THIRUTHURAIPOONDI, India - For Nel Jayaraman, the realization that hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides were making farmers more vulnerable to extreme weather came slowly.

In fields near the town of Thiruthuraipoondi in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Jayaraman saw yields falling and farmers' debt rising as their reliance on modern seeds and pesticides grew, even as the rains became increasingly fickle.

Fifteen years ago, Jayaraman gave up both, returning to traditional varieties and organic farming methods that had become nearly extinct in the Cauvery river delta region where his family had lived for generations.

Since then, he has revived about 150 indigenous varieties of rice, and become an evangelist for traditional seeds and organic farming, which he sees as key to combating the impacts of climate change and protecting harvests and farmers' incomes.

"Hybrid varieties need more water, fertilizers and pesticides. They are just not sustainable in this region," he said.

"We should go back to traditional varieties that are suited to this soil, that can withstand these conditions. It is the only way farmers can make a decent living."

That is particularly crucial as Tamil Nadu faces its worst drought in more than a century, after the monsoon rains failed last year, he said.

Rising debt - in part from harvests slashed by drought and uneven rainfall - has triggered tens of thousands of farmer suicides, including in Tamil Nadu.

Jayaraman and others see traditional seeds as a solution.

Farmers do not need to buy seed every year as they have to with hybrids - instead they simply save part of their harvest to replant - and the older varieties often need less water and do not need chemical fertilizers and pesticides, Jayaraman said.

Healthy move

A move to healthy eating in India's cities has also sparked demand for traditional grains and organic fruits and vegetables, for which consumers are willing to pay more, he said.

The organic enthusiasts include Senthil Kumar, a former software engineer who quit his job a year ago to focus on his 3-hectare farm, a two-hour drive from the southern city of Chennai where he lives.

"When I realized the impact of chemicals and pesticides on my health and the environment, I started looking at the organic alternative," said Kumar, who then set up a nonprofit to train farmers and urban enthusiasts with some help from Jayaraman.

"We have such a wealth of traditional grains, pulses and native cattle that benefited farmers for centuries. They are too valuable to lose," he said.

Reuters