Over the last two and an half years, the Chorao Farmers Club has been trying to research, through practical experience, different models of farming (crops and methods) to arrive at more sustainable models for agriculture in Chorao (Goa).
As a part of this process we decided to visit Wardha, where we had heard local farmers practice a model of mixed farming (called swavalmbhi sheti) that produces about 30 crops in just one hectare of land despite low water availability. This meets their grains, pulses, vegetables, oil and fibre requirements which was extremely interesting to our members Namita, Gita, Shilan, Sunita and Pallavi.
Seeing is believing - 30 crops from 1 Ha in one season
The visit to Chetna Vikas in Gopuri village in Wardha was organised by Miguel Braganza of OFAI and funded through TERI and the Toyota Foundation.
Subhash Sharma explains the benefits of contour planting
We also visited a commercially successful large scale farm (owned by Mr. Subhash Sharma) to study the practices employed there and collected seeds that we plan to use for a similar experiment by our farmers in Chorao this winter season.
In a joint program with the Department of Agriculture, the Chorao Farmers Club has transplanted over 7 Ha of paddy in Chodan and Madel villages using our newly acquired mechanical paddy transplanter.
This is the first large scale initiative using mechanical transplanting methods — and is being undertaken as a solution to labour unavailability and costs in several villages across Goa.
Mechanical paddy transplanter being used in Chodan village
In this project — managed by our own project managers Namita Khandeparkar (Madel) and Gita Uskaikar (Chodan) — the nursery was prepared centrally (by Gita Uskaikar and the Department of Agriculture) and then used in the transplanting activity for the fields of 28 participating farmers.
Our farmers felt that this was more convenient and affordable than their current model because of the unreliability of agricultural labour. These experiments shall continue in subsequent seasons so we can evaluate the impact and benefits of these methods over the long term.
Several of us have had a problem with our Capsicum crop, as well as the local varieties of chillies that we grow.
The Problem: Leaves of the capsicum plan seem to be shriveling up and are not growing in size.
Shriveled up leaves of Capsicum
The diagnosis: Scientists from the KVK visited the farms where this seemed to be a problem. They suggest that this is a problem of fungal attack as well as that of white flies.
Dr. Prabhu and Dr. Rajnarayan visit affected farms
They also suspect that due to very high moisture levels (because of a low water table) and excessive watering the fungal attack was seen more in low-lying and not so much in upland areas.
Solutions: There were a couple of approaches taken to try and address the issue:
Sprinkle the following
- wood/burnt cow-dung ash on the plants
- a solution of burnt cow-dung ash in water (soaked for 24 hrs)
- a neem-based water solution (though this was found to also contain the chemical epichlorohydrin )
It remains to be seen which of the above has been most effective.
Samiksha sprays her chilly crop with neem-based insecticide
Despite attack, Capsicum seems to be growing well in some pockets
As a follow-up from our Workshop on Growing Exotic Vegetables in Goa (conducted in September this year), ICAR’s Program Coordinator, Dr. Rajnarayan demonstrated the setting up of a vegetable nursery for broccoli, capsicum and Chinese cabbage, on the 30th of November, 2009
Beds are made, approximately 1 meter wide. They can be as long a desired
A clear walking path between two beds is important to access beds on both sides. Vermicompost and well-decomposed cow-dung are mixed into the beds
The compost and dung are worked into the soil and large, hard chunks of soil are either broken down or removed so that the bed is fine and powdery. Using a stick, furrows are made along the with the of the bed, leaving a gap of approximately 5cm or as wide as four-fingers
Seeds are sprinkled in a straight line into the furrows
Farmers giving a hand at sowing seeds into the furrows. Once seeds are sown, the furrows look like in the photo above (right)
After sowing seeds, sprinkle a thin layer of soil and compsot mix on the seeds (traditionally, several women simply take a stick and mix the soil around in a random manner, thereby sending the seeds under a few layers of soil. Namita brings in the hay that will be used to mulch the beds
Straw is then used to cover the beds (mulch) to keep the seeds warm and allow them to germinate. The straw can be removed as soon as the seeds are seen to sprout.
The beds are then watered. Farmers are adept in using their hands to create a light sprinkle (else the seeds will scatter); Sometimes a water can is recommended for a similar effect
Given the stray-cattle menace in Goa, it is advisable to ensure cattle cannot reacht he beds, otherwise the tender shoots will make for tasty meals! Using sticks and branches, a fence is made to secure the beds.
Agriculture in Goa has taken a backseat in terms of a way of life as well as a means of livelihood. High levels of urbanization, education and family incomes and a rapidly developing real estate market, coupled with high labour costs are some of the factors that seem to propel farmers away from their land towards white-collar jobs in cities. Despite various government schemes, assistance from relevant departments and engagement of banks it has been difficult to revive interest in agriculture in the state.
In order to address the problem of high labour costs and increasing difficulty in getting labour, the Club has decided to undertake an experiment with mechanisation, supported by NABARD, KVK, Dpt. of Agriculture and TERI. At the end of this experiment we want to be able to decide whether mechanisation is the way forward or not.
The aim of this experiment is to compare costs and yields from four different planting methods i.e.
- Broadcasting of seeds (scattering seeds in the field)
- Manual transplanting of 18-21day old seedling from a nursery
- Drum seeder
- 8-Row mechanical transplanter
The variety of rice used for this purpose is Revati.
We plan to take a plot of land and divide it into 4 equal parts, one for each method. Plant the paddy as per each of the 4 methods above and track costs associated with it (labour, time, machinery hired etc…) and eventually compare yields.
For techniques 1 & 3 raising a nursery is not required, though paddy seeds need to be pre-soaked for a minimum of 24-36 hours.
For techniques 2 & 4 raising a nursery is imperative. For manual transplantation a regular nursery is planted. For the mechanical transplanter, a Dapog nursery (portable nursery – a Philippine method introduced in India) is planted.
At present, the site has been selected for the experiment. The nurseries have been planted. Transplantation has been planned in the next 17-18 days.
Updates with photos will shortly follow.
