Not So Crazy
View Enlarged Photo and CaptionI want to introduce you to the Gerbrachts. A one-time nightclub owner in Germany, Thomas Gerbracht arrived in Weligama 12 years ago and has since become one of the most successful organic farmers in Asia. Together with his wife, Heike, he now heads a company with a $10 million annual turnover that buys certified organic produce from 15,000 smallholders around Sri Lanka and markets it in America and Europe.
He is also a man with a dream. He sees the tsunami not just as a tragic natural catastrophe but also as a unique opportunity to reverse decades-old economic development patterns that have had a devastating impact on the environment. Along with other local businessmen, he has become part of the Weligama relief effort, as reported here. But he doesn't want to simply build new houses for tsunami victims. He wants to turn them into organic farmers.
"A decade ago, people just laughed at me when I said I wanted to do something organic," he says. "But they are now realizing that it isn't such a crazy idea after all. Farmers here have been using so much pesticide and weedicide that you have to use heavier and heavier doses to get any results."
The Gerbrachts are raising funds for the construction of a model village, to be run on organic principles, including the use of a biomass unit to generate electricity from natural waste. Along with new houses, the villagers will also be given plots of land, where they can grow organically certified cashew nuts, pineapples, and other fruits, all of which have a ready market in western countries. (Provided the documentation is in order, it's actually much easier for a Sri Lankan farmer to sell an organic pineapple to the American market than a non-organic pineapple.)
Tom points out that most relief projects have focused on the coast and on the fishermen who suffered the most during the tsunami. The 30 percent of tsunami victims who had nothing to do with fishing have been largely overlooked.
One way to support this project would be for food stores in the U.S. and Europe that purchase organic produce from Sri Lanka to contribute a small portion of their profits to tsunami relief. Modern information technology can help create a much more personal relationship between suppliers and consumers. Through labeling and blogs like this one, it's possible to imagine an American going into a grocery store, buying a bag of cashew nuts and having the satisfaction of knowing that a few cents on the transaction will go to help a tsunami victim-turned-organic farmer in Weligama.
Executives at a big American organic food chain -- I won't name it just yet in case nothing happens -- have expressed some interest in this idea. I will let you know what develops.
-- Michael Dobbs
By washingtonpost.com |
March 15, 2005; 5:00 AM ET
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Posted by: Kristina Stehling | March 17, 2005 10:08 PM
Michael,
Thank you for bringing a very human and personal face to this relief effort. As people here in the USA reacted by raising money and collecting goods to airlift to the Tsunami areas, I kept wondering what was really happening there. Surely the locals were helping out? It seemed we needed to take a longer view to aid than just piles of clothing and rice; we needed to find out what they really needed and wanted. I'm so grateful your brother and other businessmen have willingly and graciously become eyes, ears and efficient conduits for well meaning assistance efforts. Many thanks to you, your family, your brother, and all those involved in this effort. I personally hesitate to give money when it might get siphoned off by corrupt government officials, or relief supplies stolen and put on the black market. Fortunately, lists of reputable agencies were posted online and many of us funneled donations through groups with excellent records for disaster response. However, my heart always goes out to "everyman" the forgotten ones, those too far from the center of the major relief efforts, the ones who just dig in to dig themselves out rather than waiting for handouts. I am ready willing and able to travel (at my own expense) to assist in this effort if a use for volunteers arises and I could help without putting a further burden on scarce local resources. Please let me know if such a situation arises in the course of your efforts. I'm also staying in touch with Habitat for Humanity and a couple of other organizations. Thank you ever so much, once again. Rita
Posted by: Rita Nesel | March 18, 2005 07:01 PM
I think what you are trying to do is wonderful. I think these people could possibly know a world that could be better from such a tragic loss of life.
If I can help in any way, please call on me. I am a retired grandmother from AT&T with way to much time on her hands.
God Bless and when you think of giving up please remember there are people so proud of what you are doing. You do count.
God Bless,
JA Lambert
Oklahoma City
Posted by: Jimmie Ann Lambert | March 19, 2005 05:17 PM
Mr. Dobbs:
I just finished ready your account of an experience that most of us would only have in a bad dream. Tsunami's only happen in scary movies.
I am thankful that you and your family survived, and are now able to look back on that day with combined appreciation of the forces of nature, the abilities of man to overcome nature's most unexpected events, and man's need to survive.
It is too soon to see much positiveness from such a tragedy; however, as time advances, and as each grieving person reconstructs their life, my Faith suggests that through the response offered to others by people like your brother, your family, and yourself, mankind will advance to even greater heights.
God Bless,
Don Scrivner
Belmont, CA
Posted by: Don Scrivner - Belmont, California | March 20, 2005 10:36 PM
To the Dobbs family and all those who have responded.
When the tsunami hit our nation, something remarkable happened in Sri Lanka. The common man/woman in Sri Lanka was helping out even before the politician/bureaucrat got to the scene. Likewise, outside Sri Lanka, it was the ordinary citizen who responded so magnificiently to those affected, not only in Sri Lanka but in Indonesia and other countries.
Unfortunately, your work, wishes and comments are not seen by a majority of the people: affected/unaffected by the tsunami in our country.
On behalf of my countrymen/women; I would like to say thank you for your magnanimity and empathy. I wish to invite each and every one of you to visit our beautiful country and spend your time among these ordinary people.
I wish to make a simple appeal to anyone keen on helping these people. Do not give money! You will make them lazy and corrupt. Please give them tools, machines, techniques and intelligence to build their lives, by themselves. Then, you will be really helping a fellow human being.
May you have the blessings of your religious leaders and their teaching.
Ajit de Silva, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka
Posted by: Ajit de Silva | March 22, 2005 02:51 AM
My Dear Dobbs,
Greetings from NY USA.
I lost four members of my family in that tragic Tsunami hit train trageddy at Telwatte Srilanka.
My wife(39) ,father in law(79),sister in law(39) and a nephew(15).
I am very proud of you being a helping hand to my people.
My both sons Samuel (15) Solomon (10) and my bro in law and his four minor children are a very few miracle surviours.
Hope my children who are presently in Jaffna Srilanka,will join me soon in NY
and looking forward to speak to you in person.
May God bless you abundantly
James A Jeevanantham
102-46 45th Ave,Corona/Flushing,NY 11368
Tel;1-718-672-1708
Posted by: James A Jeevanantham | March 26, 2005 12:57 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
For Michael Dobbs,
after reading your article on the Gerbracht family and their efforts to rebuild lives in Sri Lanka through their belief in setting up organic farms, I would like to get in touch with them. Can you please pass me their contact details ?
Much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Kristina stehling
54 Cambridge Street
London SW1V 4QQ
k_luz@yahoo.com