M. J. PRABU
Biogas is one of the components of low input
sustainable practice. Photo: Special Arrangement
About 35 per cent of external input cost
seems to have been reduced
The main objective of technology-based
agriculture must be to reduce input cost while increasing the yield,
particularly for small and marginal farmers.
Agriculture scientists would like farmers to
realise that reduction of chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides can benefit
both man and earth over the long run. Farmers in particular would stand to gain
as a major portion of their money is spent on buying these chemicals.
The focus, they believe, must shift to
educating farmers on the value of waste matter being generated in both their
fields and homes, and availability of technologies to convert waste into
wealth. Their farm economics will definitely improve if they realise and adopt
this.
It is precisely on these lines that
scientists at the Myrada Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Gobichettipalayam, in Erode,
Tamil Nadu have beenworking for the past several years in implementing a
project called IFD (Integrated farm development model). Also called as LESA
(LowExternal Input Sustainable Agriculture), the project is at present
operational in about 32 villages in Erode district.
Designed well
According to P. Alagesan, Programme
Coordinator, IFD is an innovative model especially designed for small-scale
farmers for improving farm productivity in a sustainable manner by recycling
farm and home wastes.
“The main concept of IFD is to integrate the
animal and human wastes into useful and productive components for the
manufacture of vermicompost, pest repellents and biogas, thereby reducing input
cost for farmers,” he says.
For example, in villages, the urine and dung
from cattle are usually washed into a drain or the dung is collected, dried and
used as cooking fuel.
“But our IFD farmers collect the urine and
dung in a collection tank and use it for generating biogas and manufacturing
bio growth promoters such as Panchagavya and Amirtha karaisal, and to make bio
pest-repellants,” explains Mr. Alagesan.
Breeding earthworms
The spent slurry from the biogas plant is
used for making high quality manure by adding other farm wastes to it, and can
also be used for breeding earthworms.
“To ensure food and fodder security, our
research team has been conducting several programmes to emphasise the
importance of kitchengardens.
The size of the kitchen garden depends on the
family size and income (usually 2-5 cents). A limited supply of water
channelled through a low cost micro-irrigation system ensures a good harvest,”
he elaborates. High yielding green fodder varieties are also grown in these
gardens to provide fodder for animals. By growing these fodder varieties,the
cost of buying feed has come down by nearly 12 per cent, according to Mr.
Alagesan.
Technology must be farmer friendly, and IFD
farmers have been trained in scientific storage of harvested produce. The
farmers store theirharvested grains in special grain structures called ‘pucca
koti' (in Hindi) and metal bins.
These storage structures have been able to
minimise grain loss by nearly 20 per cent, and also protect the harvested
produce from pestand pathogenic infestations.
Finally, the waste generated from the
farmer's family is also not wasted. An eco-san toilet has been designedto
collect the faeces and urine separately.
The faeces is covered with wood ash after
collection and it falls into a soil pit and decomposes into a rich nutrient
which can be safelyused as manure.
The urine is separately channelled to the
kitchen garden where it seeps into the earth to nourish the plants.Studies
conducted in these villages have shown that about 35 per cent of external input
cost has been reduced by effective utilisation offarm and home wastes.
Forest regeneration
Use of biogas (2 cubic metre capacity has the
potential to save about 210 kg of fuel wood per month) has also brought down
firewood consumption. In a village called M.P. Doddi, about nine tonnes of fuel
wood in a month has been saved, having a direct impact on regeneration of
forest area around the region.
Respiratory problems commonly encountered by
the rural women in smoky kitchens have largely been minimised.UNICEF has
identified this as an innovative model and has planned to replicate it in other
parts of the country.
For more information readers can contact: Mr.
P.Alagesan, Programme Coordinator, Myrada Krishi Vigyan Kendra, No: 57 -
Bharathi Street,Gobichettipalayam - 638 452, Erode District, Tamil Nadu,
e-mail: myradakvk@dataone.in, website: www.myradakvk.org, mobile: 09443897654,
Phone : 04285 226694 and 226695.
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