FARMER'S NOTEBOOK
Nothing succeeds like `do nothing' technique
M.J. PRABU
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The technique does not involve usual agricultural practices
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— Photo: M.J. Prabu
GOOD DEMAND: Mr. Sethuraman, an organicfarmer inspecting the fruits in his orchard which are ready for plucking.
Spiralling input prices, unsure market and mounting debts have forced the farmers to think of viable alternatives and organic farming has emerged as the best solution.
Basic inputs
Compared to chemical farming, organic farming is within the control of the farmer as all the basic inputs such as cattle and dung are available in the farm itself, according to Mr. M. Sethuraman, a progressive organic farmer in Kidathalaimedu village in Mayiladuthurai taluka of Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu.
Farmers must be free to cultivate and market their produce without any hurdles. "This is possible only in organic cultivation and cannot be expected in chemical cultivation as several factors such as the price of the produce and fertilizer cost are decided by the government and not by the farmer," he noted.
Planting details
Mr. Sethuraman is presently growing about four guava varieties in his one-acre field. The seedlings were planted at a spacing of 15x15x15 feet distance in triangular planting technique.
The fruits are harvested twice a year. The first harvest is done usually during March-April and the second during August-September.
From an acre, about 12-15 tonnes of fruits are harvested in a year. Giving details on his guava cultivation, Mr. Sethuraman said, "The method I am practising is called `do nothing' technique.
"I do not follow the usual recommendations which chemical farmers do for raising their crops such as spraying pesticides, split fertilizer application and foliar spray."
"The field was ploughed well by applying 2-3 tonnes of vermicompost and the seedlings were planted. In addition I had released a lot of earthworms into the soil."
Rain harvesters
Earthworms, apart from enriching the soil, also serve as effective rain harvesters. The soil becomes porous because of their constant burrowing and water is able to seep freely into the soil and increase the water table.
Many small farmers are apprehensive about switching to organic farming, according to him.
"They feel it is a risky experiment and can suit only big farmers. But they fail to understand that they can get the same or a better harvest without spending much on chemical pesticides and fertilizers," he said.
All they have to do is prepare organic pesticides, fertilizers and growth promoters from plants and other material available in their own farm.
They need not depend on chemical fertilizers and pesticides and get caught in debts, he elaborated.
He has been using an organic growth promoter called Amirthakaraisal as a spray for his guava crops. It can be prepared by mixing about 5-10 kg of fresh cow dung, 8-10 litres of cows' urine, 1 kg of jaggery and 90-100 litres of water in a cement tank and helps in getting good yield.
Reducing costs
According to him, farmers cannot do much to change government policy that determines output prices, trade tariffs, social security and subsidies which are beyond their control, but they can try to reduce cultivation costs by practising organic cultivation.
For controlling pest attacks and infestations in his guava orchard, Mr. Sethuraman has been using bio pest repellent prepared from leaves of nochi, pongamia and calotropis.
Rural employement
These plants are the potential source of pesticides, because animals do not eat them as they have an inherent toxicity in them," he explained.
He employs about five people during the harvesting season to pluck the fruits. Manual harvesting offers a good scope for rural employment for people in the villages, according to him.
"I face no problem in marketing the fruits. Being organic the demand is good and I have buyers at my doorstep to take the produce.
By adopting the do nothing approach in a year I am able to get a net income of Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 65,000, he said.
For more information, readers can contact Mr. M. Sethuraman at Kidathalaimedu, Kali post, Mayiladuthurai 609 811, Tamil Nadu, Phone: 04364-236467.
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