ecohorts website