Report on
training programme conducted for farmers on
Improved
Agriculture Practices
Date:
13th
March, 2007,
Venue:
MDG Information Resource Centre, Dungarpur,
Time:
10.30 am to 6.00 pm
Resource
persons:
Dr. BS Bhimawat, Chief Scientist, KVK, Dungarpur, Dr. RR Meena,
Asstt. Professor, KVK, Dungarpur, Dr. RH Meena, Asstt.
Professor, KVK, Dungarpur, Mr. KS Tanwar, VIKSAT, Dungarpur
Participants:
26 Farmers from Dewal Khas, Pal Dewal, Kherwada Sidri, Kanba,
Hathai, Nokna, Nalwada and Sarthoona
There were 6
women farmers among the participants.
This was a
one-day training programme for farmers to inform them about
the improved agriculture practices. The programme had
theoretical session in the first half while field
demonstration in the second half.
The programme
began with the formal welcome of the Resource Persons and
introduction of participants and resource persons. Dr.
Bhimawat was first to address the participants. He talked
about the need and advantages of using good quality seeds in
agriculture. He also informed about some of the improved
varieties of most commonly grown crops in the area.
In order to keep
in line with the basic objective of the project on creating
awareness about MDGs among various stakeholders, leaflets
giving information on each MDG and role of an individual in
the process of achieving them were distributed among the
participants. Mr. KS Tanwar then explained the evolution of
the concept of MDG, India’s ratification and the UNDP
supported project on Localising MDGs in Dungarpur. The
participants were divided among 8 groups and made to play a
game of jigsaw puzzle. Each group was given colourful pieces
depicting the symbol of one MDG on one side and some basic
information related to that MDG on the other side. The
participants found the idea of arranging jigsaw puzzle very
interesting and participated enthusiastically. They even
continued to arrange the pieces of puzzle during break. Some
of the farmers took an initiative and even tried to learn
about the matter on the puzzle given to the other group.
Dr. RR Meena
then talked about importance of soil testing, procedure and
expenses involved in soil testing and advantages of practicing
horticulture on their farm. He said that typically for small
land holdings which is common in the region, growing fruits,
vegetables and flowers is viable and would prove to be
economically attractive also. Dr. RH Meena was next to speak.
He provided detailed guidance on benefits of vermicompost over
conventional fertilizer use, method of preparation of compost
and usage. He also informed that the farmers could avail seed
worms from KVK if they want to prepare compost for their
farms.
The session was
interactive as the farmers asked a number of questions. They
found the training very useful as quite a few topics discussed
during the session were new for them. For example, how the
production could be improved by purchasing standard, branded
seeds and latest varieties of high-yielding seeds were not
known to them.
In the
post-lunch session, farmers were taken to Falauj Farm of KVK
located 17 kms from Dungarpur. The farmers saw vermicompost
beds prepared by the KVK. They were shown how the bed is to be
prepared, what care needs to be taken, how the temperature and
moisture condition is to be maintained within the bed and how
to judge that compost is ready. The farmers were also shown
greenhouse developed by the KVK. They were explained its
functioning and its advantages. They could observe the
difference between certain vegetables (corriander, tomato,
eggplant) grown outside and that within a greenhouse. Due to
the cost involved with the construction of greenhouse its use
would be economical only when it is used for growing costly
and/or rare plant species. It could be used for floriculture
or for nursery. The farmers were also taken round the farm to
show various horticultural species grown. They were explained
that the quality of soil on the farm was very poor compared to
that in any of the village from where participants had come.
Despite that if such plants could be grown on the Farm, the
farmers should definitely try them out on their farms. They
were also demonstrated the method of grafting in certain
horticultural species. They were explained how grafting can
enhance the quality and yield of their existing fruit-bearing
species.
Lastly, the
farmers were shown the laboratory set up for producing
biodiesel using karanj, mahua and jetropha seeds. They were
explained how biodiesel is expected to revolutionize liquid
fuel and were suggested to think of growing such species on
their land. The farmers found the field visit quite
informative.
At the end,
farmers were taken to the Bharat Nirman Abhiyan which was
going on in the village Falauj. They visited various stalls
put up by various Central, State and District departments and
also by a few NGOs. VIKSAT had also put up a stall
specifically displaying the Localising MDGs project supported
by UNDP.
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