Ajay Devgn goes green

It's an all-organic produce on Ajay's farm in Karjat. He also drives the family's bachchas to get gardening, instilling in them a love for the ecosystem. Ajay Devgn is running his own green project at his 28-acre property -- Devgan Farms -- in Karjat, on the outskirts of Mumbai. Not only does he grow everything organically -- from grains to fruits -- he is also instilling the same values in the children of the family.

Ajay confirms, "All the children in my family -- including my daughter Nysa and my nieces and nephews -- have to plant a sapling every year on their birthdays -- with their names. There's no particular tree or plant -- they can choose what they want to plant but they have to plant one -- it's compulsory. The children enjoy doing that. It's great to see a plant flourishing under your name."

Devgan Farms grows an assortment of fruits and vegetables -- papaya, brinjal, lady finger, radish, rice, fresh tomatoes -- they have it all. Ajay adds, "The children love visiting the farm as there is no greenery, tress or open spaces in Mumbai. They carry the vegetables back home with them and try out various delicacies. It's a different kind of joy to pick fresh vegetables and cook them. We have open- air picnics too when we visit Karjat."

Though Ajay doesn't grow anything for commercial purposes, extra papayas, bananas and berries from his farm are sold at the Vashi local market on a regular basis. And vegetables from the farm are sent to his Juhu home. A qualified staff looks after the day-to-day supervision of the farm.

Ajay says that he keeps himself abreast of whatever agricultural advancements that are happening in India and the world. "Though farming is not a business for me, I can understand what farmers are going through today. Global warming has lead to such difficult climactic conditions that even growing papayas in normal seasons has become virtually impossible. We will have to look for alternative means if we need to grow certain seasonal fruits and vegetables." The actor concludes, "We use no artificial fertilizers. Everything is grown organically. Healthy food leads to healthy living."