Diversity faming in Dry land

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------           In Karnataka, number of farmers tried with cultivating multiple horticultural crops in sterile lands and got economic gain with satisfaction.  The success stories of these farmers can be considered as a model, during the present period, where farming community is disappearing. These farmers stand unique, where the majority of farmers are with mono crop mindset. According to these successful farmers, adaptation of organic farming systems with diversified crops with minimum capital, selecting suitable crop variety which suits to the local climatic conditions and sustained effort in developing crops are the main factors for transforming sterile lands into GREENER LIVING FARMS.

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Four years back, it was a sterile or fallow land with pebbles.  Now it has been transformed into a living farm, with greener pasture occupied with diversified plants and trees.  The melody of birds and biodiversity have added value to this farm. 

This is the success story of 65 years old Panchaksharayya Rudradevara Matha from Budapanahalli of Ranebennur taluk.  At this age, with a strong belief in transforming the barren land, he has shown to the world that nothing is impossible. His farm, once a sterile land is now transformed into a greener farm.  He says mixed or diversified cropping system is the main factor for sustained income.  Under this system, he says, one can get employment for a longer period with income also.

Experiment with multiple cropping:

He was a science graduate.  He opted to do farming than approaching a dependable.  He shared with his friend and well – wisher. Mr. Shivanandappa of Haveri that he owns 10 acres of barren land with pebbles and nothing is grown there.   Mr. Shivanandappa encouraged him to adopt Sustainable Horticulture Farming by providing technical information. 

That was the beginning towards attaining satisfaction in farming for this farmer.  Today he is a successful farmer with rich experience in developing dry land horticultural crops.  Many farmers who has witnessed his enormous growth in developing dry land, now approaches his for suggestion.   He listens to them completely and then provides consultation to them.  He advices them to consider farming as a religion and to attain spirituality in farming.  He says sustainable farming is based on the spiritual aspects in farming and that is the base for any activity related to farming.  He also provides information on native medicine or traditional medicine.  During his discourses, he talks about spiritual farming systems and on religion also.  He gives conceptual clarity to farmers who approach him and providing services to the mother earth.

He did not give prominence to agricultural crops, like others, but focussed on developing horticulture crops like Guava, Sapota, Lemon, Mango and Curry leaves.  He has adopted multiple cropping system in his farm and growing agricultural crops also.  He has not faced any type of labour problem for his horticulture crops.  If care is taken to horticulture crops during the first four years, he says, there will be a sustained income from these crops for the next 30 – 40 years.  Hence, he has given prominence to horticulture crops.  He has introduced drip irrigation to utilise water judiciously.

Twice a year, he applies organic manure to the base of each plant.  He is applying Farmyard manure since the beginning.  He purchased the tree saplings developed with tissue culture, from a known source.  He has transplanted them with a scientific approach and applied Neem cake and farmyard manure to each pit.  Later he transplanted the saplings.

In his 10 acres sterile land, with sustainable horticulture crops, he made profit and also satisfied with the yield.  The 10 acres land is with 160 Guava trees, 38 lemon trees, 30 curry plants, 170 Sapota trees, 25 mango trees.  In half an acre land, he has cultivated fodder crops and has grown cowpea in another half an acre.  Along with Sapota, he grows Chilly, Greens, Onion and cowpea under mixed cropping systems.  He has planted wild variety of trees on the border of the farm land.  He has not chopped these naturally grown trees.  He says trees are in tune with farming system and more trees in a farm support farming to sustain for a longer period.  

Income from multiple cropping:

Since last three years, he got Rs.38,000/- as income from Guava trees.  From curry leaves, he got Rs.30,000/- income.  He says, till now, there is no income from Sapota and Lemon trees.  But from this year onwards, income can be expected from Lemon and Curry.  He gets required pulses and grains for his Green matha from that land only.  From this, provides an income to the tune of 5,000/-.

He initiated multiple cropping system four years back.  Earlier there was no income from this land.  But now, the land is stable to provide income of Rs. 60,000/- per year.  By next four years,  the same land will yield an assured income of Rs. 1,00,000/- per year.  The timely application of organic inputs like manures and medicine has not stopped.  If there is any problem with pests or diseases, he approaches technical experts for suggestion.

Healthy native treatment:

He is giving native medicine to those who approaches him for treatment.  He treats the normal ailments like fever, white discharge, cold, skin related diseases etc with native medicine.  He do not charge for treatment.  If the patients are willing to give, he asks them to put the money to the HUNDI. 

Future steps:

To reach more people among farming community and preaching spirituality in farming, providing information on income generating horticulture crops, rearing native breed of cows, serving organic food to the devotees of the matha, orienting rural youth on sustainable agriculture,  growing more trees etc.