My name is Iniya Nandakumar, and I co-founded Mann Nalam, one of the only youth-led organizations in the world dedicated to supporting organic farmers across South India.

“Mann Nalam” means the well-being of the soil in Tamil. And right now, the soil and the farmers who depend on it are in crisis.

Across South India, small-scale farmers face rising debt, climate instability, and the pressures of industrial agriculture. Many are forced to rely on cheap chemical fertilizers and corporate supply chains that damage their land and trap them in cycles of debt. Devastatingly, research shows how this has consequently led to increased suicidal rates among farmers. Every single day, 30 farmers commit suicide.

This is not just a statistic to me. My grandparents are farmers, and I have witnessed firsthand the uncertainty and the debt burdens.

So a group of students from the U.S. and India created Mann Nalam to change that.

We are partnered with Saroma Foundation, a grassroots organization connected with over 8,000 farmers across South India. Together, we are:

• Establishing organic community gardens

• Providing sustainable farming infrastructure, including tools and hands-on training

• Advocating for farmers through demonstrations

• Mobilizing diaspora communities in the U.S. to fund long-term agricultural sustainability

So far, we have:

• Raised over $400 at community events across DFW

• Mobilized over 1,000 farmers in advocacy efforts

• Distributed 200+ native seeds for free to individuals

• Begun the process of securing 501(c)(3) designation in the U.S. and FCRA approval in India

But we need more support.

Your contribution will directly fund:

• Seeds and starter kits for community gardens

• Farming tools and irrigation support

• Soil restoration efforts

• Educational workshops for farmers

• Infrastructure for long-term organic cultivation

Even $25 can supply seeds for multiple families.

$100 can support essential tools for a small farmer.

Larger donations can help establish entire community garden systems that sustain villages for years to come.

If you believe in supporting our farmers, we invite you to stand with us.

Let’s grow something that lasts.