Bij Kindia zetten we ons in voor groei met impact.
Josephine combineert haar werk voor ons project JET met haar passie voor biologische landbouw. Samen met haar man Raja verbouwt zij volledig pesticidevrij 38 traditionele rijstsoorten en een grote variatie aan groenten, met eigen compost en natuurlijke meststoffen.
Tijdens de coronaperiode groeide hun moestuin en landbouw uit tot een leerplek voor haar leerlingen, die er zelf planten, wieden en oogsten. Zo ontdekken kinderen hoe voedsel wordt geproduceerd en hoeveel werk erachter zit.
Wij zijn super trots op Josephine: boerin, docent en ondernemer die elke dag bijdraagt aan een gezonde toekomst voor de volgende generatie.
I am Josephine MSW, BSc. in Agriculture, and I have a deep love for both plants and social work. Watching plants grow and bloom feels almost therapeutic to me. Alongside my husband, Raja, I run JET, which allows me to nurture another part of myself that is deeply connected to nature.
I studied agriculture for four years, and during the COVID season, when many industries and factories shut down, farming and its allied activities remained one of the few uninterrupted professions. This inspired us even more. Since our children were home due to school closures, we involved them in our farming activities, which not only kept us physically active but also protected our mental well-being during and after the pandemic.
Gradually, we expanded into vegetable gardening, as rice is our staple food. We began cultivating traditional rice varieties, and currently, we organically grow 38 varieties without the use of pesticides. Alongside rice, we maintain a diverse vegetable garden with crops such as okra, aubergine, lablab beans, tomatoes, chilies, and pumpkins.
We are committed to sustainable farming practices, producing our own compost, Calotropis liquid for micronutrients, vermicompost, fish amino acid, and various bio-inputs such as Bacillus thuringiensis, phosphobacteria, Metarhizium, and VAM. By mixing mother cultures with jaggery solution, we create natural fertilizers and nutrients, which we apply to our plants through fertigation.
As a teacher, I have also embraced this opportunity to educate my students about farming by involving them in vegetable gardening activities such as planting, weeding, and harvesting. Through these experiences, children learn the true value of food and develop a deeper connection between nature and humanity.
I am proud to be a farmer, a traditional rice cultivator, a woman entrepreneur, and a teacher. Together, we are working to create a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment for future generations.
