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written by-T.N Prakash, B A Anil Kaushik |
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Twelve Harvests:Saga of an Organic Transformation |
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Mr Purushottham Rao of Kuruvalli, Thirthahalli, Shimoga district, Karnataka, changed over from conventional to organic farming in 1989. On his farm of about 10 acres Purushottam raises a wide range of crops in a variety of cropping patterns. His cropping pattern is based on the principle: ‘Twelve months - Twelve harvests’. A rich diversity of crops come to harvest during different months (see figure).
In 1988, Purushottam suffered heavy losses owing to strong winds which damaged the arecanut plantation. Reflecting on the possible reasons for this loss he concluded that the application of heavy doses of chemical fertilizers had weakened the stems of the areca palm and rendered them susceptible to wind.
This incident egged him on to search for alternative methods of farming. He started attending meetings and seminars, going through literature and discussing with his peers. In the course of his quest he met Mr Pradeep Tapas from Dharwad, an enlightened organic farmer and an advocate by profession. Tapas introduced him to alternative methods of farming.
Purushottam began to experiment and innovate with remarkable results. Not only did his expenses come down but his yields also increased. For example, his coconut yield surpassed that of other farmers in the area by about 70 to 80 per cent. In the case of paddy, his costs were about 80 per cent lower than that of the other farmers.
Purushottam decided that other farmers also could benefit from organic farming. His efforts in motivating them to experiment with non-chemical technology led to the formation of ‘Krishi Prayog Parivar’ (Family of Farmer Experimenters).
Some of Purushottam’s innovations and practices are described below:
1 Krishi Nivas Kuruvalli compost
Purushottam’s method of preparing compost is as follows:
On a clean and level ground measuring about three square feet, the following materials are placed in layers up to a height of three feet: (i) dried and green leaves and farm wastes (ii) slurry from bio-gas unit (iii) poultry manure (iv) forest soil (v) press mud.
This heap is covered with dried leaves and left to stand in the sun for a month after which about 100 litres of cow urine diluted in 1500 litres of water are sprayed on the heap. The heap is then mixed well and covered with the dried farm waste and left to stand for another 45 days. After this period 10 litres of sour buttermilk, one litre of honey and 10 litres of butter water are diluted with 500 litres of water and sprinkled over the heap. This is done to enhance the bacterial activity and hasten the decomposition process. In order to increase the hormonal activity of the compost, amniotic fluid of cow is added and the heap is left alone for three months. When the compost is ready, one to two baskets (about 10-20 kg) are applied per tree.
2 Manure to heal depleted soils
Purushottam offers a formula for those who may wish to restore the health of soils affected by excess chemical fertilizers. The formula consists of adding 50 kg of cow dung fortified with one kg honey and one kg ‘ghee’ to about one acre of land, for two to three years.
3 Growth stimulant from earthworm castings
A concrete tank (6 ft x 2.5 ft x 2.5 ft) is filled with farm waste, FYM, cow dung, vegetables and household waste. To facilitate proper aeration, broken tiles are placed along the inner lines of the tank. The tank is protected from potential attacks by ants or worms by digging a channel containing water around it. It is also covered with aluminum mesh to prevent rats from entering. About a hundred earthworms of local varieties are added to the tank. When sufficient worm castings are formed, a bucket full of water is sprinkled on the surface every day.The water seeping through the castings and organic waste collects at the bottom from where it is tapped through
an outlet. The water collected in this way (about half a bucket), is used as a liquid manure and growth stimulant.
According to Purushottam, brinjal plants sprayed with this fertilizer attained a height of about 1.2 m within 20 days. The plants developed good foliage
and remained free from pests and disease.
4 Broad spectrum herbal pesticide
Leaves of Lasiosiphon eriocephalus (‘mukkadaka’) or Strychnos nuxvomica (‘kasaraka’) or Azadirachta indica (Neem) or Agave americana are collected in a bucket and 10 litres of boiled water poured on them. Fermentation is allowed for a day. The fermented solution is then kept in sunlight and the leafy residue removed. The solution, after diluting with water in the ratio of 1:10, is used as a pesticidal spray.
5 Herbal growth stimulant
Leaves of Eupatorium or stinging nettle (Tragia hipede) or gliricidia are chopped and crushed together and put in a drum with sufficient water and allowed to stand for 15 days. The mixture is then filtered and the filtrate used as a growth stimulant.
6 Exploiting alleleopathic interactions to prevent fungal disease
Purushottam has started the practice of cultivating amorphophallus plants between rows of arecanut trees. According to him, because of the anti-fungal characteristic of amorphophallus, fungal diseases in arecanut crop can be checked. Last year there were heavy rains in his region providing ideal conditions for ‘koleroga’ disease caused by Phytophthora areca fungus. Almost all the plantations in the area were affected. Purushottam’s plantation was free from the disease.
7 General purpose insecticide
When nuts of ‘casaraka’ tree are crushed and added to coconut milk, the combination becomes highly poisonous. Appropriate concentrations are sprayed on different insect pests.
8 Recipes for specific pest problems
a) Paddy leaf curl: One kilogram agave leaves are steeped in 10 litres of boiling water in a copper container and allowed to stand for 24 hours. The resultant extract is sprayed on the crop.
b) Rhinoceros beetle in Coconut plantation: (i) Two to three tube lights are arranged at different locations in the plantation so that the beetles are attracted to the light instead of the coconut trees during the night. (This also could have deleterious effects in the long term, since many predators of the pests are also attracted to light. Also see Honey Bee 4(1):11, 4(2&3):16, 5(2):17, 5(3):8 and 7(1):8 for other practices from different parts of the world for controlling this beetle. :Ed.) (ii) Neem oil is mixed with honey in equal proportions and sprayed on the apical part of the tree.
9 Organic Vanilla
Purushottam has been cultivating vanilla for the last three years. Vanilla is not a native crop of this area. Once he was in Kundapur when he came to know that a certain farmer was cultivating this crop. Curious to know more about it, he went to the farm, but was disappointed because the farmer did not want to share his information.
Mr. Rao took this up as a challenge and started procuring seedlings of the crop from various sources in Kerala and South Kanara. The cost per seedling ranged from Rs. 25 to 117. Within three years he established about 1000 plants in 2.5 acres (intercropped with coconut and arecanut). The crop is ready for harvest every ten months. Purushottam has been harvesting about 500 gms of vanilla beans per plant. This has added to his income as the price of processed
beans is about Rs 1500 to 2500 per kilogram.
(This is not the end of his experimental journey. For those who believe that non-chemical farming cannot compete with chemical intensive farming, Purushottam Rao’s experiments provide at least a reason for rethinking. :Ed)
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1. Editor, Hittalagida.
2. Agricultural College , Shimoga, Karnataka. |
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee, 7(2):3-4, 1996 |
