Usually it is regarded that using increased amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides results in higher output and this directly translated into higher income for the farmers. The government also encourages the farmers to resort to this sort of scientific agriculture but the science of this is just confined to the heavy infusion of fertilizers and pesticides. It for such reasons that farmer suicides have become a common phenomenon in areas like Vidarbha, Punjab, Andhara Pradesh and U.P. Also, another dangerous fallout of this kind of heavy use of chemicals is that it renders poisonous the food grains, vegetables, water and milk by getting into the food chain. All this has put human lives in danger and incidences of heart attack, blood pressure, diabetes etc. are ever on the rise in India. The chemical content of hazardous and life threatening elements has increased so much in our food that it has turned into slow poison. Due to such farming pattern the fertility of the soil too has been destroyed. It is so as such a heavy use of chemicals renders the fertility to artificially depend only upon chemical compounds. Resultantly, the chemical and physical characteristics of the soil have been altered and there is an increasing depletion of the humus content of the soil.
The moot question that arises is that whether or not there is a viable alternative to such farming method? Yes, there is and the answer is ‘organic-farming’. The advantages of this new way of farming are many and tangible. Vermicompost has led to increased soil fertility. This way of farming is cost effective because the raw materials required are readily available to the farmer as they are all in-house. The farmer has easy access to dung for compost fertilizer and the leftover of the grains and fruits and vegetables like the leaves etc. provide for other kinds of healthy and natural fertilizers. The Red Wigglers (Eisenia foetida) provides for good quality organic fertilizer. Vermi-compost is beneficial for the land in many ways, including as a soil conditioner, a fertilizer, addition of vital humus or humic acids, and as a natural pesticide for soil. It does not harm the soil or pollute the water table. Organic farming is low cost and gives healthy grains which are not harmful. The Morarka Foundation has done commendable work ion encouraging and popularizing such new experiments in agriculture and in almost all states, including Rajasthan , large number of farmers have benefitted by associating with the foundation. The foundation has been engaged in giving training regarding production of organic fertilizers from dung and worms, pesticides in the form of vermiwash and herbal spray (from turmeric, cow urine, neem (Azadirachta indica) and garlic). The Chauthi Duniya team surveyed some areas where organic farming has spread its roots and tried to separate the grain from the chaff about the matter so that the experience could be shared with the other farmers of the country and they too can benefit. Such misinformation has been spread that organic farming leads to lower output but this is only half the real picture and only malicious in intent. The real time experience of farmers with organic farming says something entirely different. According to the farmers the output decreases only in the first year and that to only marginally, about 10%, and thereafter, increases tremendously. The food grains produced by the organic method have higher market value and thus it fetches, according to the farmers, Rs. 200 more per quintal. One such farmer, Omprakash, narrates that conventional farming with chemical compounds inflates the price of production and suppresses the real income of the farmers. On the other hand organic farming being cost effective fetches higher returns. His income has gone up by about 50%.
HOW TO MAKE
VERMICOMPOST: it is a kind of organic fertilizer. For the apparatus, a platform of 10 feet by 3 feet is constructed under a tree or under some other shade. The platform is kept about 1.5 feet above the ground and it is perforated. The platform is covered with a couple of inches of earth and over it about six inches of green grass and straw. Over and above it is added about six inches thick layer of dung and it is strewn with dry earth. According to the scientists, 500 worms must be released in an area of one cubic meter. In one measure of vermicompost about one and a half kilos of worms are released. In about two months, the organic fertilizer is ready. In one unit of this, approximately three quintals of vermicompost can be prepared. Vermin compost is highly rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potash.
VERMIWASH: it is prepared from the urine of the earthworms. It is a strong and effective pesticide. For preparing it, an earthen vessel is taken and a small hole is drilled at the bottom. The vessel is filled with sand, soil, pebbles and dung and water is poured over this. In this mixture 200-300 earthworms are added and the hole at the bottom is closed. After 30 days the sealed hole is opened and what comes out is vermiwash and is collected in another vessel. This can be used for any and all types of produce.
LIQUID FERTILIZER: dung is used to prepare liquid fertilizer. For preparing this kind of organic fertilizer, a big drum is filled with water and such bio-degradable matter is added as, dung of all the animals, their urine, fish and other vegetable matter that is usually considered waste (like fallen leaves etc.). In about a month liquid fertilizer is ready and it can be used mixed with 40-45 litres of water for one hectare.
HERBAL SPRAY: in an earthen vessel/pot filled with water, neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves, seeds and turmeric and garlic are added. It can be used after some days and it is an effective insecticide and pesticide.
