• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Commemorative Issue for Late Dr. YL Nene, Emeritus Chairman, AAHF ISSN (Print) : 0971-7730 Asian Agri-History, Vol 22(2), 2018 DOI: 10.18311/aah/2018/20884 Report on the Impact of Asian Agri–History Foundation (AAHF) in Popularizing Vrikshayurveda in Kerala, with Special Emphasis to Kannur District, Kerala, India C. V. Jidesh Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory – Kannur, Civil Station, Kannur - 670002, Kerala, India; [email protected] 1. Introduction Vegetable production zone of Azhikode Panchayat of Kannur District (during this The author was fortunate to receive the period the author was Agricultural Officer of knowledge of Vrikshayurveda from Late Dr. YL Azhikode Panchayat). Herbal Kunapjala and Nene (Chairman Emeritus, AAHF) during a cow urine based bio-pesticide were applied to National workshop on Vrikshayurveda organised vegetable crops mainly Cucumber, Cowpea, by the State Planning Board, Kerala in September Brinjal, Amaranthus, Bitter gourd, Snake gourd, 2015. The hands-on training for preparation Lady’s finger bhindi( ), Watermelon, Ash gourd, of Kunapajala, mentioned in Vrikshayurveda, Pumpkin, etc. during December 2015 onwards. was given by the current Chairman of AAHF Farmers realised the effect of these concoctions Dr. SL Choudhary and Mr. Vijay Singh Parmer in enhancing vegetative growth as well as during the second day of the workshop. Dr. SL quality produce. Foliar application of herbal Choudhary also provided several publications Kunapajala also resulted in reduced incidence by AAHF. After the workshop, the first field of sucking pests like black aphids in cowpea; trial in rice crop using herbal Kunapajala and and pumpkin beetle in cucumber and pumpkin. cow urine based bio-pesticide was carried out Now Farmers of this area are extensively using near Amakkavu in Nagalassery Panchayath of herbal Kunapajala, and cow urine based bio- Palakkad District by Mr. Krishna Kumar, then pesticide concoction for mitigating the effect of Agricultural Officer of Nagalassery. The rice drought. cultivar “Uma” was marketed as Vrikshayurveda rice, released by Mr. VT Balram, MLA, During June 2016, the author was transferred Kerala, and sold @ Rs. 80/- per kg in January to Kannur and has been popularising Kunapajala 2016. preparation in the 89 Panchayats of Kannur District, and till March 2018 more than 130 Similarly, field trials were carried out in trainings in Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Vegetables in 70 ha in Chal, the Safe to Eat Report on the Impact of Asian Agri–History Foundation (AAHF)... Kollam, and Trivandrum Districts were 2. Success Stories of Farmers of organized. Kannur The popularisation of Vrikshayurveda in 2.1 Ms. CK Sindhu of Chelora Panchayat Kannur District was done by organizing trainings A field trial on effect of herbal Kunapjala in at the Regional Agricultural Technology Jasmine was conducted during 2017. A basal Training Centre (RATTC) in a phased manner. application of 2L per plant, followed by foliar The participants were Agricultural Officers, application @ 200ml/L of water at fortnightly Agriculture Assistants, Block Technology intervals were applied. Soil acidity was corrected Managers, and Field Assistants under the with lime application @ 2kg/cent (40 square Agricultural Technology Management Agency meter area or 500 kg/ ha), before the start of (ATMA) & Lead Farmer-Centered Extension the study. After three months of application, the and Advisory Service (LEADS) program. farmer indicated that the floral buds were formed profusely, and aroma, appearance and shelf life of The training program was followed by Block- buds increased (as ascertained by Mr. Dineshan, level hands-on training organised by the Assistant floral merchant of Kannur floral market). Due Directors of various Blocks of Kannur District. to increase in number of floral buds her daily There were 100 to 150 farmers participants in income increased by Rs. 500/- (additional each training. Similar training to farmers was income). Her success story was aired by Club F also imparted through RATTC Kannur. Most of M and Mathrubhoomi News Channels. Seeing the farmers who attended the two-day training this news one farmer from Sreekrishnapuram programs are now providing training to other of Palakkad District and another farmer from farmers of their Panchayats and in other areas Manjeshwaram of Kasaragod District contacted as well. These activities were also clubbed with the author and visited Ms Sindhu’s field and ongoing Agriculture Department Schemes, adopted the use of these herbal Kunapajala in such as Vegetable Development Scheme, Crop floriculture. Health Management Scheme, Parmparakatha Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), ATMA field demonstrations, LEADS field demonstrations, 2.2 Mr. Shaji and Mr. Johny of etc. Ambayathode, Kottiyoor Panchayath Mr.Shaji and Mr. Johny attended the District level Thus the Vrikshayurveda movement which training at Kannur and also Block level training was initiated in 2015 among farmers of Azhikode at Peravoor Block. As part of ATMA Capacity has taken momentum very fast among farmers of building program, Peravoor Asst. Director of other 89 Panchayats of Kannur District in the last Agriculture arranged a training program for three years. Now we have many farmer trainers farmers organised by Mr. Shaji and Mr. Johny for popularising Vrikshayurveda in Kannur, such during 2017. Around 55 farmers participated as Mr. Shaji of Kottiyoor, Mr. Prabhakaran of and prepared herbal Kunapjala and cow urine Pariyaram, Mr. Balakrishnan of Mayyil, and Mr. based bio-pesticide. These were applied in KT Sreedharan Namboothiri of Cheruthazham. 138 Vol 22 (2) | 2018 | www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/aah/index Asian Agri-History C. V. Jidesh vegetable plot of one acre under open precision bhindi. They also prepared second barrel of farming. Herbal Kunapjala was applied through Kunapajala, organised one more training session fertigation and cow urine based bio-pesticide at Pariyaram during January 2018 and other as foliar application on Cowpea, Bhindi, Chilli, self-help group members in their panchayat and Tomato. Farmers were convinced about also attended the training program. As part of the effect of herbal Kunapjala in improving the training program to the newly recruited crop health, higher yield and better quality of Agriculture Officers of Kannur and Kasaragod the produce. They were also convinced about districts organised by RATTC, the officers the effect of cow urine based bio-pesticide in were taken to the Gramika Vrikshayurveda managing caterpillars as well as sucking pests of demonstration field and Mr. Prabhakaran these crops. After finishing the first barrel they shared his experience with the Officers. He prepared second and third barrel of 100 L each said that apart from being an organic manure, of herbal Kunapjala for application and they herbal Kunapjala was very effective in managing also supplied to farmers of other areas. Mr. Shaji black aphids in cowpea and pumpkin beetles in is now providing training to farmers of other cucumber and pumpkin, and also sucking pests areas under the author’s guidance and helps in in chilli. Harvesting of the crops was graced by popularising Vrikshayurveda practices among former MLA Mr. CKP Padmanabhan 01 March farmers. highlight to be deleted. 2018. Gramika members have constructed a sales counter using thatched coconut leaves adjacent to their field along the National Highway to sell 2.3 Mr. Prabhakaran of Pariyaram the produce at a premium price. Panchayat Mr. Prabhakaran attended the training at RATTC Karimbam during 2017. At the end 2.4 Success Story of Mayyil Rice Farmers, of two-day training he promised to popularise Kannur District Vrikshayurveda at Pariyaram Panchayat. As per Training on preparation of herbal Kunapjala, his commitment he arranged a training at his and cow-urine based bio-pesticide and residence on 10th December 2017. The author concoction for drought tolerance was given to reached around 7.45 am and was surprised to rice farmers of Mayyil during December 2017. see members of his self help group “Gramika” Farmers of two Padashekharams (Rice farmers’ actively involved in chopping leaves of weeds groups) viz., Mullakkodi Padashekharam and Keezhalam Padashekharam decided to apply for preparation of herbal Kunapjala. They these concoctions in 100 acres of paddy under prepared herbal Kunapjala and cow urine based local cultivar “Vellarian”. It was also decided to bio-pesticide, and a nearby one acre land was release rice as Vedic rice of Mayyil. Two training brought under vegetable cultivation using the programs were conducted, one for Mullakodi application of herbal Kunapajala and cow urine farmers and the other for Keezhalam farmers. based bio-pesticide for cowpea, chilli, cucumber, Twenty barrels (2000 L) of herbal Kunapjala pumpkin, amaranthus, snake gourd, bitter were prepared by them and dosage fixed was gourd, ridge gourd, watermelon, ash gourd, and @ 100ml/L of water. Application was made as Vol 22 (2) | 2018 | www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/aah/index Asian Agri-History 139 Report on the Impact of Asian Agri–History Foundation (AAHF)... foliar spray during active tillering stage and Agricultural Officer award for Extension for at flowering. Cow urine based bio-pesticide Kannur District during 2017-18. was used to manage pests and in certain areas concoction applied @10% for protecting crop With the formation of AAHF Kerala Chapter from drought. Farmers are now convinced and activities for promotion of Vrikshayurveda and have adopted all these

Load more

  5

Copy Link