Organic Farming
The present day agriculture is more of mono-culturing mind. The available subsidy is only for the cost intensive external inputs like chemical based fertilizer, pesticides that have made the farming system as less diversified. This is resulted in loss of fertility of the soil, reduction in the concentration of microorganism, death of natural enemies, and resurgence of pests and outbreak of diseases that has made the eco-system more vulnerable to externalities. The irreversible damage which is caused in the eco – system is manmade, and the chemical agriculture is fully depending on external inputs and productivity oriented. Reviving organic farming is need of the hour and a holistic approach has to be evolved with the objective of attaining the sustainability in agriculture through organic way of farming. Mobilizing the small and marginal farming community , strengthening the internalized input resources which includes Biomass production, organic manure utilization, and establishment of community seed banks in villages, backward and forward linkages to the organic produce are the key elements which are going to decide the future of Organic agriculture. Ecological farming practices which can maximize the local resource use. Many of these practices are based on indigenous knowledge and focus on building soil biological productivity. Non Pesticidal Management, (NPM) Organic farming practices, Community Seed Banks, live hedge fencing , soil moisture management etc have already proven to be useful. AVISHKAR has pioneered the conservation of biodiversity and built movement for the protection of small and marginal farmers through promotion of organic farming and fair trade to ensure the healthy, diverse and safe food, AVISHKAR so for trained 3650 farmers it includes small, marginal, women farmers. We have also trained NGOs, department officials and other interested groups. The AVISHKAR is implementing the Organic farming project in 37 villages in Tumkur and Koratagere talukas of Tumkur district. The project is supported by Save Indian farmers (SIF), USA. The project activities to demonstrate viable Organic farming practices with farmers participation through training and capacity building, soil and water conservation, different composting methods insitu composting, enriched composting vermicomposting, botanical preparations for the control of pests and diseases, mixed and multiple cropping systems planting of fruit and forestry species, fodder promotion and preparation and use of Jeevamrutha and Panchagavya. Promotion of organic farmers producer organization
Project Objectives:
- To create awareness and adopt innovative and eco-friendly practices for organic farming systems in five villages
- To enhance agricultural production and improve productivity of land through promotion of eco-friendly sustainable agricultural practices and tree based farming system.
- To reduce cost of production and dependency on external inputs for production of vegetables and food grains.
- To establish linkages of buyers, bankers, technical institutions with the farmers
Major Activities:
- Formation of organic farmer’s producer’s organization.
- Training programmes for organic farmers and Organising exposure visits to the farmers
- Demonstration on vermi composting and enriched composting techniques, warmi wash units etc
- Introduction and use of bio-fertilizers and use of green manure crops
- Establishing live-fence / bio-fence
- Demonstrations on preparation of botanicals / bio-pesticides like Jeevamrutha and Dasaparni etc and their application.
- Introduction of pheromone traps, trap crops, eradication, crop rotation & mixed cropping practices
- Plantation of mixed forestry plants and horticulture plants
- Promotion of vermi composting for effective utilization crop residues and availability of manure in the fields.
- Organising interactive sessions for sharing of knowledge and learnings among organic farmers .
- Organising organic vegetables melas and workshops.
- Cluster level workshop involving scientists, technocrats, buyers, line departments etc
- Promotion of organic vegetable out let.
Project Progress
| Sl. No | Activities | Unit | Achievement |
| 1. | Villages covered | Nos | 12 |
| 2. | Meetings with farmers | Nos | 26 |
| 3 | Trainings on organic farming | Nos | 5 |
| 4 | Collection of base line and micro-planning | Nos | 37 |
| 5 | Training on soil testing and distributed soil health cards | Nos | 15 |
| 6 | Exposure visit to IIHR, Bangalore, Krushimela and Organic farming plots | Nos | 3 |
| 7 | Training on bee keeping | Nos | 1 |
| 8 | Demonstration on enriched composting techniques | Farmers | 7 |
| 9 | Preparation and application of Jeevamrutha | farmers | 13 |
| 10 | Promotion of horticulture plants | farmers | 18 |
| 11 | Establishment of vermi composting pits | Farmers | 15 |
| 12 | Trench cum bunding | Farmers | 15 |
| 13. | Organic field demonstration activities | Farmers | 12 |
| 14. | Promotion of organic kitchen gardens | Women farmers | 14 |
| 15. | Promotion of live hedge fencing | Farmers | 7 |
Impact of Organic farming project
- Effective utilization of agriculture waste, biomass and farm yard manure
- Adopting mulching for plantation crops like mango, coconut and areca nut for proper soil moisture management
- Reduced external inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides
- Availability of quality green fodder in the project villages
- Reduced soil erosion and improved crop yields in the project village.