Nine members of the Chorao Farmers Club attended the 3rd Biennial Conference of the Organic Farmers Association of India (OFAI). This conference was held on the farm of Shri Sarvadaman Patel (also the President of OFAI), who has been practicing Biodynamic farming on his 40-acre farm near Anand, in Gujarat.
Sarvadaman-bhai takes visitors around his biodynamic farm
Conference hall created within a bamboo grove
The conference was held over a 3-day period and covered both lectures as well as practical demonstrations that helped farmers exchange ideas and learn new techniques in a hands-on manner. Topics covered included the impact of climate change on agriculture, the role of organic farming in the context of changing climate, pest management, making growth promoters etc.
Interactive session on pest-management
Besides the conference, there was also an exhibition area where farmers had stalls and were able to exchange or sell their products, seeds and demonstrate new techniqies too. Our farmers set up a stall and sold our locally available seeds as well as farm-produce.
Chorao Farmers Club's Stall at the "Pradarshani"
Since we were near Anand, we ensured that we visited the Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) Factory. Here we saw their museum that documents the growth and history of AMUL. We also saw the plants that make the various Amul products.
The Chorao Farmers Club moved into its new office in Chodan village on August 21st, 2010.
We became the first farmers club in Goa to set up our own office, and we will use this facility as a point of interaction with our members, clients, for storage of equipment and produce and for conducting training programs and other events.
Inauguration of Chorao Farmers Club Office
The inauguration was done by Dr. N.P. Singh (Director ICAR), Mr. Satish Tendulkar (Director of Agriculture) and Mr. Arun Shandilya (GM NABARD Goa) all of whom have been instrumental in supporting the Club in various activities.
According to Mr Arun Sandilya, “The Chorao example is a good model for the other farmers clubs in Goa, many of which are either not functioning regularly, or are only recently formed”.
At this event our Club members also outlined their ‘Vision for 2015′ which will serve as a reference for all our initiatives over the next 5 years. Read our Vision 2015.
Currently our office hours are:
Tuesdays – 10 AM to 12 PM and 4PM to 6PM AND Sundays – 10 AM to 12 PM and 4PM to 6PM
Our Club organised a half-day workshop where farmers met up with experts from the Government to understand where and how we can use Government schemes, funds, subsidies that are meant to give a boost to agriculture in the state.
Mr. Mahambare, Amancio Fernandes, Orlando Rodrigues, Vishram Gaonkar, Mr. Hoble and Mr. Joshi
An overview of Government Schemes was provided by our Zonal Agricultural Officer, Mr. Hoble. His presentation can be viewed here.
Mr. Vishram Gaonkar from the ICAR, provided insights on growing and caring for mango trees. His presentation provides more details.
Amanciao Fernandes from the Dpt. of Agriculture highlighted the importance of the Jalakunda Scheme and how it could be relevant for farmers with hilly tracts of land.
Orlando Rodrigues from the Horticulture Corporation of Goa outlined schemes from the Corporation that farmers growing vegetables could use.
Posted in Events on 24. Mar, 2010
We visited Bhooshan Nabar’s mango orchard in Vengurla yesterday (22nd March) to understand how mangoes are made ready for the market once harvested. Below are photos from the visit.
Bhooshan Nabar (foreground) and Sajjan with the mango orchard in the background
Nabar prefers to keep the undergrowth in check for fear of fires during the dry months
Alphonso tree laden with fruit
Because the trees have been regularly pruned, they are short and bear fruit so low that you could crouch under the branches and pluck them. Walli takes a moment to capture some photos
Pheromone traps are a simple and effective way to attract and trap insects that may damage the mangoes. Similar pheromone traps are available at the ZAO's office or even at Ela Farm in Old Goa.
Mango trees need looking after. Nabar digs a ring around the base of the tree at a distance of approximately 30 feet from the trunk. This ring is used to fertilise the tree. He uses bonemeal, dolomite (lime with Calcium and Magnesium), cow-dung and rock-phosphate. Keeping the ring mulched helps retain moisture.
Mangoes being harvested
Freshly harvested mangoes
Nabar shows us his new plantation (3 years old). A bore-well and a drip irrigation system ensures that the trees get the water the need. The land is rocky and undulating, much like portions of land on our island of Chorao. No reason why we can't make similar plantations on our lands
(From left to right) Kalangutkar, Santosh, Mahambare, Walli, Sajjan, Nabar, Abreu (back), Arjun, Ramesh (back), Prava
Premanand Mahamabre felicitated by Ministry of Agriculture
Premanand Mahambare, the current President of our Club was among the 101 small and marginal farmers felicitated at the hands of the Union Minister for Agriculture, Shri Sharad Pawar, on the 26th of February 2010.
The Ministry of Agriculture has brought out a coffee table book titled “Harvest of Hope” that documents the role of small and marginal farmers in keeping the wheels of agriculture turning in India. 101 farmers from across the length and breadth of the country were identified and felicitated by the Minister at a function held at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi.
Needless to say, the Club is proud of his achievements.
Read the official press release about the event here.
And more about the book and event here.
Posted in Events on 17. Feb, 2010
On the 16th of February NABARD conducted its annual State Credit Seminar. At this seminar NABARD outlines its plans for the coming financial year.
Like last year, members of the Chorao Farmers Club were asked to make a presentation of our activities. Presentations included experience sharing from the Club’s President, the Branch Manager of the Central Bank (to which we are linked) and from TERI (the organisation which we work with).
(click here for TERI’s presentation [PDF- 4.3MB] )
Following the presentation, officers from NABARD, the Central Bank Regional and Branch Office visited the Farmers Club. Discussions with the 11-Member Committee were followed by a visit to farms nearby where some farmers are involved in an experiment on growing exotic vegetables (broccoli, Chinese cabbage and capsicum).
NABARD and Central Bank officials visit Madel Fields
