The Methi Farmers of Versova

The methi farmers of Versova have been farming on the beaches of Mumbai for over 50 years. Their livelihoods have been at risk due to a city crackdown on their alleged illegal farming activities on public lands. I’ve been photographing these farmers since 2017 because I find their lives and work so fascinating. I also empathize with their plight and hope that my small contribution to documenting them will somehow help in preserving their sustainable farming practices.

Methi farmer watering methi crop.
Methi farmer descending into well to collect water.
Young boy relaxing in a monsoon tidal pool.
Methi farmers planting.
Fresh methi seeds scattered onto plot.
Methi farmers at work.
Methi farmers homes.
Portrait of a methi farmer.
Methi farmers bundling their crop.
Methi farmers at work.
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Methi farmers gathered around a fire at sunrise.
Methi farmers at work.
BMC workers who were clearing methi farming plots in 2020.
Methi farmers in the distance at sunrise.
Methi farmers squatting, awaiting to resume farming in early 2020 after the BMC razed their crops.
Methi farmers at work.
A small methi plot with water barrel and bucket.
Methi farmers at work.
Methi farmers at work.
 

Video

Here are a couple of videos that I’ve taken. As a photographer, I’ve largely been concentrating on stills but I realize that building video documentation of Versova’s methi farmers is important as well. More to come in 2022!

 
 
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