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Soil without chemicals |
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by Neha Swaminathan | 27-12-2018 00:42
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During one of my past vacations, I came across a nice experience to know about a chemical free village in India. Enabavi, a small village in Warangal district, Andhra Pradesh is an inspirational story for many other villages and farmers this small village is guided by CROPS (Centre for Rural Operations Programmes Society) supported by the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA). Today there are many visitors to this village to learn about sustainable agriculture.
During the seventies, the farmers relied heavily on chemical fertilizers to enrich their soil and they used to spend about Rs.3500 on chemicals per acre. By 1995 problems arose and despite heavy spending, the crop yields failed due to pests. Then came an initiative towards non pesticidal management which is now widely practiced in Andhra Pradesh and other states. The farmers do not spend anything now on chemicals. This village shifted to chemical free farming about 10 years ago.
The farmers here grow cotton, paddy, pulses, chilli, tobacco etc. During 2006, the entire 282 acres in the village were converted to organic farming. The close knit village has social control to ensure the farmers do not err in deviating from their ban on chemicals. The elders in the village teach their children the knowledge and skills of non-chemical farming. The farmers sell their crops directly to consumers and also through a marketing channel called Sahaja Aharam in Hyderabad.
Farmers here use methods like using tank silt, poultry manure, vermi-compost and farm yard manure. They also started to develop their own seeds for many crops. They have set up many self-help groups towards sustainable models of production.
At a time when farmers in other villages are struggling hard to manage their farm income, farmers in Enabavi command good price for their produce. The farmers once in a week transport their vegetables to nearby market where the crops command more price than others since they grow their crops through organic methods. The village has got world-wide attention. International agricultural companies started visiting the village and studying their methods.
The organic farming also resulted in growth of cattle in the village. At present, every family in the village has at least two cows and two buffaloes. They use backyard manure, neem seed, dung, jaggery, surf, lime, tank silt, poultry manure, vermi-compost to prepare fertilizer and pesticides. They set up their own compost manufacturing units in their farms and enrich the soil naturally. |
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7 Comments
Hello, Neha, My friend
Namaste from Nepal, Country of Mt Everest
I wish for your healthy body, peace mind and happy face in coming days, I wish you always can serve for this beautiful earth,
Happy New Year 2019,
In this Year
Donate Red (Blood)
Spread Green (Plants)
Save Blue (Water)
Thank You so much for your report about soil and how chemical is polluting soil, we must stop soil polluting soil.
Keep writing :)
Posted 01-01-2019 17:07
Hello Neha, regardless of methods we use to get crops in farmland, what matters is the number or amount of 'means' used in there. For example, as you mentioned in your report, drastic increase of cattle in restricted farmland can easily bring us fast degradation of soil fertility in short time. It is not just chemical compounds that basically make land get worse and lose its fertility.
All the elements and means that have possibility of affecting soil fertility should be taken into account as one!
Thanks for your report!
Posted 31-12-2018 20:07
Hello Neha
We have depended on chemicals for decades and time has proved that this won't do good to soil conditions in the long term.
And now attention is being concentrated on organic farming and I too believe that this trend should be more supported and spread worldwide.
Great to know about the Enabavi village!
Thanks for the report!
Posted 30-12-2018 00:48
Hey there Neha!
I trust you are well!
I really comment the endeavour Village for the change in the past 10 years. It just goes to show that ancient methods of fertilizing and enriching the soil will always be the correct way of managing and conserving it.
What I find also commendable is how the Elders are teaching there younger generation the methods that they use in order to continuously produce a high yield in crops moreover it shows you that a healthy soil brings about healthy livestock.
This is how a healthy sustainable Village should be conducted where every single member is included in all the decision-making and also making sure that no farmer is put into error. I do hope that the village continues in its healthy agricultural ways in order for other parts of the world to follow suit.
Thank you for your report update as always you bring forth intriguing and insightful reports I cannot wait for your next report update.
Yours sincerely
R.
Posted 29-12-2018 01:15
I didn't know an organic chemical free village existed and in of all countries, India, who has severely polluted places. I really admire how farmers are bestowing and teaching those methods to younger generations who are the key to a sustainable future. It would be cool if other villages or any country farmers who suffer from droughts often like some African countries would learn of those environmental friendly methods and skills.
Thank you for your report ^^
Posted 27-12-2018 18:57
Great report.Neha same sort of things are also used in farming :)
Posted 27-12-2018 10:21
Glad to know about chemical free organic village.
I had read the news about the suicide of farmers in some part of India due to no crop crop production and drought. I hope these activities could reach in those parts also.
One of the fellow ambassador had also posted about the organic farming in arabian countries and in my research after that article, i found that organic agriculture consumes less water. This can be more beneficial in those areas too.
There is ICRISAT (Interenational Crop Research Institute for Sub Arid Tropics ) too. Hope this has been more bebeficial in the context of India too,
Thank you for your report Neha.
Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year and keep writing great reports :) :)
Posted 27-12-2018 03:52