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Discussion
Dear The Organisers of Rainfed farming workshop,
Thanks for giving me opportunity to participate and express my views
during the workshop of rainfed farming.
My few suggestions/views are
1. Rainfed areas need area specific integrated approach for
development. Let us make groups for various areas/states and have
continuous dialogue / experience sharing for planning and execution.
2. Ground water is the most crucial issue for the rainfed areas. Till
date rechagring has not taken momentum and there is least hope from
the users. Electricity policy is equally important role in this
matter. Let us give first priority to this aspect otherwise
desertification will be inevitable in these areas.
3. Even After our full campaign against GM crops, it is going very
popular. The only possible way is just wait for nature justice and
till that time we the awarded people must preserve some elite
varieties of seeds so that it may be used after few years for saving
life of farmer and agriculture.
4. Conservation/ organic/near to nature farming is the only option for
rainfed areas. I proposed (circulated in
Organic Farming in Drylands) some feasible options during the
workshop and pasting here also.
_______________________________________________________
Organic farming in Drylands : Feasible
approach - Possible support
Arun K.Sharma, CAZRI,Jodhpur
arun.k_sharma@yahoo.co.in
Drylands are most potential areas for organic farming as it is a
tradition and edapho-climatic conditions support it . Also for
ecological & economical stability it is becoming imperative. However,
it need a very practical approach that includes:
Simple is sustainable: Organic farming is primarily meant for
sustainable & efficient resource utilization.Therefore, initially it
need to be promoted for soil fertility improvement, pest suppression,
cost reduction, drought mitigation etc. rather giving emphasis on
compliance of complex rules & regulations for certification, big list
of useful microorganisms, rigorous quality control etc. ( See green
leaflet).
Priority shift: NOT paradigm shift : Paradigm shift generally
generates enormous resistance. Practical approach is the priority
shift towards organic in all on going rural development programmes (
e.g. watershed, SGSY etc.). YES ,Paradigm shift is must in MENTALITY (
from exploitive to sustainable) for policy, research and marketing
support to organic. Organic farming should not promoted as NEW
programme.
Spread in Three stage at two level: To nullify the apprehension
about food security with organic farming , it need to be spreaded in
three stages I. in non-edible crops ( e.g. cotton) II. Less necessary
but high chemical used crops ( vegetable, fruit, sugar crops) and III.
Lastly in food grain/pulse crops. Also, organic is a knowledge
intensive system, therefore, for easy adoption and learning, chemical
application should be stopped first at soil level( replaced by organic
inputs and then at plant level.
Attention on “Towards organic”: A large number of farmers in
drylands are doing more than 50-60% organic. Rather insisting them for
100% organic , they can be included in organic programmes and
motivated for gradual shift towards organic.
Restriction and regulation on use of ground water: Exploitation
of ground water for conventional chemical farming of cash crop (
cotton ,sugercane etc.) caused DEBT Dejection Death of farmer and
ultimately desertification of the drylands. Ground water use should be
controlled by some regional level authority and only allowed for
drinking and organic farming ( efficient water use) of high value
crops like spices and medicinal plants.
First Develop supportive system for organic: Before convincing
farmer for stopping use of chemicals, first approach is to make them
habitual of practices that support organic like to stop summer
ploughing, no use of GM crop and to use mulching, hand weeding, crop
rotation, composting etc. Similarly implements need to be develop for
manure application, weeding ,intercropping, etc.
Promote organic as solution for global problems: To get support
of producer-consumer-policy maker, organic must be highlighted as
perfect solution of desertification, water scarcity, global warming
and health problems.
______________________________________________________________
5. Similar to NPM there is urgent need to make soil free form
weedicide/herbicide and hope you will start campaign in next phase.
6. Let us make a discussion forum on related aspect.
Kindly continue dialogue
Regards,
Sincerely,
Arun K. Sharma
CAZRI, Jodhpur
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