Source

TAMIL NADU, INDIA, July 8, 2004: Mr. N.G. Anbalagan, an eco-agricultural technologist and a strong advocate of organic farming, used his own farmland to demonstrate that traditional rice can be grown organically and will produce a viable and marketable end product. The article says, “He grew GEB 24 variety rice (also called Kichili Samba) successfully in his farm in Thottanaval village near Uthiramerur in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, and harvested good yields.” Mr. Anbalagan says, “I raised this crop in about 0.2 hectares as a demonstration plot, and it responded well to organic nutrition. I harvested about 800 kg paddy and 1.5 tons of high quality straw.” Before the introduction of rice varieties that responded well to chemical fertilizers, GEB was widely grown. For his farm, Mr. Anbalagam had to obtain 30 kg. of seeds from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore. The article explains how the seeds were treated with cow urine, how they began their life in a nursery where they were planted in soil rich in green leaf manure, and then how the fields where they were finally planted were rich in ripe farmyard manure. In addition, the field only required one manual weeding and spiders, frogs, dragonflies, and insect devouring birds kept the field pest proof. The article says, “The cost of cultivation of rice in 0.2 hectares was Rs. 4500. The gross returns from the paddy at the current market price will be Rs. 8000, and the value of the straw will be Rs. 500.” Mr. Anbalagan firmly believes that organic farming can be re-introduced to farmers as a way of making a living if the “time honoured farming knowledge of our ancestors” is reintroduced.

Post Views: 611