Agroecology is the need of the time where farmer tries to understand the nature of the farm. He himself tries to adopt some nature friendly activities. Hedaawaadi is one of those where he plants trees like mango, Tic-wood, mahuwa, neem, gova (jam), Jamun, ber, kher, badam, anwala, babul, leman, behada etc. These are the multi-users trees. Many farmers are turning to this practice. This is because they want to utilize the available land in food production. They want to protect the trees that are already on the boundaries of the field, giving shadow, fruits, firewood etc. The leaves fallen from the trees are decomposed into manure to be used in the field.
The very concept of Hedaawaadi is the natural practice of the farmers of the area but because someone in blue moon came and introduced the idea of “Waadi”. Every tribal family love to have plants on the boundaries of the field. Pragati picked up this traditional and communities’ own practice and had many discussions with community for the promotion of this. They agreed and put into practice. The initial talk with individual and with groups motivated many farmers and they began to make necessary arrangement for the promotion and adaptation. Organization through donor provided plants as incentive to promote their plan of action. Now situation is that community members themselves started digging pit for the plant and asking the cluster coordinators for technical assistance like distance between the plants, type of plants, its’ variety, whether hybrid or traditional one etc.
Organization had community interaction for the promotion of this activity. List is made and plants are sorted out. So far 1200 pits are dug for plantation. It was also noted that all the family members are involved in this activity. This is an indication for the approval of sustainability aspect with regard to Hedaawaadi activity. Community members began digging the pits in the month of June onwards and few even May months too. It was very interesting to see Mr. Vanaben who by self took a lead, identified the place for the plantation motivated even siblings and children for the plantation. There is tremendous zeal seen and even observed among the community members.
Selection of Model farmers-Model creation is one of the ways to create an interest among the community members for quality seed production and for demonstration for other to adopt that activity in the time to come. This encourages them to take a lead if one wants to achieve final result. This process has impressed community in general and individual in particulars.
Staff made regular visits in their respective area. They made keen observation on the interested farmers and guided them for better results if fields are made ready and quality seed is chosen for cultivation.In this process organization collected quality seed of the maize and given to the 18 farmers in the Jeevika area along with the organic manure. The process of sowing was that farmers has to put organic manure first and then to put the seed. Purpose is that as the seed start sprouting the roots would get immediately the needed nutrient for growth. Growth of the plants would be healthier. This was a new way for them. Older farmers were happy to see and made other to do it for the quality seed generation. At manpura village around 10 people came and helped Mr. Mukesh in sowing the maize seed. Children were very keen in watching and doing the farm work. This demonstration educated around 15 community members at a time. This process would be monitored and growth would be documented at the interval of 8 days each. The progress would be noted and photographs would be taken. Such demonstration would lead to healthy and quality production, less attack of insects to the plants and this process is cost effective in future. Here the health of the soil is increased.
Small seed cultivation process-Cultivation practice is undergoing many changes in the modern world. Machines are often being used in agriculture these days. This leads to market economy and leads to cash cropping pattern. Which is good but this practice is costly in reality. This is also called as industrial farming. It very fast harms the soil.Climate change is becoming big issue these days. Delay in rains is causing problem in cultivation. But interestingly the small farmer though are worried for livelihood but those who are used to with the practice of small seed cultivation are happy because they do not need much rains to come in their field for production. Small seed cultivation starts only mid august. Small crop need only one or two rains and that also not very heavy. It grows in less rain. There is no insect attach on it.According to Dr. Oliver De Schutter,’ small-scale farmers can double food production within 10 years using ecological methods. He further says, Agriculture must be redirected to environmentally sound, socially just production methods to address the food and energy crises, hunger, poverty and climate change. Farmers would be the best promoter of clean environment if organic practice is adopted. Climate friendly cultivation is the adoption of traditional seed cultivation. At least 150 farmers have adopted small seed cultivation this in Jeevika area. This has begun in the very small way. Farmers have sown 50grams to 5 kgs of small seed this year. These seed would be preserved for the next year after the harvesting is over and would sue next year in the larger way.
Follow-up of MNREGA Pathashala-Staff members are visiting the Jeevika area on daily basis. Visits are made on the basis of planning. Organization has set up pathashala for the community where they come and get the necessary information on panchayet level programs and activities. This is place where community sits together and shares the information. Staff visited Pathashala and checked the available materials there. Community is ready the news paper and the krishak dut magazine.
Model farmers’ details-Selection of model farmers was going on since long. Staffs were continuously monitoring farmers during community meetings and house visits. They observed and made situation analysis of each of them and then only they were selected.
I am Mangilal Charel. I have agreed to cultivate maize seed given by organization. There are 7 members in my family. I have 8 bighas of land. This is only livelihood option I have. I am from Sagawani village. I associated with organization from October 2012 and got information about the organization and Jeevika project. I had taken part in the launching program at Meghnagar. I had cultivated cotton. Maize, rice last year. I attended meeting organized by Pragati. I had even gone for an exposure last year. There I was instructed about plantation and low cost cultivation practices.
This year I have decided to cultivate small seed like kuri, bhadali, bawato and vegetables as well. I have a wormy pit and cattle shed. I am getting organic manure now.
Sunil Vesta Ninama is from hamir faliya. He is very cooperative. He is regular for the meeting at the village level and even informs the community about it. He even writes report at times when needed. He is involved in the program from the very beginning. I have acquired knowledge and information from the meetings I attended time to time. Land which I have is sloppy and stony. I have planted maize, udad, groundnut, small seed and vegetables. Pragati staffs make regular visit to our area and guides us. Recently we participated into a rally for the promotion of traditional seed. This has created a great impact on the community. Youth found very interested in seeing the traditional small seed and came to know its utilization. His house is close to anganwadi at Hamirfaliya.
Mr. Kalsing Singadiya is from Devaka village having 10 bighas of land and there are 7 members in the family. Family believes in family farming. I have participated in the meetings organized by the organization. I did not realized that there are natural resources available around me but I did not care for. Now the time has come to revisit and re-do with all we have. I am cultivating maize, udad, tuwar, kuri, bawato, bhadali, guwargum and seasonal vegetables.
Mrs. Vana Singadiya from Devaka Panchayet is associated with Pragati and had attended meetings arranged by organization. She is very active women, very happy in doing the work both in the field and at house work. She and her husband both together dug the pits for plantation. She got constructed the wormy pit and even started getting manure from it. There is an open well close to the house and close it she is planning the plantation and there is wormy pit closer. I am rearing cattle which are an asset for my family. My family is very cooperative. We work together for the livelihood and also now adopting the small seed cultivation pattern which was lost since years and a time has come to begin it again.
Mr. Walsing is from Rojiya, having 7 bihgas of land. He has an open well, 7 cattle. He used to cultivate the small seed when he was a boy. Now am 60 plus. I have decided to lead the younger generation for low cost agriculture practice. I will guide the households close to my house. On every rainy season I begin sowing the seeds and then sons takes over. I am happy that Pragati is reorienting the community with what was lost. This year the rain has come late but unfortunately we do not have much of the small seed with us. We got 50-100 grams of seed which may produce 1-2kgs or more and this would be sufficient for the next year cultivation. We will preserve it in a safe place and use next year.
Mrs. Manna Damore is from Hamirfaliya has 7 bighs of land. There are 8 members in the
family. Mrs. Manna has participated in the meetings arranged by organization and had gone for exposure last year. It took long time for her to understand the process but she is now ready. She is cultivating maize, tuwar, udad, groundnut, small seed and vegetables. There is anganwadi (sub-anganwadi) close to her house.
Mr. Mukesh khadiya from Manpura village, having around 8 bighas of land. They are five members in the family. Mukesh believes in family farming. This is clear from a photograph where even neighbors came to see the new process and even all participated in the making demonstration field while sowing the maize seed. Mukesh used to cultivate even today cash crop like chili (mirchi), tomato, soyabean, cotton etc. He participated in the Jeevika meetings arranged at his faliya, anganwadi. He willingly came forward for having a demonstration field. He is ready to give field for more demonstration especially for the cultivation of small seed.
Mr. Simon Narsing Damore is from chotajulwaniya, having 7 members in the family. He has 10 bighas of land. He is cultivating soyabean, cotton, maize, tuwar, udad, jwar, mung, kodra and vegetables. Maize is the main food of the community. Families cultivate it for the consumption.
Mr. Ditta Dalsing of Thetham village is very keen in community mobilizing programs. He participated in community awareness programs a number of time. He does agriculture but what strike him most was the importance of ‘KODRA’. Family use to cultivate some 25 years back but had left for there was easy available of fodder from the market. He request for seed. Organization provided seed. He was to have that seed and did the sowing. This crop is very good for health. This increases strength and increase blood in the body. This need to be promoted for it will reduce malnutrition issue in the area.
BY JEEVIKA Pragati Jhabua team
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