World Premiere of the Documentary – A T M Any Time Money at CESS Hyderabad 28th July 2025
Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion on Natural Farming – A Path Forward
Organised by the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention, University of Edinburgh
Hyderabad, July 28, 2025.
The world premiere of A.T.M – Any Time Money, a compelling film on natural farming and the future of soil health, was screened on the 28th July 2025, at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad. The event, co-organised by the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) and the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention (CPSP), University of Edinburgh, was followed by a dynamic panel discussion on the future of natural farming.
The film highlights the transformative journey of farmers in Andhra Pradesh who are embracing natural farming to restore soil health and combat climate change. Through powerful narratives from farmers, experts, and students, it showcases how this chemical-free, nature-aligned approach offers a sustainable solution for food security. The film poses a critical question: Where will our food come from in 25 years? It emphasises the vital role of soil, which stores approximately 2,500 billion tonnes of carbon—more than all the world’s forests combined. By working in harmony with the land, these farmers are revitalising ecosystems and championing a movement to safeguard the planet for future generations.
The screening was followed by an engaging panel discussion on Natural Farming: The Way Forward, addressing the urgent need for a transition in Indian agriculture.
Key challenges discussed included sustaining natural resources, adapting to climate change, ensuring farmer livelihoods, and providing safe, healthy food for consumers. The panel underscored that this transition requires collective action from farmers, consumers, and policymakers.
Key Insights from the Panel Discussion:
Sri Kodand Reddy, Chairperson, Telangana State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission, highlighted the adverse effects of high chemical use on farmers, farm workers, and food safety. He stressed that expecting farmers alone to bear the risks of transitioning to natural farming is insufficient. Consumers must support fair pricing, and governments should provide subsidies and policies on par with conventional farming. He also noted the influence of central policies, such as MSP procurement, fertiliser subsidies, and export-import decisions, on farmers’ choices.
Dr. Shaik N Meera, Director, ATARI, Hyderabad, emphasised the growing acceptance of agroecological transitions within institutions like ICAR, though the pace of implementation varies. He highlighted the importance of certification and branding to unlock better market opportunities and underscored Telangana’s potential to lead in fruit and vegetable production, particularly around Hyderabad.
Dr. Divya Veluguri, Program Director, Deccan Development Society, shared insights from her research on natural farming in Andhra Pradesh. She emphasised the critical role of resource augmentation and the need to support women farmers and labourers, who make significant contributions to the movement.
Dr. GV Ramanjaneyulu, Executive Director, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, discussed the interconnected economic and ecological crises in agriculture. He stressed that meaningful change at the farmer level requires supportive markets and policies that align with sustainable practices.
Ms Heshani Sothiraj Eddleston, Producer and Director of the A.T.M documentary, reflected on the motivations behind the film. She shared that the documentary was conceived as a platform to highlight the transformative potential of natural farming practices across Andhra Pradesh. The film was shaped to draw attention to the deep interconnections between soil health, ecological farming methods, and community resilience. A strong emphasis was also placed on women’s empowerment, as the film foregrounds the vital yet often unacknowledged role women play in leading natural farming initiatives and rebuilding agrarian systems. Through personal narratives, the restoration of degraded lands and the revival of traditional, sustainable agricultural practices were brought into focus. She also emphasised that for natural farming and soil regeneration to be scalable, they must be supported through enabling policies, adequate resources, and a long-term vision.
Sri Kodand Reddy, Chairperson, Telangana State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission, highlighted the adverse effects of high chemical use on farmers, farm workers, and food safety. He stressed that expecting farmers alone to bear the risks of transitioning to natural farming is insufficient. Consumers must support fair pricing, and governments should provide subsidies and policies on par with conventional farming. He also noted the influence of central policies, such as MSP procurement, fertiliser subsidies, and export-import decisions, on farmers’ choices.
Dr. Shaik N Meera, Director, ATARI, Hyderabad, emphasised the growing acceptance of agroecological transitions within institutions like ICAR, though the pace of implementation varies. He highlighted the importance of certification and branding to unlock better market opportunities and underscored Telangana’s potential to lead in fruit and vegetable production, particularly around Hyderabad.
Dr. Divya Veluguri, Program Director, Deccan Development Society, shared insights from her research on natural farming in Andhra Pradesh. She emphasised the critical role of resource augmentation and the need to support women farmers and labourers, who make significant contributions to the movement.
Dr. GV Ramanjaneyulu, Executive Director, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, discussed the interconnected economic and ecological crises in agriculture. He stressed that meaningful change at the farmer level requires supportive markets and policies that align with sustainable practices.
Ms Heshani Sothiraj Eddleston, Producer and Director of the A.T.M documentary, reflected on the motivations behind the film. She shared that the documentary was conceived as a platform to highlight the transformative potential of natural farming practices across Andhra Pradesh. The film was shaped to draw attention to the deep interconnections between soil health, ecological farming methods, and community resilience. A strong emphasis was also placed on women’s empowerment, as the film foregrounds the vital yet often unacknowledged role women play in leading natural farming initiatives and rebuilding agrarian systems. Through personal narratives, the restoration of degraded lands and the revival of traditional, sustainable agricultural practices were brought into focus. She also emphasised that for natural farming and soil regeneration to be scalable, they must be supported through enabling policies, adequate resources, and a long-term vision.The event concluded with a resolution to organise a strategic planning meeting to advance natural farming in Telangana, involving key stakeholders. The meeting was also attended by notable figures, including Dr. Michael Eddleston, Director of the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention (CPSP), as well as Ms. Dhannya V S, Mr. Bhawesh Jha, and Ms. Mounika Bhukya, representing the CPSP team.