Wwoof India
Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF) volunteers (‘WWOOFers’) are offered food, accommodation and opportunities to learn in exchange for assistance with farming or gardening activities. The duration of the visit can range widely. Workdays average 5–6 hours and participants get to meet and interact with fellow WWOOFers from all over the world.
WWOOF India has been growing steadily in India. From just a few hosts in the starting now it has more than 150 Hosts including many NGOs , in coming years we hope to see more and more people becoming involved in this unique concept of Eco-activism.
Mr Harish Tewari is an Agricultural Micro-Biologist who have a vast experience of working in more than 10 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia at various projects related to Organic Agriculture, Water Management and Livelihood improvement etc. These projects in were funded by SIDA, World Bank, IFAD, Department of Bio-Technology (Govt of India) etc and Mr K.R Pandey has worked as Establishment Officer of G.B.Pant Agriculture University, Uttarakhand a leading Agriculture University in Asia
The other part time consultants associated within WWOOF India Organics Pvt Ltd have a wide range of disciplines and experience with the ability to provide farmer, growers, processors, packers and retailers with quality and cost effective advice and technical support right across the food chain on a national and international basis
Although many of the hosts on our network are associated with organic gardening and sustainability related projects, it is important to note that persons associated with WWOOF-India are travelers experiencing a wide variety of sustainable living situations and are not "workers" or "working" for wages or other remuneration in India or in any other nation.
How Willing Workers on Organic Farms in India : WWOOF-India works
WWOOF India is a network that allows volunteers to live and learn on organic properties/farms. It brings together Hosts and Volunteers ("WWOOFers") helping each other to make a healthier world . WWOOF India was started on 15 Aug 2007, it promotes cultural understanding of the many diverse peoples and cultures around the world through the intercultural exchange that takes place while sharing in the daily life of others
WWOOF India focus on sustainable livelihoods and addressing issues of poverty, through community mobilization around income-generation activities combining cultural, craft and ecological dimensions of rural life it holds tremendous potential for both income generation and enhancement of the basic quality of life in the rural areas.
What are the aims of WWOOF India
WWOOF India enables people to learn first hand organic
WWOOF India enables town-dwellers to experience living and working on a farm
WWOOF India helps improve communication within the organic movement.
WWOOF India enables you to develop confidence in becoming self-sufficient.
WWOOF India allows you to meet interesting people and make useful contacts
The purpose of WWOOF India
To create an interest and understanding for organic and biodynamic ways of living . It does this by producing a list of suitable destinations and making this list available world wide volunteers, thereby encouraging people to travel to other countries and increase their knowledge and understanding of other cultures, peoples and ways of life. We operate on the basis of exchange, board and lodging for help, and so allow our members to accomplish this as economically as possible. The WWOOF India list includes biodynamic and organic farms, small holdings, sustainable land use projects
1. To help organic farmers and increase awareness in the organic movement.
2. To give people the opportunity of being in the country and getting 'hands on' experience of farming and organic production.
3. To make contact with other people in the organic movement
4. To facilitate cultural exchange and sharing and to enable people to travel in a country and get to know the people and culture in a way which is not possible as a tourist.
WWOOF Hosts
Grow food organically, live sustainably and generally try to live a low impact life. If you want to share your knowledge and experience in organic growing, producing organic products and / or experience in more ecological and sustainable methods of living. If can provide healthy meals and a safe, clean place to stay. If you want to open your home to a diverse range of people, locally and internationally then you may like to become a WWOOF host. Start welcoming WWOOFers from all over the world.
WWOOF-India Willing workers on Organic Farms is gradually involving more and more organic farmers from India into WWOOF at present we have more than 150 organic farms spread over 16 states. We provide valuable guidance about marketing of Organic products to new organic farmers due to our vast experience in organic farming and knowledge of Indian organic certification system. Through a team of experts, WWOOF India is also giving consultancy to conventional farmers for conversion towards Organic Farming process. If you are interested to get consultancy regarding organic farming than contact the undersigned about the Consultancy fees and other details . If you are interested in joining WWOOF India as host to get free volunteers for farm related work pls send back the Host form through email
Harish
WWOOF India National Coordinator
website : www.wwoofindia.org
[email]sewak1@rediffmail.com
mobile : 9837240600
About Visa for WWOOFing in India
You are responsible to make your own visa arrangements. We cannot help you get a visa as we do not have capability to do this. WWOOF is not paid work, and WWOOF organizations cannot help you obtain a work visa. Joining WWOOF-India is not a means to getting a visa or work permit. Most people outside India who come WWOOFing use tourist visa. Worldwide Opportunities On Organic Farms India (WWOOF INDIA) facilitates an exchange of culture and education by connecting domestic and international travelers with Indian sustainability-minded hosts throughout the India and its territories. The WWOOFers learn the concept of Vishwa Kutumbh a Hindi word meaning Whole World as one community.
The immigration laws in India that prohibits foreign nationals from "working" in the country without a valid work authorization and visa. Travelers from outside the India utilizing the WWOOF-INDIA network are encouraged to avoid misunderstandings with immigration officials by honestly explaining that you will be visiting a variety of places on the Indian network to learn more about Organic Farming in a practical way by staying in the farm itself . Through this you will also learn about various sustainability movements in many Indian States also and moreover you willingly participate in organic farming learning process.
It is important to note that as further stated ; associated with WWOOF-India are travelers experiencing a wide variety of sustainable living situations and are not "workers" or "working" for wages or other remuneration in India Persons who attempt to "work" in the India without authorization or who wrongly explain their travels in the India through WWOOF-INDIA as "working" for WWOOF –INDIA can be denied entry to the India