Unable to bear the high cost input of fertilisers and pesticides, farmers in Jammu’s RS Pura region, are taking to organic farming, writes AKSHAY AZAD
Swaran lal, a farmer from Jammu's RS Pura Tehsil, looked carefully, with curiosity and some awe, at the sophisticated organic farming implements on display. He was at an agriculture fair in Uttarakhand, and what he saw planted the seeds of a dream. He wanted to take this fascinating idea of organic farming home, to the fields of Suchetgarh. He was sure it would do wonders. Many years later, he notes with satisfaction, his instincts proved right.
Thirty-five kilometres from Jammu City, the Suchetgarh region is popular for producing one of the finest qualities of Basmati rice. However, in the last two decades, excessive use of fertiliser and pesticides has increased investment costs. But lal's Uttarakhand visit, as a part of the Agriculture Awareness Tour organised by the Agriculture Production Department, changed the plains into a laboratory for organic farming. “The idea of organic farming fascinated me; however, the biggest challenge was to make it conducive for our small farmers with weak economic backgrounds,” said lal.
In the beginning, to check the pros and cons of this new method, lal experimented over a small piece of land and it worked well. Today, a year and a half later, lal, under the patronage of Sarweshwar Rice Mills (which promotes organic farming in RS Pura region in collaboration with J&K Agriculture Production department) has succeeded in bringing 350 acres of total 1,100 acres of cultivable area in Suchetgarh Panchayat under organic farming. 2What made this initiative a success was the ‘natural’ lifestyle of the people. Most families rear livestock, and the dung is used as manure. Green manure and vermicompost are also used.
At present, six private entities, engaged by the J&K Government's Agriculture Production Department, are promoting organic farming in various regions of Jammu. For example, Sarweshwar Rice Mills has targeted 200 hectares in RS Pura for paddy and wheat farming; Mararka Organic is working on 200 hectares of saffron production in Kishtwar and 700 hectares of Rajma production in Doda; Actech Agro limited is encouraging farmers in Reasi and Kathua districts to switch to organic farming.
Earlier, during every sowing season, there was an acute shortage of fertilisers. “Farmers had to waste several days during peak farming season to get fertilizers from other States, wasting large amounts of time and money,” said Ramesh lal, another local farmer, who believes this was a major reason why organic farming became popular in RS Pura.
Yet, there are also farmers who have chosen to continue with chemical farming. “During heavy rains, water from non-organic farms enters adjacent organic fields, affecting the purity of the crop”, rues lal. He adds that adoption of organic farming by a majority of the villagers would help them get their crops certified by the Government, thus benefitting the entire community.
According to Director of Agriculture Production Department Ajay Khajuria, the beginning of every good thing is difficult but once it takes off, the rest becomes easier. “We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with six companies to promote organic farming. They will provide marketing to all organic growers of the State.The trial is for three years and the second year has begun. Soon, our organic produce will be certified and farmers will earn huge profits, thanks to the high demand for organic products,” Khajuria added.
But not everyone shares his optimism. “The Organic Carbon Content in the soil of RS Pura has reduced to an alarming level. Due to decreased OCC levels, farmers generally use excess fertilisers which pollute water and environment,” says Daleep Kachroo, the head of the Farming System Research Center and Division of Agronomy at Sher-e-Kashmir Agriculture University of Sciences and Technology in Jammu. Organic farming may not immediately increase the crop production but it will encourage sustainable farming by maintaining the health of soil and water level. Kachroo explains that initially, organic farming may reduce production but by using manure, the OCC level can be increased. He hoped that the OCC level will increase in the next six years — and so will the production.