Can Organic Farming Feed the World?

1. Yield

switching to organic farming would have different effects according to where in the world you live and how you currently farm. Studies show that the less industrialised world stands to benefit the most. In southern Brazil, maize and wheat yields doubled on farms that changed to green manures and nitrogen fixing leguminous vegetables instead of chemical fertilisers. In Mexico, coffee-growers who chose to move to fully organic production methods saw increases of 50 per cent in the weight of beans they harvested. In fact, in an analysis of more than 286 organic conversions in 57 countries, the average yield increase was found to be an impressive 64 per cent.

The situation is more complex in the industrialised world, where farms are large, intensive facilities, and opinions are divided on how organic yields would compare. Research by the University of Essex in 1999 found that, although yields on US farms that converted to organic initially dropped by between 10 and 15 per cent, they soon recovered, and the farms became more productive than their all-chemical counterparts. In the UK, however, a study by the Elm Farm Research Centre predicted that a national transition to all-organic farming would see cereal, rapeseed and sugar beet yields fall by between 30 and 60 per cent. Even the Soil Association admits that, on average in the UK

So can we hope to feed ourselves organically in the British Isles and Northern Europe? An analysis by former Ecologist editor Simon Fairlie in The Land journal suggests that we can, but only if we are prepared to rethink our diet and farming practices. In Fairlie's scenario, each of the UK's 60 million citizens could have organic cereals, potatoes, sugar, vegetables and fruit, fish, pork, chicken and beef, as well as wool and flax for clothes and biomass crops for heating. To achieve this we'd each have to cut down to around 230g of beef (1/2lb), compared to an average of 630g (11/2lb) today, 252g of pork/bacon, 210g of chicken and just under 4kg (9lb) of dairy produce each week - considerably more than the country enjoyed in 1945. We would probably need to supplement our diet with homegrown vegetables, save our food scraps as livestock feed and reform the sewage system to use our waste as an organic fertilizer

2. Energy

Currently, we use around 10 calories of fossil energy to produce one calorie of food energy. In a fuel-scarce future, which experts think could arrive as early as 2012, such numbers simply won't stack up. Studies by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs over the past three years have shown that, on average, organically grown crops use 25 per cent less energy than their chemical cousins. Certain crops achieve even better reductions, including organic leeks (58 per cent less energy) and broccoli (49 per cent less energy).

When these savings are combined with stringent energy conservation and local distribution and consumption (such as organic box schemes), energy-use dwindles to a fraction of that needed for an intensive, centralised food system. A study by the University of Surrey shows that food from Tolhurst Organic Produce, a smallholding in Berkshire, which supplies 400 households with vegetable boxes, uses 90 per cent less energy than if non-organic produce had been delivered and bought in a supermarket.

Far from being simply 'energy-lite', however, organic farms have the potential to become self-sufficient in energy - or even to become energy exporters. The 'Dream Farm' model, first proposed by Mauritius-born agroscientist George Chan, sees farms feeding manure and waste from livestock and crops into biodigesters, which convert it into a methane-rich gas to be used for creating heat and electricity. The residue from these biodigesters is a crumbly, nutrient-rich fertiliser, which can be spread on soil to increase crop yields or further digested by algae and used as a fish or animal feed.

3. Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change

Despite organic farming's low-energy methods, it is not in reducing demand for power that the techniques stand to make the biggest savings in greenhouse gas emissions. The production of ammonium nitrate fertiliser, which is indispensable to conventional farming, produces vast quantities of nitrous oxide - a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential some 320 times greater than that of CO2. In fact, the production of one tonne of ammonium nitrate creates 6.7 tonnes of greenhouse gases (CO2e), and was responsible for around 10 per cent of all industrial greenhouse gas emissions in Europe in 2003.

The techniques used in organic agriculture to enhance soil fertility in turn encourage crops to develop deeper roots, which increase the amount of organic matter in the soil, locking up carbon underground and keeping it out of the atmosphere. The opposite happens in conventional farming: high quantities of artificially supplied nutrients encourage quick growth and shallow roots. A study published in 1995 in the journal Ecological Applications found that levels of carbon in the soils of organic farms in California were as much as 28 per cent higher as a result. And research by the Rodale Institute shows that if the US were to convert all its corn and soybean fields to organic methods, the amount of carbon that could be stored in the soil would equal 73 per cent of the country's Kyoto targets for CO2 reduction.

Organic farming might also go some way towards salvaging the reputation of the cow, demonised in 2007 as a major source of methane at both ends of its digestive tract. There's no doubt that this is a problem: estimates put global methane emissions from ruminant livestock at around 80 million tonnes a year, equivalent to around two billion tonnes of CO2, or close to the annual CO2 output of Russia and the UK combined. But by changing the pasturage on which animals graze to legumes such as clover or birdsfoot trefoil (often grown anyway by organic farmers to improve soil nitrogen content), scientists at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research believe that methane emissions could be cut dramatically. Because the leguminous foliage is more digestible, bacteria in the cow's gut are less able to turn the fodder into methane. Cows also seem naturally to prefer eating birdsfoot trefoil to ordinary grass.

4. Water use

Agriculture is officially the thirstiest industry on the planet, consuming a staggering 72 per cent of all global freshwater at a time when the UN says 80 per cent of our water supplies are being overexploited. This hasn't always been the case. Traditionally, agricultural crops were restricted to those areas best suited to their physiology, with drought-tolerant species grown in the tropics and water-demanding crops in temperate regions. Global trade throughout the second half of the last century led to a worldwide production of grains dominated by a handful of high-yielding cereal crops, notably wheat, maize and rice. These thirsty cereals - the 'big three' - now account for more than half of the world's plant-based calories and 85 per cent of total grain production.

Organic agriculture is different. Due to its emphasis on healthy soil structure, organic farming avoids many of the problems associated with compaction, erosion, salinisation and soil degradation, which are prevalent in intensive systems. Organic manures and green mulches are applied even before the crop is sown, leading to a process known as 'mineralisation' - literally the fixing of minerals in the soil. Mineralised organic matter, conspicuously absent from synthetic fertilisers, is one of the essential ingredients required physically and chemically to hold water on the land. Organic management also uses crop rotations, undersowing and mixed cropping to provide the soil with near-continuous cover. By contrast, conventional farm soils may be left uncovered for extended periods prior to sowing, and again following the harvest, leaving essential organic matter fully exposed to erosion by rain, wind and sunlight. In the US, a 25-year Rodale Institute experiment on climatic extremes found that, due to improved soil structure, organic systems consistently achieve higher yields during periods both of drought and flooding.

5. Localisation

The globalisation of our food supply, which gives us Peruvian apples in June and Spanish lettuces in February, has seen our food reduced to a commodity in an increasingly volatile global marketplace. Although year-round availability makes for good marketing in the eyes of the biggest retailers, the costs to the environment are immense. Friends of the Earth estimates that the average meal in the UK travels 1,000 miles from plot to plate. In 2005, Defra released a comprehensive report on food miles in the UK, which valued the direct environmental, social and economic costs of food transport in Britain at £9 billion each year. In addition, food transport accounted for more than 30 billion vehicle kilometres, 25 per cent of all HGV journeys and 19 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2002 alone.

The organic movement was born out of a commitment to provide local food for local people, and so it is logical that organic marketing encourages localisation through veg boxes, farm shops and stalls. Between 2005 and 2006, organic sales made through direct marketing outlets such as these increased by 53 per cent, from GBP95 to GBP146 million, more than double the sales growth experienced by the major supermarkets.

As we enter an age of unprecedented food insecurity, it is essential that our consumption reflects not only what is desirable, but also what is ultimately sustainable. While the 'organic' label itself may inevitably be hijacked, 'organic and local' represents a solution with which the global players can simply never compete.

6. Pesticides

It is a shocking testimony to the power of the agrochemical industry that in the 45 years since Rachel Carson published her pesticide warning Silent Spring, the number of commercially available synthetic pesticides has risen from 22 to more than 450.

According to the World Health Organization there are an estimated 20,000 accidental deaths worldwide each year from pesticide exposure and poisoning. More than 31 million kilograms of pesticide were applied to UK crops alone in 2005, 0.5 kilograms for every person in the country. A spiralling dependence on pesticides throughout recent decades has resulted in a catalogue of repercussions, including pest resistance, disease susceptibility, loss of natural biological controls and reduced nutrient-cycling.

Organic farmers, on the other hand, believe that a healthy plant grown in a healthy soil will ultimately be more resistant to pest damage. Organic systems encourage a variety of natural methods to enhance soil and plant health, in turn reducing incidences of pests, weeds and disease.

First and foremost, because organic plants grow comparatively slower than conventional varieties they have thicker cell walls, which provide a tougher natural barrier to pests. Rotations or 'break-crops', which are central to organic production, also provide a physical obstacle to pest and disease lifecycles by removing crops from a given plot for extended periods. Organic systems also rely heavily on a rich agro-ecosystem in which many agricultural pests can be controlled by their natural predators.

Inevitably, however, there are times when pestilence attacks are especially prolonged or virulent, and here permitted pesticides may be used. The use of organic pesticides is heavily regulated and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) requires specific criteria to be met before pesticide applications can be justified. There are in fact only four active ingredients permitted for use on organic crops: copper fungicides, restricted largely to potatoes and occasionally orchards; sulphur, used to control additional elements of fungal diseases; Retenone, a naturally occurring plant extract, and soft soap, derived from potassium soap and used to control aphids. Herbicides are entirely prohibited.

7. Ecosystem impact

Farmland accounts for 70 per cent of UK land mass, making it the single most influential enterprise affecting our wildlife. Incentives offered for intensification under the Common Agricultural Policy are largely responsible for negative ecosystem impacts over recent years. Since 1962, farmland bird numbers have declined by an average of 30 per cent. During the same period more than 192,000 kilometres of hedgerows have been removed, while 45 per cent of our ancient woodland has been converted to cropland.

By contrast, organic farms actively encourage biodiversity in order to maintain soil fertility and aid natural pest control. Mixed farming systems ensure that a diversity of food and nesting sites are available throughout the year, compared with conventional farms where autumn sow crops leave little winter vegetation available. Organic production systems are designed to respect the balance observed in our natural ecosystems. It is widely accepted that controlling or suppressing one element of wildlife, even if it is a pest, will have unpredictable impacts on the rest of the food chain. Instead, organic producers regard a healthy ecosystem as essential to a healthy farm, rather than a barrier to production.

In 2005, a report by English Nature and the RSPB on the impacts of organic farming on biodiversity reviewed more than 70 independent studies of flora, invertebrates, birds and mammals within organic and conventional farming systems. It concluded that biodiversity is enhanced at every level of the food chain under organic management practices, from soil micro-biota right through to farmland birds and the largest mammals.

8. Nutritional benefits

While an all-organic farming system might mean we'd have to make do with slightly less food than we're used to, research shows that we can rest assured it would be better for us. In 2001, a study in the Journal of Complementary Medicine found that organic crops contained higher levels of 21 essential nutrients than their conventionally grown counterparts, including iron, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin C. The organic crops also contained lower levels of nitrates, which can be toxic to the body.

Other studies have found significantly higher levels of vitamins - as well as polyphenols and antioxidants - in organic fruit and veg, all of which are thought to play a role in cancer-prevention within the body. Scientists have also been able to work out why organic farming produces more nutritious food. Avoiding chemical fertiliser reduces nitrates levels in the food; betterquality soil increases the availability of trace minerals, and reduced levels of pesticides mean that the plants' own immune systems grow stronger, producing higher levels of antioxidants. Slower rates of growth also mean that organic food frequently contains higher levels of dry mass, meaning that fruit and vegetables are less pumped up with water and so contain more nutrients by weight than intensively grown crops do.

Milk from organically fed cows has been found to contain higher levels of nutrients in six separate studies, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, all of which can help prevent cancer. One experiment discovered that levels of omega-3 in organic milk were on average 68 per cent higher than in non-organic alternatives. But as well as giving us more of what we do need, organic food can help to give us less of what we don't. In 2000, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that organically produced food had 'lower levels of pesticide and veterinary drug residues' than non-organic did. Although organic farmers are allowed to use antibiotics when absolutely necessary to treat disease, the routine use of the drugs in animal feed - common on intensive livestock farms - is forbidden. This means a shift to organic livestock farming could help tackle problems such as the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

9. Seed-saving

Seeds are not simply a source of food; they are living testimony to more than 10,000 years of agricultural domestication. Tragically, however, they are a resource that has suffered unprecedented neglect. The UN FAO estimates that 75 per cent of the genetic diversity of agricultural crops has been lost over the past 100 years.

Traditionally, farming communities have saved seeds year-on-year, both in order to save costs and to trade with their neighbours. As a result, seed varieties evolved in response to local climatic and seasonal conditions, leading to a wide variety of fruiting times, seed size, appearance and flavour. More importantly, this meant a constant updating process for the seed's genetic resistance to changing climatic conditions, new pests and diseases. By contrast, modern intensive agriculture depends on relatively few crops - only about 150 species are cultivated on any significant scale worldwide. This is the inheritance of the Green Revolution, which in the late 1950s perfected varieties Filial 1, or F1 seed technology, which produced hybrid seeds with specifically desirable genetic qualities. These new high-yield seeds were widely adopted, but because the genetic makeup of hybrid F1 seeds becomes diluted following the first harvest, the manufacturers ensured that farmers return for more seed year on year.

With its emphasis on diversity, organic farming is somewhat cushioned from exploitation on this scale, but even Syngenta, the world's third-largest biotech company, now offers organic seed lines. Although seedsaving is not a prerequisite for organic production, the holistic nature of organics lends itself well to conserving seed. In support of this, the Heritage Seed Library, in Warwickshire, is a collection of more than 800 open-pollinated organic varieties, which have been carefully preserved by gardeners across the country. Although their seeds are not yet commercially available, the Library is at the forefront of addressing the alarming erosion of our agricultural diversity.

Seed-saving and the development of local varieties must become a key component of organic farming, giving crops the potential to evolve in response to what could be rapidly changing climatic conditions. This will help agriculture keeps pace with climate change in the field, rather than in the laboratory.

10. Job creation

There is no doubt British farming is currently in crisis. With an average of 37 farmers leaving the land every day, there are now more prisoners behind bars in the UK than there are farmers in the fields. Although it has been slow, the decline in the rural labour force is a predictable consequence of the industrialisation of agriculture. A mere one per cent of the UK workforce is now employed in land-related enterprises, compared with 35 per cent at the turn of the last century.

The implications of this decline are serious. A skilled agricultural workforce will be essential in order to maintain food security in the coming transition towards a new model of post-fossil fuel farming. Many of these skills have already been eroded through mechanisation and a move towards more specialised and intensive production systems. Organic farming is an exception to these trends.. By its nature, organic production relies on labour-intensive management practices. Smaller, more diverse farming systems require a level of husbandry that is simply uneconomical at any other scale.

Organic crops and livestock also demand specialist knowledge and regular monitoring in the absence of agrochemical controls. According to a 2006 report by the University of Essex, organic farming in the UK provides 32 per cent more jobs per farm than comparable non-organic farms. Interestingly, the report also concluded that the higher employment observed could not be replicated in non-organic farming through initiatives such as local marketing. Instead, the majority (81 per cent) of total employment on organic farms was created by the organic production system itself. The report estimates that 93,000 new jobs would be created if all farming in the UK were to convert to organic.

Organic farming also accounts for more younger employees than any other sector in the industry. The average age of conventional UK farmers is now 56, yet organic farms increasingly attract a younger more enthusiastic workforce, people who view organics as the future of food production. It is for this next generation of farmers that Organic Futures, a campaign group set up by the Soil Association in 2007, is striving to provide a platform

Written by

Ed Hamer is a freelance journalist
Mark Anslow is the Ecologist's senior reporter

Big change in Small farm

Is it possible to lead decent life within half an acre? Is small farming profitable? Is it possible to earn more than one lakh rupees from half an acre? Is it possible to fulfill farmer’s needs from half an acre? Small farmers can prevent global famine? Mr. Gopal says ‘Yes’ to all the above questions. Small farming methods can significantly increase the food production and thus help curb a global food shortage and actual food security.

Gopal is practicing ‘ZERO’ farming. “ZERO farming is a system of farming in which he conducts different types of agricultural practices together, on a single farm in view of increasing his income through different sources”. Last year he earned Rs. 1, 19,650/- from his 18 gunta (it is less than one acre) farm by working two to three hours every day. He is not using single drop of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for the last twenty years. He is planning to convert his farm to no tilling and is already not plowing from the last two years.

Land of Agro-Biodiversity and Revenue

He believes in ‘practicing mixed farming to get better and sustainable yield’. He says another important element is “MY FARM IS LIKE A ATM”, I get income everyday from my farm. He is planning to start growing medicinal plants in the future. Gopal is cultivating various vegetable such as Palak, Cucumber, Tree potato, Sweet Potato, Onion, Curry leaf, Amaranths, Coriander, Fenugreek, Tomato, Brinjal, Dolichas etc, for his family and also for sale. He is also cultivating other crops/trees like Mulberry, Castor, Jasmine, Teak, Melia dubia, Banana, Jack, Mango, Papaya, and Coconut etc in his farm.

Mainly he is cultivating Mulberry, Jasmine and Improved Grass. He is getting 6 to 7 crops out of mulberry, every time he gets 70 to 80 Kg of silkworm cocoons out of 100 to 120 DFL’s (Disease free laying). We can see M5 and V1 mulberry varieties in his farm. He gets Rs. 40,000/- net income from his farm every year from sericulture unit alone.

Another important income source is cattle and improved grass. He has two cows, one is local breed and another one is cross breed. He grows improved grass on bunds and inside the farm where mulberry is not there. He takes grass from the land every day and feds it to the cattle and he gets about 8 liters of milk, which he to the diary. The dairy unit earns him Rs. 3000/- total net revenue in a month.

Third important income source is from Jasmine cultivation, he grows jasmine as one of the important subsidiary crop in his farm. He grows Jasmine on bunds again and the plants yield a kilo every day, which is sold in the local market. There is unique system of flower marketing; there are 30 Jasmine farmers around his farm. Every day one farmer will collect the flowers and take them to the local market, next day another farmer will collect on the rotation basis. This system is followed to save on transport expenses.

Art of land usage

Gopal designed the farm by utilizing every inch of land; he has planted 30 Teak and 32 Melia dubia plants on the border around the fence, then he planted Jasmine and improved grass intra and inter bunds. Inside he planted M5 and V1 variety of mulberry in between these rows he grows various vegetables and medicinal plants. All the farm waste is heaped for 2 to 3 months, in this period the waste is converted to aerobic compost this is then applied through water channel on to the main field.

He collects cattle waste and dumps it in a corner of his farm. Around the compost pit he has planted castor and cucumber creeper; this provides the much needed shade to the pit. He gets partial income from the castor. Last year he got about Rs. 150/- from the sale of three kilos of castor seeds. Cucumber is for home family consumptions.

He and his family leading a decent and firm life through his unique farming technique, anybody can contact him through his cell number – 9663428534. He is also join hands with mobilizing young farmers in around Ramanagara of Karnataka state to work on ZERO farming. They started “Nammora siri” team and this team work around Ramanagara young farmers.

Important merits of ‘Gopal ZERO’ Farming

· It maintains soil health by recycling soil nutrients and allowing the introduction and use of rotations between various crops and forage legumes and trees, or for land to remain fallow and grasses and shrubs to become reestablished

· It maintains soil biodiversity, reduce soil erosion, help to conserve water and it provides suitable habitats for various flora and fauna, including Birds

· It makes the best use of crop residues. When they are not used as feed, stalks may be incorporated directly into the soil, it acts as a nitrogen trap, exacerbating deficiencies.

· It allows intensified farming, with less dependence on natural resources and preserving more biodiversity than would be the case if food demands were to be met by crop and livestock activities undertaken in isolation.

How is Rainfall Measured?

The instrument used to measure the amount of rainfall is called “rain gauge”. In every country meteorological department makes use of rain gauges to keep a record of rainfall at different place. Rainfall is measured in terms of inches or millimeters. There are several types of rain-gauges. A common rain gauge consists of a graduated bottle of glass kept inside a cylinder, made of iron. A funnel is attached to the mouth of the bottle. The mouth of the funnel is 10 times the diameter of the bottle. The instrument is usually placed in open, areas where there is no disturbance on account of trees, buildings etc. The rain water falls into the funnel and is collected in the bottle. Water collected in the bottle measured after every 24 hours. One-tenth of the height of water in the bottle indicates the actual rainfall during the 24 hours. If the bottle of the rain gauge is not graduated, a measuring jar or a narrow measuring stick is used to measure the rainfall. Meteorological department collects the data of rainfall at different places throughout the Year and calculates the average rainfall. These days self recording instruments for rainfall have also been developed. Any place which records a rainfall of less than 50 mm in a year is called a desert. Rainfall is between 10 to 20 inches a year produces some greenery in the area but for agricultural purposes more than 20 inches rainfall per year is essential

Even we can use waste bottles to for measurement of rain, we can keep local made equipments on the terrace, so we can calculate the rain and based on the result plan agriculture activities

Change Makers

Photos taken by me with my camera

BIO-GAS PRODUCTION

Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of bio-fuel. Biogas is produced by anaerobic digestion of biodegradable materials such as biomass, manure, sewage, municipal waste, and plant material. This type of biogas comprises primarily methane and carbon dioxide. Wood-gas is a bi-product, which is created by gasification of wood or other biomass. Gas consists mainly of nitrogen hydrogen and carbon monoxide with trace amounts of methane.

The gases methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be combusted or oxidized with oxygen. Air contains 21% oxygen. This energy release allows bio-gas to be used as a fuel. Bio-gas can be used as a low-cost fuel in any country for any heating purpose, such as cooking. It can also be used in modern waste management facilities where it can be used to run any type of heat engine, to generate either mechanical or electrical power. Bio-gas can be compressed natural gas and used to power motor vehicles. In the UK, for example, it is estimated to have the potential to replace around 17% of vehicle fuel. Bio-gas is a renewable fuel so it qualifies for renewable energy subsidies in some parts of the world.

Jeevamrutha Preparation

Jeevamrutha, popularized by Shri Subhash Palekar and he is well know for ZERO CAPITAL FARMING. It is important to provide a congenial environment to microorganisms that help in making available the essential nutrients for plant growth viz., nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, to the plants. Jeevamrutha provides such an environment to beneficial microbes. Application of Jeevamrutha to soil improves the soil considerably. It also encourages microbial activity in the soil.

Materials for Jeevambrutha

• Water - 200 lts
• Cow dung - 10 Kilo
• Cow Urine - 5 lts
• Jaggery - 2 Kilo
• Flour of any pulse - 2 Kilo
• Soil from same land - one handfuls.

Preparation ofJeevamrutha

Mix all of them and keep them in a shade for 3-4 days. Stir the mixture once a day. Apply the mixture when the ground is wet for the plants. This seems to work wonders for the plants due to increased microbial activity by 3rd and 4th day. This is an excellent culture for enabling the exponential increase of beneficial microbes. The microbes are added thru 2-3 handful of local soil.

Application of Jeevambrutha

Though it can be used even after 6-7 days, its quite a challenge getting near the mixture due to overpowering stench, hence advisable to use this within 3-4 days of preparation.

Panchagavya Preparation

Panchagavya derived from Sanskrit word, It means the blend of five products obtained from cow, All these five products are individually called ‘Gavya’ and collectively termed as ‘Panchagavya’. It contains ghee, milk, curd, cow dung and cow’s urine.

Materials for Panchagavya Preparation

1. Fresh cow dung - 5kg
2. Fresh cow’s urine – 3 liters
3. Cow’s milk – 2 liters
4. Cow’s curd – 2 liters
5. Cow’s ghee – 500 gms or 1 kilo of Castor seeds
6. Jaggery – 500 gms
7. Sugarcane juice - 3 liters
8. Ripe banana fruit - 1 dozen (12 nos.)
9. Tender coconut water – 3 liters
10. toddy or Neera – 2 liters

Method of preparation

Take 5 kgs of fresh cow dung and mix it thoroughly with 500 gms of cow’s ghee and keep it in a plastic drum or a mud pot. It should not be kept in a metal container because it will corrode and react with the metal. Keep the ghee or Crushed Castor seed and the cow dung mixture for 4 days, mixing it twice a day.

On the 5th day add cow’s urine, cow’s milk (cow’s milk can be boiled, cooled and then added) and cow’s curd, then jaggaery with water or sugarcane juice and banana fruit (which has to be mashed and mixed thoroughly.) Then tender coconut water has to be added.

Wait for another 15 days, stirring twice daily. Stirring the contents for about 20 minutes each time facilitates aerobic microbial activity.

On the 19th day the Panchagavya solution will be ready. This solution must be kept under a net, i.e. it must be covered with a muslin or fine cloth so that the common fly cannot sit on it and lay eggs. For use after 19th day, stir the mixture at least once a day to aerate it.

Application

200ml of this solution can be diluted with 10 liters of water with proper stirring for spraying on plants. For soil application, dilute 1000ml in 10 liters of water. Once in 15 days, it can be used for all crops. In winter crops, 1.5-2% usage is sufficient but for all other crops 3% should be used.

ರಾಸಾಯನಿಕ ಮುಕ್ತ ಕೃಷಿ

Is low green­house gas emis­sion (GHG) agri­cul­ture pos­si­ble? Is it, in fact, desir­able? In seek­ing answers to these two basic but extremely rel­e­vant ques­tions, this studyexam­ines cur­rent farm­ing prac­tices and incor­po­rates scientific data­bases fromlong-term field exper­i­ments as case stud­ies for low GHG agri­cul­ture. Fur­ther, the studyexam­ines the changes that will be needed for low green­house gas agri­cul­ture sys­temsto become a real­ity. It also elu­ci­dates the adap­tive capac­ity of agro-ecological farm­ingsys­tem approaches, using organic sys­tem case stud­ies from the scientific lit­er­a­ture.Each year, agri­cul­ture emits 10 to 12 per­cent of the total esti­mated GHG emis­sions,some 5.1 to 6.1 Gt CO2 equiv­a­lents per year. Smith, et al. (2007) and Bel­larby, et al. (2008) have pro­posed mit­i­ga­tion options for GHG emis­sions, finding that both farm­ers and pol­icy–mak­ers will face chal­lenges from the GHG-related changes needed in agri­cul­ture. Areasfor improve­ment include increased use of no-till crop­ping, agro-forestry, and inte­gratedcrop and ani­mal farm­ing, and decreased use of exter­nal inputs in food and agri­cul­ture. Thetech­niques offered by organic agri­cul­ture are valu­able for con­sid­er­a­tion in these efforts.

ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಆರೋಗ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾವಯವ ಗೊಬ್ಬರದ ಬಳಕೆ

“ಮಣ್ಣಿಂದ ಕಾಯ, ಮಣ್ಣಿಂದ ಜೀವ, ಮಣ್ಣ ಬಿಟ್ಟವನಿಗೆ ಆಧಾರವಿಲ್ಲ” ಎಂಬ ದಾಸವಾಣಿ ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಮಹತ್ವವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸುತ್ತದೆ, ಅದೇ ತರಹ “ಇಳೆ ಎಂದರೆ ಬರೀ ಮಣ್ಣಲ್ಲ, ನಮಗೂ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ನೋಡುವ ಕಣ್ಣಿಲ್ಲ” ಎಂದು ಬೇಂದ್ರೆಯವರು ಸಹ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಯಾವುದೇ ನಾಗರಿಕತೆಯ ಅಳಿವು-ಉಳಿವು ಈ ಭೂಮಿ ಮೇಲಿನ ಆರಿಂಚು ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಮೇಲೇ ಆಧರಿಸಿದೆ. ಈ ಭೂಮಿ , ಈ ಮಣ್ಣು ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವ್ಯಾರು ಭೂಮಿಪುತ್ರರಾಗಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ, ಮಣ್ಣಿನಿಂದಲೇ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ಅವಲಂಬಿಸಿ, ಬದುಕಿ ಮಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಹೋಗುವ ಈ ದೇಹ. ಈ ಜೀವನ ಮಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಋಣಿಯಾದರೂ ಸಾಲದೇನೋ !, ಪಂಚಭೂತಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಾದ ಈ ಮಣ್ಣಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಯಾವ ಜೀವಿಯೂ ಜೀವಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ರೈತ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಮಣ್ಣು ಸರ್ವಸ್ವ, ಜೀವನವಿಡೀ ಮಣ್ಣಿನೊಡನೆ ತಮ್ಮ ಬೆವರನ್ನ ಬೆರಸಿ ತಿನ್ನುವ ಅನ್ನವನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸುವ ಇವರಿಗೆ ಭೂಮಿ ಹೆತ್ತ ತಾಯಿಗಿಂತಲೂ ಮಿಗಿಲು. ಮಣ್ಣೆಂದರೆ ಒಂದು ನಿರ್ಜೀವವಾದ ಜಡವಸ್ತುವಲ್ಲ, ಅದೊಂದು ಪೃಥ್ವಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಅವರಿಸಿರುವ ನಿರ್ಜೀವ ವೃತ್ತಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲ, ಬದಲಾಗಿ ಅದೊಂದು ಜೀವ ತುಂಬಿದ ಸಚೇತನ ವಸ್ತು, ಮಣ್ಣು ರಾತ್ರೋರಾತ್ರಿ ಉದ್ಬವವಾದ ವಸ್ತುವಲ್ಲ, ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ ವರುಷಗಳ ಕಾಲ ವಾತಾವರಣದ ಹಲವು ಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿ ಮಾರ್ಪಾಡಾಗಿ ಬಂದಿರುವ ಒಂದು ಸಂಕೀರ್ಣ ವಸ್ತು. ಮಣ್ಣಿನಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಜೀವ ಸತ್ವ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳೇ ನಮಗೆ ಜೀವನಾಧಾರ. ಕೇವಲ ಅಂಗುಲ ಮಣ್ಣು ತಯಾರಾಗಬೇಕಾದರೆ ೩೦೦ - ೫೦೦ ವರ್ಷಗಳೇ ಬೇಕಾಗುತ್ತದೆ, ಆದರೆ ಇಂತಹ ಅಮೂಲ್ಯವಾದ ಮೇಲ್ಮಣ್ಣು ಒಂದರಿಂದ ಎರಡು ವರ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಕೊಚ್ಚಿ ನದಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೂಳಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಸಾವಯವ ಗೊಬ್ಬರದ - ಸ್ವರೂಪ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಯೋಜನಗಳು:

ಸಾವಯವ ಗೊಬ್ಬರದ - ಸ್ವರೂಪ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಯೋಜನಗಳು: ಸಾವಯವ ಗೊಬ್ಬರಗಳನ್ನು ಅವುಗಳ ದೊರೆಯುವ ಮೂಲದ ಆಧಾರದ ಮೇಲೆ ಈ ಕೆಳಗಿನಂತೆ ವಿಂಗಡಿಸಬಹುದು
ಕ್ರ.ಮ ದೊರೆಯುವ ಮೂಲ ಗೊಬ್ಬರ / ವಸ್ತುಗಳು
೧ ಪ್ರಾಣಿ ಮೂಲ ದನದ, ಕತ್ತೆ, ಕುದರೆ ಸಗಣಿ, ಆಡು, , ಕೋಳಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕುರಿ ಹಿಕ್ಕೆ, ಮಾಂಸ, ಚರ್ಮ, ಮೂಳೆ, ತುಪ್ಪಳ ಮತ್ತು ಮೀನು ಗೊಬ್ಬರ
೨ ಸಸ್ಯಮೂಲ ಕಾಡಿನ ತರಗು, ಹಸಿರಲೆ ಗಿಡ-ಮರಗಳು, ಹೊಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳೆದ ಕಳೆ, ಮೇವಿನ ದಂಟು, ಮತ್ತು ಧಾನ್ಯ ಬೆಳೆಗಳ ಉಳಿಕೆ
೩ ಕೃಷಿ ಕೈಗಾರಿಕೆ ಬತ್ತದ, ಮರದ ಹೊಟ್ಟು, ಎಣ್ಣೆ ಬೀಜಗಳ ಹಿಂಡಿ, ನಾರಿನ ಹುಡಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕೆರೆಯ ಹೂಳು
೪ ಜೈವಿಕ ಗೊಬ್ಬರ ರೈಜೋಬಿಯಂ, ಅಜೆತೋಬ್ಯಾಕ್ಟರ್, ಅಕ್ಟಿನೋಮೈಸಿಟ್ಸ್ ಮತ್ತು ಮೈಕೋರಿಜಾ.

ಸಾವಯವ ಗೊಬ್ಬರದ ಪ್ರಯೋಜನಗಳು

• ಎಲ್ಲಾ ವಸ್ತುಗಳು ಶೇ.೧೦೦ ರಷ್ಟು ಸಾವಯವ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗುವುದರಿಂದ ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ತರಹದ ಪೋಷಕಾಂಶಗಲು ದೊರೆಯುತ್ತವೆ
• ಭೂಮಿಯ ರಚನೆ ಉತ್ತಮಗೊಂಡು ಉತ್ಪಾದನ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸುತ್ತದೆ
• ಮಣ್ಣಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಜೈವಿಕ ಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಉತ್ತಮಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ
• ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ - ಸ್ವಲ್ಪವಾಗಿ ಪೋಷಕಾಂಶಗಳು ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಿಗುತ್ತವೆ
• ಸಾವಯವ ಗೊಬ್ಬರ ಬಳಸುವುದರಿಂದ ಪರಿಸರ ಸ್ವಚ್ಛವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ
• ಭೂಮಿಯು ಸಡಿಲಗೊಂಡು ಗಾಳಿ, ನೀರು ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಳಕು ಮಣ್ಣಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸರಾಗವಾಗಿ ಸಂಚರಿಸಲು ಸಹಾಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ
• ನೀರು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಇಂಗಿ ಶೇಖರಣೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ
• ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ರಸಸಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಗನೆ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ ಉಂಟಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಕ್ಷಾರತೆಯನ್ನು ಕಡಿಮೆ ಮಾಡುವುದು

ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಆರೋಗ್ಯವನ್ನು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಕಾಪಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ನಮ್ಮ ಹೊಲದಲ್ಲೇ ಅನೇಕ ವಿವಿಧ ತರಹದ ಗೊಬ್ಬರವನ್ನು ತಯಾರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬಹುದು, ಅವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವುಗಳನ್ನು ಈ ಕೆಳಗೆ ವಿವರಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.

೧. ನಡಾಪ್ ಪದ್ಧತಿ (NADEPP System)

ಈ ವಿಧಾನ ತು೦ಬಾ ಸರಳ, ಪ್ರಥಮದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರು ನಿಲ್ಲದ, ಸದಾ ನೆರಳಿರುವ ಸೂಕ್ತವಾದ ಜಾಗವನ್ನು ಆಯ್ದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯ ಹತ್ತಿರದಲ್ಲೇ ಇದ್ದರೆ ಗಮನಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಅನುಕೂಲ ವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ೯ ಅಡಿ ಉದ್ದ, ೯ ಅಡಿ ಅಗಲ ಮತ್ತು ೫ ಅಡಿ ಎತ್ತರ ಇರುವ ತೊಟ್ಟಿಯನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿ, ಅಳತೆಯನ್ನು ತ್ಯಾಜ್ಯ ವಸ್ತು ಮತ್ತು ಜಾಗದ ಅನುಕೂಲ ನೋಡಿಕೊ೦ಡು ಬದಲಾಯಿಸಬಹುದು. ತೊಟ್ಟಿಯನ್ನು ಕಲ್ಲು ಚಪ್ಪಡಿಯಿ೦ದ, ತೆ೦ಗಿನ ಮರದ ಗರಿಗಳಿ೦ದ ಅಥವಾ ಜೋಳದ ದಟ್ಟುನಿ೦ದ ನೆಡಬಹುದು. ನಮ್ಮ ಪರಿಸರದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದು ಸಿಗತ್ತೊ ಅದನ್ನು ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಬಹುದು. ತೊಟ್ಟಿಯ ತಳಬಾಗಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾವಯವ ವಸ್ತುಗಳಾದ ಜೋಳದ ಕಡ್ಡಿ, ಸುಬಾಬುಲ್ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಸೀಮೆತ೦ಗಡಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಮುಸುಕಿನ ಜೋಳದ ದಟ್ಟು ಇತ್ಯಾದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಒ೦ದು ಅಡಿಯಿ೦ದ ಎರಡು ಅಡಿಗಳವರಗೆ ಹರಡಿ ನ೦ತರ ಸಗಣಿ ನೀರು ಚಿಮಿಕಿಸಬೇಕು, ಅದೇ ರೀತಿ ಮೂರು ಪದರದ೦ತೆ ತೊಟ್ಟಿಯ ತಲೆಭಾಗದವರಿಗೂ ತು೦ಬಬೇಕು, ನ೦ತರ ಅದರ ಮೇಲೆ ಅರ್ಧದಿ೦ದ ಒ೦ದಿ೦ಚು ಎತ್ತರ ಗೋಡುಮಣ್ಣುನ್ನು ಹಾಕಿ ಹುಲ್ಲು, ಎಲೆ ಕಸಕಡ್ಡಿಯನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಸಿ ಒ೦ದು ತಿ೦ಗಳು ಹಾಗೆ ಬಿಡಿ. ವಾರಕ್ಕೊಮ್ಮೆ ನೀರು ಚಿಮುಕಿಸಿ ತೇವಾ೦ಶ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿರುವ೦ತೆ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳ ಬೇಕು, ಮೂರು ತಿ೦ಗಳ ನ೦ತರ ತೊಟ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಕಸ ಕೊಳೆತು ಉತ್ತಮ ಸಾವಯವ ಗೊಬ್ಬರ ಸಿದ್ಧ.

2. ಬುಟ್ಟಿ ಕಾ೦ಪೋಸ್ಟ (Pit Compost)

ಭುಜದೆತ್ತರ ಇರುವ, ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ಚಿಗುರುವ ಗುಣವಿರುವ ಗೊಬ್ಬರದ ಗಿಡ, ಕಾಡು ಮಾವು, ಹಾಳವಾಣ, ಲಕ್ಕಿ, ಸುಬಾಬುಲ್ ಮತ್ತು ಹೊ೦ಗೆ ಗಿಡಗಳ ನೇರವಾದ ಕಡ್ಡಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ. ಸದಾ ನೆರಳಿರುವ, ನೀರು ನಿಲ್ಲದ ಹೊಲದ ಮೂಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿದ ಕೊ೦ಬೆಗಳನ್ನು ವೃತ್ತಾಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಒ೦ದರ ಪಕ್ಕ ಒ೦ದು ಬರುವ೦ತೆ ನೆಡಿ, ವೃತ್ತದ ಒ೦ದು ಬದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬರು ಒಳಹೋಗಿ ಬರುವಷ್ಟು ಜಾಗ ಬಿಡಿ, ಬಿದುರು / ಬಳ್ಳಿಯಿ೦ದ ಕಡ್ಡಿಗಳು ಅಲ್ಲಾಡದ೦ತೆ ಹೆಣೆಯಿರಿ. ಕೃಷಿ ತ್ಯಾಜ್ಯ ವಸ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಬುಟ್ಟಿ ಹೊಳಗೆ ತು೦ಬುತ್ತಾ ಹೋಗಿ, ನ೦ತರ ನೀರು ಚಿಮುಕಿಸಿ, ತೇವ ಆರದ೦ತೆ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ. ನ೦ತರ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ತ್ಯಾಜ್ಯವಸ್ತುವನ್ನು ತಿರುವಿಹಾಕಿ, ಒ೦ದು ತಿ೦ಗಳ ನ೦ತರ ಎರೆಹುಳಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಡಿ, ಮೂರು ತಿ೦ಗಳ ನ೦ತರ ಗೊಬ್ಬರ ಸಿದ್ದ. ಇದು ಅತ್ಯ೦ತ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಕಾಲಾವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಖರ್ಚಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಸಾರಭರಿತ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಗೊಬ್ಬರ ಮಾಡುವ ಸರಳ ವಿಧಾನ.

3. ಜೈವಿಕ ಗೊಬ್ಬರಗಳು (Bio-fertilizers)

ಉಪಯೋಗಿ ಅಣುಜೀವಿಗಳು ಸಸ್ಯಗಳ ಬೆಳೆವಣಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಇಳುವರಿಗೆ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದ ಪೋಷಕಾಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ಒದಗಿಸ್ಮತ್ತವೆ, ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಮಣ್ಣಿನಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಹಲವಾರು ರೋಗಾಣುಗಳ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯನ್ನು ನಿಂಚಿiತ್ರಿಸುತ್ತವೆ/ಕುಂಠಿತಗೊಳಿಸ್ಮತ್ತವೆ. ಬಹುಉಪಯೋಗಿ ಅಣುಜೀವಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಮುಖವಾಗಿ ಮೂರು ವಿಧಗಳಿವೆ ಅವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾರಜನಕ ಸ್ಥಿರೀಕರಿಸುವ, ರಂಜಕವನ್ನು ಕರಗಿಸುವ ಮತ್ತು ಪೋಷಕಾಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ಸಾಗಿಸುವ ವಿಧಗಳುಂಟು.

ರೈಜೋಬಿಯಂ(Rhizobium)

ಇದು ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ಟೀರಿಯ ಜಾತಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿದ ಬಹುಉಪಯೋಗಿ ಅಣುಜೀವಿ, ದ್ವಿದಳ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳ ಬೇರಿನ ಮೇಲಿನ ಗಂಟುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಜೀವಿಸಿ ವಾತಾವರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುವ ಸಾರಜನಕವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಿರೀಕರಿಸಿ ಮಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಸಾರಜನಕ ಅಂಶವನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಮಣ್ಣಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾರಜನಕ ಅಂಶ ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ದೊರೆತು, ಬೆಳೆ ಸಮೃದ್ಧಿಯಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದು ಇಳುವರಿ ಅಧಿಕವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಕೊಡುವ ಸಾರಜನಕವನ್ನು ಶೇಕಡಾ ೨೫ ರಿಂದ ೩೦ ರಷ್ಟು ಕಡಿಮೆ ಗೊಳಿಸಬಹುದು ಅದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಕೃಷಿಯ ಖರ್ಚನ್ನು ತಗ್ಗಿಸಬಹುದು. ರೈಜೋಬಿಯಂ ಪಕ್ಕದ ರೈತ ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ಕೇಂದ್ರ, ಕೃಷಿ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕೃಷಿ ವಿಶ್ವ ವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ದೊರಕುತ್ತದೆ. ತೊಗರಿಗೆ ಜಿ.ಬಿ-೧ (G.B-1), ಕಡಲೆಗೆ ಜಿ.ಆರ್-೨ (G.R-2), ಸೋಯ ಅವರೆಗೆ ಎಸ್.ಬಿ-೧೨೦ (S.B-120) ಮತ್ತು ಶೇಂಗಾಗೆ ಎನ್.ಸಿ-೯೨ (N.C-92) ರೈಜೋಬಿಯಂ ತಳಿಯನ್ನೇ ಬಳಸಬೇಕು. ಮೇಲೆ ಹೇಳಿದ ಬೆಳೆಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ರೈಜೋಬಿಯಂ ತಳಿಯನ್ನ ಬೀಜಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಜೋಪಚಾರ ಪದ್ಧತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಬೇಕು (ಒಂದು ಎಕರೆಗೆ ಶಿಫಾರಸ್ಸು ಮಾಡಿರುವ ಬೀಜಕ್ಕೆ ೨೦೦ ಗ್ರಾಂ)

ಪಿ.ಎಸ್.ಬಿ (Phosphate Solubalising Bacteria)


ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ಟೀರಿಯ ಜಾತಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿದ ಬಹುಉಪಯೋಗಿ ಅಣುಜೀವಿ, ರೈತರು ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ರಂಜಕವನ್ನು ವಿವಿಧ ತರಹದ ರಸಗೊಬ್ಬರಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಮಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟರೂ, ರಸಸಾರವನ್ನು ಅವಲಂಬಿಸಿ ಬೆಳೆಗೆ ಸಿಗದೆ ಮಣ್ಣಿನಲ್ಲೇ ರಂಜಕ ಅಂಶ ಉಳಿಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಕ್ಷಾರತೆ ಅಧಿಕವಾದಲ್ಲಿ ,ರಂಜಕ ಅಂಶ ಮೆಗ್ನಿಷಿಯಂ ಅಥವಾ ಕ್ಯಾಲ್ಸಿಯಂ ಆಗಿ ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆ ಹೊಂದಿ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳಿಗೆ ರಂಜಕದ ಅಂಶ ಸಿಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಪಿ.ಎಸ್.ಬಿ (PSB) ಅಣುಜೀವಿಗಳು ಮಣ್ಣಿನಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಿಗದ ರಂಜಕವನ್ನು ಕರಗಿಸಿ ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ರಂಜಕ ಪೋಷಕಾಂಶವನ್ನ ಸಿಗುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡುವಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಮಾಡುತ್ತವೆ. ಪಿ.ಎಸ್.ಬಿ ಪಕ್ಕದ ರೈತ ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ಕೇಂದ್ರ, ಕೃಷಿ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕೃಷಿ ವಿಶ್ವ ವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ದೊರಕುತ್ತದೆ, ಇದನ್ನು ಬೀಜೋಪಚಾರದ ಮೂಲಕ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಬಹುದು.

ಮೈಕೊರೈಜ (Mychorhiza)


ಇದು ಪರೋಪಕಾರಿ ಶಿಲೀಂದ್ರವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಸಸ್ಯದ ಬೇರುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತದೆ ಇದು ಮಣ್ಣಿನಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಪೋಷಕಾಂಶ ಮತ್ತು ತೇವಾಂಶವನ್ನು ಮೈಕೊರೈಜ ನಾಳದ ಮುಖಾಂತರ ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಿಗುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ ಇದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಮಣ್ಣಿನಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಅನೇಕ ವಿಧದ ರೋಗಾಣುಗಳ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯನ್ನು ಕುಂಠಿತಗೊಳಿಸಿ ಬೆಳೆಯ ಇಳುವರಿಂiಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪಾತ್ರ ವಹಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಕೃಷಿ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯವು ಮೂರು ತಳಿಯನ್ನ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಗೊಳಿಸಿವೆ, ಅವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗ್ಲೊಮಸ್ ಮ್ಯಾಕ್ರೋಕಾರ್ಪಮ್ (Globas macrocarpum), ಗ್ಲೋಬಸ್ ಫಾಸುಕ್ಯುಲೇಟಮ್ (Globas fasukuletum) ಮತ್ತು ಅಕಲೋಸ್ಟೋರ ಲೀವಿಸ್ (Akalostora levis). ಮೈಕೊರೈಜ ಪಕ್ಕದ ರೈತ ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ಕೇಂದ್ರ, ಕೃಷಿ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕೃಷಿ ವಿಶ್ವ ವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ದೊರಕುತ್ತದೆ, ಇದನ್ನು ನಾಟಿ ಮಾಡುವ ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಸಿಮಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಸೇರಿಸಿ (ಪ್ರತಿ ಚದುರ ಮೀಟರ್ ಸಸಿ ಮಡಿಗೆ ಎರಡು ಕೆ.ಜಿ ಮೈಕೊರೈಜ) ಸಸಿಮಡಿಗೆ ಬೀಜ ಬಿತ್ತನೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು, ನಂತರ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಜಮೀನಿಗೆ ನಾಟಿ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು

ಮೀನಿನ ಟಾನಿಕ್

ಬೇಕಾಗುವ ಪದಾರ್ಥಗಳು :
ಹಸಿ ಮೀನು ಒಂದು ಕೆಜಿ ಮತ್ತು ಹುಳಿ ಬೆಲ್ಲ ಅಥವ ಕರಿಬೆಲ್ಲ ಒಂದು ಕೆಜಿ. ಪ್ಲಾಸ್ಟಿಕ್ ಪಾತ್ರೆ. ಅಥವಾ ಬಾಟಲ್
ತಯಾರಿಸುವ ವಿಧಾನ :
ಹಸಿ ಮೀನನ್ನು ಸಣ್ಣ ಸಣ್ಣ ಚೂರುಗಳಾಗಿ ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಪುಡಿ ಮಾಡಿದ ಬೆಲ್ಲವನ್ನು ಮಿಶ್ರ ಮಾಡಿ ಒಂದು ಬಾಟಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಶೇಕರಿಸಿಡಬೇಕು. ಬಾಟಲಿನ ಮುಚ್ಚಳವನ್ನು ಬಿಗಿಯಾಗಿ ಗಾಳಿ ಒಳಗೂ ಹೊರಗೂ ಹೋಗದ ಹಾಗೆ ಮುಚ್ಚಬೇಕು ಪ್ರತಿ ದಿನ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಅಥವಾ ಸಂಜೆ, ಯಾವುದಾದರು ಒಂದು ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವು ಸೆಕೆಂಡ್ಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಬಾಟಲಿ ಮುಚ್ಚಳ ತೆಗೆದು ಹಾಗೇ ಮುಚ್ಚಬೇಕು. ಒಂದು ವಾರದ ನಂತರ ಜೇನು ತುಪ್ಪವನ್ನು ಹೋಲುವ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಟಾನಿಕ್ ತಯಾರಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
ಬಳಸುವ ವಿಧಾನ :
ಒಂದು ಲೀಟರ್ ನೀರಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಚಮಚ ಮೀನಿನ ಟಾನಿಕ್ ಸೇರಿಸಿ ಹೂವಿನ ಗಿಡಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ತರಕಾರಿ ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಿಂಪಡಿಸುವುದು. ತರಕಾರಿ ಬೆಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಪರಿಣಾಮ ಕಾಣಬಹುದು. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ತರಹದ ಬೆಳೆಗಳು ಬಳಸಬಹುದು, ಟಾನಿಕನ್ನು ಹೂ ಬಿಡುವ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಿಂಪರಣೆ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದು. ಇದು ಉತ್ತಮ ಪ್ರಚೋದಕ, ಬೆಳೆ ಅಥವಾ ಗಿಡ-ಮರಗಳು ಸದೃಡವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತೆವೆ.

ಹಾಲು ಉತ್ಪಾದನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಜೋಲ ಪಾತ್ರ

ಅಜೋಲ ನೀರಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಕೆಳವರ್ಗದ ಸಸ್ಯ, ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ನೀರಾವರಿ ಕಾಲುವೆ, ಕೆರೆ ಅಂಗಲ, ಮತ್ತು ಭತ್ತದ ಗದ್ದೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡುಬರುವ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಸಸ್ಯ. ಇದರ ಸಸ್ಯ ವೈಜ್ಗಾನಿಕ ಹೆಸರು ಅಜೋಲ ಪಿನ್ನತ (Azola pinnata) ಮತ್ತು ಇದು ಅಜೋಲೆಸಿ (Azolaceae) ಕುಟುಂಬಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿದ ಕೆಳ ವರ್ಗದ ಸಸ್ಯ. ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಮಳೆ ಬೀಳುವ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇರಳವಾಗಿ ಕಂಡುಬರುವ, ಮಲೆನಾಡಿನ ಸೆರಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮನೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ, ದಾರಿ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಳೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡು ಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಕೆಳ ವರ್ಗದ ಸಸ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಸಾರಜನಕ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರೋಟಿನ ಅಂಶ ಅಧಿಕವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪವೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಪಶು ಆಹಾರದ ಜೋತೆಗೆ ಮಿಶ್ರಣಮಾಡಿ ಕೊಡಬಹುದು. ಅಜೋಲ ದನ-ಕರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಉತ್ತಮ ಆಹಾರ, ಮಲೆ ಅಂಗಲದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸಹ ಬೆಳೆಯಬಹುದು. ಕನಕಪುರ ತಾಲ್ಲುಕು ಮರಳವಾಡಿ ಗ್ರಾಮದ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಗ್ರೀನ್ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾನ ವತಿಯಿಂದ ಸುಮಾರು ರೈತ ವರ್ಗ ತಮ್ಮ ತಮ್ಮ ಜಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನು ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯಿಂದ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ವಿಧಾನ:
ಸುಮಾರು ಮೂರು ಅಡಿ ಅಗಲ, ಒಂದು ಅಡಿ ಆಳ, ಮತ್ತು ಉದ್ದ ನಮಗೆ ಅನುಕೂಲ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ (ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ನೋಡಿಕೊಂಡು) ಗುಂಡಿಯನ್ನು ತೆಗೆಯಬೇಕು ಅಥವಾ ಸಿಮೆಂಟ್ ತೊಟ್ಟಿಯನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬಹುದು. ತೆಗೆದ ಗುಂಡಿ ಅಥವಾ ತೊಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಪ್ಲಾಸ್ಟಿಕ್ ಹಾಳೆಯನ್ನು ಹಾಸಬೇಕು, ನೀರು ಕೆಳಗೆ ಹೋಗದೆ ಹಾಗೆ ಮುನ್ನಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು. ಪ್ಲಾಸ್ಟಿಕ್ ಹಾಳೆಯುನ್ನು ಸುತ್ತಲೂ ಮಣ್ಣು ಮತ್ತು

ಕಲ್ಲಿನಿಂದ ಬಿಗಿಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕು. ಗುಂಡಿ ಅಥವಾ ತೊಟ್ಟಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಚಪ್ಪರವನ್ನು ಹಾಕಬೇಕು, ಇದರಿಂದ ಮಳೆ ನೀರು ಮತ್ತು ಬಿಸಿಲಿನಿಂದ ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಬಹುದು. ಪ್ಲಾಸ್ಟಿಕ್ ಹಾಳೆಯನ್ನು ಹಾಕಿದ ತೊಟ್ಟಿ ಅಥವಾ ಗುಂಡಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಪೂರ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ನೀರು ತುಂಬಬೇಕು ಅದರ ಜೋತೆಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸಗಣಿ (೧ ಕಿ.ಲೊ/ ೨ ಕಿ.ಲೊ) ಮತ್ತು ತಿಳಿ ಮಣ್ಣನ್ನು ನೀರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಕಿ ಕದಡಬೇಕು ಅಥವಾ ಮಿಶ್ರಣ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು, ನಂತರ ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನು ನೀರು ಹಾಕಿದ ತೊಟ್ಟಿ ಅಥವಾ ಗುಂಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಡಬೇಕು. ನೀರು ಕಡಿಮೆಯಾದಂತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ನೀರನ್ನು ಹಾಕುತ್ತಿರಬೇಕು, ನೀರು ಸತತವಾಗಿ ತೊಟ್ಟಿ ಅಥವಾ ಗುಂಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇರಬೇಕು, ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅಜೋಲ ಬೆಳೆಯುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಜೋಲ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ೨೧ ರಿಂದ ೩೦ ದಿನಗಳ ನಂತರ ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದು ಜಾನುವಾರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಕೊಡಬಹುದು.


ಮುನ್ನಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ ಕ್ರಮಗಳು:
೧. ಯಾವಗಲೂ ನೀರು ನಿಲ್ಲುವದರಿಂದ ಸೊಳ್ಳೆಗಳು ಸಂತತಿ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಯಾಗಬಹುದು, ಸೂಕ್ತ ಕ್ರಮದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸೊಳ್ಳೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಾಶಪಡಿಸಬೇಕು
೨. ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನು ಒಂದು ಪ್ರದೇಶದಿಂದ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಪ್ರದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ವರ್ಗಾಯಿಸುವಾಗ ನೀರಿನಲ್ಲೆ ಸಾಗಿಸಬೇಕು
೩. ಹತ್ತು ಅಡಿ ಉದ್ದ, ಮೂರು ಅಡಿ ಅಗಲ ಇರುವ ತೊಟ್ಟಿ/ಗುಂಡಿಯಿಂದ, ಪೂರ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದ ನಂತರ, ದಿನಲೂ ಒಂದು ಚದುರ ಅಡಿ ಜಾಗದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದು ಜಾನುವಾರುಗಳಿಗೆ ತಿನ್ನಿಸಬೇಕು.
೪. ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಗೆ ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನು ತಿನ್ನಿಸಬಾರದು, ಒಂದು ಸಾಮನ್ಯ ಹಸುವಿಗೆ ಎರಡು ಬೊಗಸೆಯಷ್ಟು ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನು ಪಶು ಆಹಾರದ ಜೋತೆಗೆ ತಿನ್ನಿಸಬೇಕು

ಅನೇಕ ರೈತರು ತಮಗೆ ಆದ ಲಾಭವನ್ನು ಮುಕ್ತ ಕಂಠದಿಂದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡುಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ, ಮರಳವಾಡಿಯ ಗ್ರಾಮ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾರಾಯಣ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಎಂಬ ರೈತ ಈ ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನ ಬೆಳೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಈ ರೈತ ಹೇಳುವ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನ ತನ್ನ ಹಸುವಿಗೆ ಕೊಡುವ ಮೊದಲು ಎರಡು ಲೀಟರ್ ಹಾಲು ಕೊಡುತ್ತಿತ್ತು ಆದರೆ, ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಒಂದು ತಿಂಗಳ ನಂತರ ಮೂರು ಲೀಟರ್ ಹಾಲು ಕೊಡಲು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯಿಂದ ಹೇಳಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಜೋಲವನ್ನ ಬೆಳೆಯುವದಕ್ಕೆ ಖರ್ಚು ಸಹ ಕಡಿಮೆ

ಭತ್ತದ ಪೀಡೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಾವಯವ ಪರಿಹಾರ

“ರಾಸಾಯನಿಕ ಗೊಬ್ಬರ, ಕೀಟನಾಶಕ ಎಲ್ಲಿತನಕ - ಸಾಲ ಮಾಡಿ ಸೋತು ಸತ್ತು ಹೊಗೋ ತನಕ -ಸಾವಯವ ಗೊಬ್ಬರ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ತನಕ - ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಶುದ್ಧ ಅನ್ನ ನೀಡೋ ತನಕ, ಅದೇ ಕೊನೆ ತನಕ”. ದುರಂತವೆಂದರೆ, ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಆಳವಾಗಿ ಉಳುಮೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೆವೆ. ಭೂಮಿ ತಾಯಿಗೆ ಹಂತ-ಹಂತವಾಗಿ ವಿಷ ಕೊಡುವುದರ ಮೂಲಕ ಮಲೀನ ಮಾಡುತ್ತದ್ದೇವೆ. ಹೊಲದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಸಾಯನಿಕ ಗೊಬ್ಬರ, ಕೀಟನಾಶಕವನ್ನು ಸಿಂಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೋಟಾನು ಕೋಟಿ ಅಣುಜೀವಿಗಳು ಸತ್ತಿವೆ. ಭತ್ತ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಬೆಳೆ. ನೀರಾವರಿ ಅಚ್ಚು-ಕಟ್ಟು ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿಯಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಭತ್ತಕ್ಕೆ ಕೀಟನಾಶಕದ ಬಳಕೆ ಅಧಿಕವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಹತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಹೊರತು ಪಡಿಸಿದರೆ ಭತ್ತಕ್ಕೆ ಕೀಟನಾಶಕವನ್ನು ಅಧಿಕವಾಗಿ ಬಳಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಕೀಟನಾಶಕ ಬಳಸದೆ ಬೆಳೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಬರುವ ಪೀಡೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿಸಬಹುದು. ಕೆಲವು ಸೂತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ರೈತರಿಂದ ಕಲಿತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಈ ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಸೂತ್ರಗಳು ಅನೇಕ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಅನ್ನದಾತರು ನೆಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದಿರುವ ಸೂತ್ರಗಳು.
ಗೊಣ್ಣೆಹುಳುವಿನ ತೊಂದರೆ ಸಾಮನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಭಾಗದ ರ್ಯತರು ಎದುರುಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಮರಿ ಹುಳುಗಳು ‘ಛಿ’ ಆಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದು. ಬೇರಿನ ಭಾಗವನ್ನು ಕಡಿದು ತಿನ್ನುವುದರಿಂದ ಪೈರುಗಳು ಒಣಗುತ್ತದೆ. ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಇಳುವರಿ ಕುಂಠಿತಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ. ಹತೋಟಿಗೆ ನಾನಾ ತರಹದ ವಿಷವನ್ನು ಬಳಸುವುದುಟ್ಟು ಇವುಗಳ ಹತೋಟಿಗಾಗಿ ಎಕರೆಗೆ ೨೫೦-೩೦೦ ಕೆ.ಜಿ ಬೇವಿನ ಹಿಂಡಿಯನ್ನು ಮಣ್ಣಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆರಸಬೇಕು. ಭೂಮಿ ಹದ ಮಾಡುವಾಗ ಹಿಂಡಿಯನ್ನು ಮಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿಸಬೇಕು. ಗೊಣ್ಣೆಹುಳುವಿನ ಹತೋಟಿ ಜೋತೆಗೆ ಮಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಸಾವಯವ ಅಂಶವನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಸದಂತಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಕಾಂಡ ಕೊರೆಯುವ ಹುಳ - ಮರಿ ಹುಳು ಭತ್ತದ ಕಾಂಡ ಕೊರೆದು ತಿನ್ನುವುದರಿಂದ ಸುಳಿ ಒಣಗುವುದು. ಕೈಯಿಂದ ಒಣ ಸುಳಿಯನ್ನು ಎಳೆದರೆ ಕಿತ್ತು ಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ತೆನೆ ಬಂದ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಳುಗಳು ತೆನೆ ಬುಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊರೆದಾಗ ಕಾಳುಗಳು ಜೊಳ್ಳಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೊಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಳಿ ತೆನೆ ಕಂಡು ಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಬಾದೆಗೊಳಗಾದ ಗಿಡಗಳೂ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವಾಗಲೇ ಬೇರು ಸಮೇತವಾಗಿ ಕಿತ್ತು ನಾಶಪಡಿಸಬೇಕು. ಇದರ ಸ್ವಾಭಾವಿಕ ಶತ್ರುಗಳಾದ ಜೇಡ ಮತ್ತು ಗುಲಗಂಜಿ ಹುಳುಗಳನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಬೇಕು. ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ತೊಂದರೆ ಕಂಡುಬಂದರೆ ‘ಪೂಚಿಮರಂದು’ ಕಷಾಯವನ್ನು ಸಿಂಪಡಿಸಿ ಹತೋಟಿ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು.

ಗರಿ ಸುತ್ತುವ ಹುಳು - ಮರಿ ಹುಳುಗಳು ಎರಡು/ಮೂರು ಗರಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸುತ್ತಿ ಒಳಗಡೆ ಜೀವಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ. ಒಳಗಡೆ ಇದ್ದುಕೊಂಡೆ ಗಿಡದ ಪತ್ರ ಹರಿತ್ತನ್ನು ಕೆರೆದು ತಿನ್ನುತ್ತೇವೆ. ಅಂತಹ ಗರಿಗಳು ಬೆಳ್ಳಗಾಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಗಿಡಗಳ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಕುಂಠಿತವಾಗಿತ್ತವೆ. ಇವುಗಳ ಹತೋಟಿಗಾಗಿ ಶೇ. ೪ರ ಬೇವಿನ ಕಷಾಯ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು.

ಸಸ್ಯಹೇನು - ಸಸಿ ಹಂತದಲ್ಲಿರುವಾಗ ಗರಿ ತುದಿ ಸುತ್ತಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಮತ್ತು ತುದಿಯ ಕಡೆಯಿಂದ ಗರಿ ಒಣಗುವುದು. ಇವುಗಳ ಹತೋಟಿಗಾಗಿ ‘ಶೇ ೪ರ ಬೇವಿನ ಬೀಜದ ಕಷಾಯ’ ಸಿಂಪರಣೆ ಮಾಡುವುದುದರಿಂದ ಇವುಗಳ ಹತೋಟಿ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು.

ಎಲೆ ಸುರುಳಿ ಹುಳುವಿನ ಹತೋಟಿ - ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆಯಿಂದ ಎಲೆ ಸುರುಳಿ (ಟeಚಿಜಿ ಡಿoಟಟeಡಿ) ಹುಳುವಿನ ತೊಂದರೆ ಕಾಣಿಸಿದಾಗ ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆಯನ್ನು ಗದ್ದೆಗೆ ನೀರು ಹೋಗುವ ಕಾಲುವೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿ ಎಕರೆಗೆ ಒಂದು ಚೆಂಬಿನಂತೆ ಬೆಳಗಿನ ವೇಳೆ ಸಣ್ಣಗೆ ಬಿಡಬೇಕು. ಪೈರಿಗೆ ಬೀಳುವ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ತರಹದ ಕೀಟಗಳನ್ನು ನಿವಾರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಸಿಗದಿದ್ದರೆ ಮುಂದಿನ ಪ್ರಯೋಗ ಮಾಡಿ. ಒಂದು ಕೆ.ಜಿ. ಕತ್ತಾಳೆಯನ್ನು ಹಿತ್ತಾಳೆ ಪಾತ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹತ್ತು ಲೀಟರ್ ನೀರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಕಿ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಬೇಯಿಸಿ ನಂತರ ಬಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೋಸಿ. ಸೋಸಿದ ದ್ರಾವಣಕ್ಕೆ ನೂರು ಗ್ರಾಂ ಬೇವಿನ ಪುಡಿ ಹಾಕಿ ಕಲಸಿ ಸಿದ್ಧ ಮಾಡಿ. ನಂತರ ದ್ರಾವಣಕ್ಕೆ ನೀರನ್ನು ಮಿಶ್ರಣ ಮಾಡಿ ಭತ್ತಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಂಪಡಿಸಬೇಕು. ಈ ಪೀಡೆ ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆಗೆ ಮತ್ತೋಂದು ಪರಿಹಾರವಿದೆ. ಕುದಿಯುವ ನೀರಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಕೆ.ಜಿ. ಕತ್ತಾಳೆ ಗಿಡದ ಎಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಕಿ ಒಂದು ದಿನ ಹಾಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಬಿಡಿ. ಮರುದಿನ ಸೋಸಿ ಬರುವ ಮೂಲ ದ್ರಾವಣಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ಅಳತೆಗೆ ಹತ್ತು ಅಳತೆಯಂತೆ ನೀರನ್ನು ಬೆರಸಿ ಸಿಂಪಡಿಸಿ.

ಕಂದು ಜಿಗಿ ಹುಳುಗಳ ಹತೋಟಿಗೆ (brown plant hopper) - ಕಣಗಲೆ (nerium indicum) ಗಿಡದ ಬೀಜಗಳನ್ನು ಒಂದು ರಾತ್ರಿ ನೀರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನೆನಸಿ. ಮರುದಿನ ಸೋಸಿ ಸಮ ಪ್ರಮಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರನ್ನು ಬೆರೆಸಿ ಸಿಂಪಡಿಸಬೇಕು. ಮತ್ತೋಂದು ಪದ್ಧತಿಯಂದರೆ, ಲೋಳೆಸರ ಲೋಳಿಯನ್ನು ದನದ ಗಂಜಲದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಬೆರಸಿ ಸಿಂಪಡಿಸಬೇಕು. ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿಸಿವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಈ ವಿಧಾನವನ್ನು ಬಳಸುವುದುಟ್ಟು. ಎಕ್ಕದ ಎಲೆಯನ್ನು ಭತ್ತದ ಗದ್ದೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಹರಡುವುದು. ಕಹಿ ವಾಸನೆಯಿಂದ ಜಿಗಿ ಹುಳು ಹತ್ತೀರ ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.

ಬೆಂಕಿರೋಗ - ರೈತನ ಕನಸನ್ನು ಸುಟ್ಟು ಬಿಡುವ ಈ ರೋಗ ಶಿಲೀಂದ್ರದಿಂದ ಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ರೋಗ ಬಂದ ಮೇಲೆ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿಸಿವುದು ಅಸಾಧ್ಯ. ಮುಂಜಾಗ್ರತೆವಾಗಿ ಹತೋಟಿಗೆ ಕ್ರಮ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು. ಕವರು ( ಕಾಲು, ಗೌಜ್ಜಲು, ಕುಂಭ ) ಛಿಚಿveಥಿಚಿ ಚಿಡಿboಡಿeಚಿ ಮರದ ಎರಡು ಕೆ.ಜಿ ಚಕ್ಕೆಯನ್ನು ಆಯ್ದು ಕೊಳ್ಳಿ. ಚಕ್ಕೆಯನ್ನು ಗದ್ದೆಯ ಹಾಳೆಗೆ ನೀರು ಹೋಗುವ ಜಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಕಬೇಕು. ಚಕ್ಕೆಯ ಔಷದ ಗುಣ ನೀರಿನ ಮೂಲಕ ಗದ್ದೆಯ ತುಂಬ ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸುವುದು. ಬೆಂಕಿರೋಗ ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿಸಬಹುದು.

ಕಾಂಡ ಕೊರೆಯುವ ಹುಳು - ಹುಳು ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಯ ಕಾಂಡವನ್ನು ಕೊರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಕಾಂಡವನ್ನು ತುಂಡರಿಸಿ ನೆಲಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಳುಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಆಡುಸೋಗೆಯನ್ನು ಭತ್ತದ ಕಾಂಡಕೊರೆತ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಈ ಗಿಡದ ಗೆಲ್ಲುಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಂಗಾರು ಭತ್ತದ ಗದ್ದೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎಳೆದಾಡುವುದರಿಂದ ಶೇ. ೭೦%ರಷ್ಟು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು. ಈ ವಿಧಾನದಿಂದ ಹತೋಟಿಯಾಗದಿಂದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆಣಬಿನ ಬೀಜವನ್ನು ಅಯ್ದು ಕೊಳ್ಳಿ. ಐದು ಕೆ.ಜಿ ಬೀಜಗಳನ್ನು ಹತ್ತು ಲೀಟರ್ ನೀರು ಇರುವ ಬಕೇಟ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ನೆನೆ ಹಾಕಿ. ಒಂದು ರಾತ್ರಿ ನೆನಸಬೇಕು. ದ್ರಾವಣವನ್ನು ಸೊಸಿ ಸಿಂಪರಣೆಗೆ ಬಳಸಬಹುದು. ದ್ರಾವಣದೊಂದಿಗೆ ನೀರನ್ನು ಸಮಪ್ರಮಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆರಸಿ ಬೆಳೆಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಸಿಂಪಡಿಸಿ.

Building resort on the cost of long billed vulture death!

Ramanagara is also known as Closepet, It is also the headquarters of Ramanagara district. It is approximately 50 km southwest of Bangalore. It has an average elevation of 747 meters (2450 feet). The Anna-Thama rock formation on the left and Handi-Gundi betta on the right side of Ramanagara. It is also famous for the huge rocky outcrops. As per the 2001 census, Ramanagara had a population of 79,365. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Ramanagara has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 58%. In Ramanagara, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. Ramanagara is famous for its silk market, one of the biggest in India, giving it the other name of Silk town.

Back ground...

Ramadevara betta has been a home to critically endangered vulture species for a long time. Recently, 15 long billed Vultures were observed (by the Iruliga community) on the ledges of the steep and high rocky cliffs in Ramadevarabetta State Forest. These Vultures, according to the Bombay Natural History Society, appear to be the only known and last surviving population of the species in inland southern India. The survival of this small population of vultures gives hope that its entire population may not have been lost in this part of the country. It is quite possible that this isolated population has been able to resist the effects of agents that have almost decimated the species elsewhere or may not have been exposed to the same.

Long billed Vulture (Gyps indicus), showed a shocking decline over the last one and half decades, vulture populations have dropped by over 90 per cent with population losses of more than 98 per cent reported in many areas. These vultures (three species of Gyps vultures namely, the Oriental White-backed G. bengalensis, Long-billed vulture G. indicus, and Slender-billed G. tenuirostris) are now listed as critically endangered species. This catastrophic decline has been linked to kidney failure, resulting from the use of the anti-inflammatory drug “diclofenac” on domestic livestock. However, the cause of such a colossal loss of vulture population is still being debated.

Threat to vulture...

Big business magnet groups are building resort just close to long billed vulture nesting area. They are taken six acres land to construct resort. District authority of Ramanagara given green signal to build resort with out considering the long billed vulture birds’ life. Vultures are known as scavengers in the ecosystem. Critically endangered long billed vulture leaving happily only on Ramanagara hills in southern India as per the source of Bombay Natural History Society. If they build resort in Ramadevarabetta state forest, we will loose long billed vulture.


Nesting area...

Ramadevarabetta State Forest, spread over 33 Square kilo meter, comprises of three hill complexes, the largest being the Ramadevarabetta complex, with six peaks of varying heights (highest 934 m). This is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre, with a temple on top of the hill and is frequented by devotees from surrounding villages and towns and even distant cities.

Our demands...

Stop constructing resort on the site of long billed vulture habitat even resort is not giving any support or livelihoods to local communities. Ramadevara betta given status of critical habitat for long billed vulture birds

Declare Ramadevara State Forest in to long billed vulture wild life sanctuary, Make separate management plan for long billed vulture conservation.

Make forest rights committee including localities to protect long billed vulture under Forest Rights Act

Stop all illegal activities including de-forestation, poaching, and mining in the Ramadevara state forest, forest department should involve local Iruliga community in the conservation of entire state forest.

Ecological Farming for Better Health

Objectives of the Course
Several city based young people are interested in agricultural initiatives; they want to return to the soil, but find it difficult to adjust with realities of rural life. Moreover, they may not have thought of farming without intensive technology and chemicals. The course on ‘Ecological Farming Training for Better Health’ is excitingly geared to bridge these gaps. Even a city-bred person can learn how to produce food on his own land. And what is wonderful is that this food can be clean and chemical free!

Who is the Course For?
This course will be held for educated, city-based young people with a curiosity and pang for farming. If you are one, you are invited to explore a new world of possibilities while working closely with nature.

Context of the Course
Small and marginal farmers are being pushed to extinction. The current agricultural crisis and the farmers situation in the era of globalization, increasing capitalization of agriculture, chemical intensive and bio-technology oriented farming and implications of soil and water degradation or depletion has serious implications for farmers’ livelihoods. The course will demonstrate the possibilities for survival of the small farm in such a context.

Food is our most basic need, the very stuff of life. As monocultures replace biodiversity crops, farming is transformed from the production of nourishing and diverse foods into the creation of markets for seed company products. At the same time, farmers are being transformed from producers to consumers of corporate-patented agriculture products. To arrest these two worrisome trends in agriculture, a series of short courses on ecological farming training for better health is being proposed by Baduku College of SAMVADA.

It is a two days traininig program, Send your querries, comments about training program to my e-mail address

Millets as Miracle Grains!

Millets need little water for their production, compared to cash crops. Millets and require just around 25% of the rainfall regime demanded by crops such as sugarcane and banana. Thus, they do not burden the state with demands for irrigation or power. Millets are often growing on skeletal soils that are less than 15 cm deep. It does not demand rich soils for their survival and growth. Hence, for the vast dryland area, they are a boon. Millet production is not dependent on the use of synthetic fertilizers. Most millet farmers therefore use farmyard manures and in recent times, household produced biofertilisers. Therefore, they can significantly reduce the huge burden of fertilizer subsidy borne by the government. Grown under traditional methods, no millet attracts any pest. They can be termed as crops. A majority of them are not affected by storage pests either. Therefore, their need for pesticides is close to nil. Thus, they are a great boon to the agricultural environment. Millets are amazing in their nutrition content. Each of the millets is three to five times nutritionally superior to the widely promoted rice and wheat in terms of proteins, minerals and vitamins

Millets as Climate Change Compliant Crops

All these qualities of millet farming system make them the . Climate change portends less rain, more heat, reduced water availability and increased malnutrition. If there is any cropping system that can withstand these challenges, survive and flourish, it is the millet system. It is important to note that with the projected 2 degree celsius temperature rise, wheat might disappear from our midst, since it is an extremely thermal sensitive crop. Similarly, the way rice is grown under standing water makes it a dangerous crop under climate change conditions. Methane emanating from water-drenched rice fields, is a green house gas, that severely threatens our environment. Millets are all-season crops whereas wheat is season specific.

Disappearing Millet system

In spite of all these extraordinary qualities and capacities of millet farming systems, the area under millet production has been shrinking over the last five decades and rapidly, since the Green Revolution period. Between 1966 and 2006, 44% of millet cultivation areas were occupied by other crops signifying an extraordinary loss to India’s food and farming systems. Declining state support in terms of crop loans and crop insurance has significantly contributed to this decline and fall of millets in Indian agriculture. Unless this is halted urgently through a slew of policy and financial incentives,millets might disappear from the agrarian landscape of India over the next fifty years. This will not only be a loss to India’s food and farming systems, but will also prove to be a civilisational and ecological disaster. climate change compliant crops cultivated round the year While wheat and rice might provide only food security, millets produce multiple securities (food, fodder, health, nutrition, livelihood and ecological) making them the crops of agricultural security.

Debate for the month?

Karnataka to enforce cow slaughter ban !

The Karnataka government will enforce a ban on cow slaughter strictly by amending a 1964 act to prohibit the sale and consumption of beef, Home Minister V.S. Acharya said Wednesday.“An amending bill will be introduced in the coming budget session to make cow slaughter, sale of cows and consumption of beef a cognizable offence under a new law,” Acharya told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.

The amending bill will replace the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Prevention Act, 1964. According to section four of the proposed bill, no person shall slaughter or intentionally kill any cattle. The definition of cattle in the bill includes cow, calf, bull, bullock, and buffalo. Section five of the proposed bill prohibits sale, use and possession of beef

The cabinet also decided to enhance punishment with seven years imprisonment and a penalty of Rs.100,000 for serious offences against cows. “The minimum punishment will be one year imprisonment and a fine up to Rs.50,000 for smaller crimes against the domestic animal,” Acharya said. The month-long budget session will commence Feb 25 with an address by state governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj to the joint legislature and the state budget will be presented March 5. In a related development, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) protested against the cow slaughter ban and criticised the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state for hurting the sentiments of Dalits, Muslims and backward classes with an anti-retrograde measure. “Each individual is entitled to his/her own food habits. The government has no right to force people to not consume a particular food,” BSP vice-president N. Mahesh said.

Bt is it Good or Bad?

Bt Brinjal is a transgenic brinjal created out of inserting a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into Brinjal.

This is said to give the Brinjal plant resistance against lepidopteran insects like the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) and Fruit Borer (Helicoverpa armigera). It is reported that upon ingestion of the Bt toxin by the insect, there would be disruption of digestive processes, ultimately resulting in the death of the insect.

In way that quantum of pesticide use is getting comedown, overall farmers will get good and healthy yield.

Most of the scientist says Bt brinjal good for better, with opposite to this, some experts and farmers union says it will disturb the nature.

please comment ..................

Debate for the month?

Every body is saying Sustainable Agriculture practices are the best tool for getting better yield. It allows low external inputs and mainly depends on local resources. My question is Can Sustainable agriculture practices is going to feed existing population hunger? If it is yes explain or if it is no explain.