Sustainable Agriculture: Promotion of Bio-fertilizers
Awareness has been created among the farming community about the ill effects of high cost chemical fertilizers on soil Ph and the soils are losing their natural chemical balance which is affecting soil health and other natural resource like water in future.
The bio-fertilizers promoted are like Jeevamruth, Amruth pani, NADEP compost and vermin compost. In the year 2010, 2008 farmers have established Vermi compost units and 1108 NADEP units. For these two types of units small incentives are provided by AF Ecology Centre. 10430 farmers had applied Jeevamruth (liquid bio-fertilizer) to their 13861 ha of farm land during 2010.
a) Farm composting & Composting making:
Earlier the farmers were applying farmyard manure (FYM) to their fields. But due to continuous droughts the cattle population was reduced and farmyard manure has become a scare commodity. As an alternative, AF is encouraging the farmers to go for compost making by utilizing the farm waste and other available organic matter, where in the farm waste and other organic matter are subjected to decomposition by encouraging the growth of microorganisms. The farmers are using water, dung, cattle urine, soil and green matter for compost making.
This compost is very useful in retention of soil moisture; in supplying the macro and micronutrients essential for crop growth; in developing microbial activity in the soil, which helps in decomposition of organic matter; It is a cost effective alternative to chemical fertilizers and reduces the cost of cultivation. It makes the plant in developing resistance to pest and diseases.
b) Vermi compost:
Vermi
compost is a perfect alternative to chemical fertilizers. It improves the soil
health. The microbial activity in the soil is increased by the application of vermi compost and helps in the formation of humus. This compost will supply all
the major nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potash (NPK) and
micronutrients like zinc, iron, manganese etc., besides supplying hormones. The
food grains, vegetables and fruits crops raised with vermi compost are devoid of
harmful chemicals. Fruit and vegetables grown with vermi compost can be
preserved for longer durations. The crops and plants where vermi compost is used
are less susceptible to pest and diseases.
This activity is being implemented in all 240 villages covering 13 families in each village every year.
c) Jeevamritham:
This
is an indigenous technology. It has been established beyond doubt that cow urine
and dung contain millions of micro organisms. If this mixture is blended with
Jaggary, pulse flour and kept for a couple of days the micro organisms will
multiply into billions. This mixture can be applied to rainfed crops and
irrigable dry crops also and is very cost effective compared to chemical
fertilizers. It has proved its efficacy beyond doubt and is very helpful for
plant growth; for inducing flowering; for reducing flower dropping and for
increasing yields. Low incidence of pest and diseases is also observed.
This activity is being implemented in all 240 villages covering 50 hectares of land in (Kharif and Rabi seasons) each village every year.
