Tumkur Region – Organic Farming (3rd and 4th year)

Region: Tumkur district
Focus Area: Chikkadoddaadi, D.Nagenahalli, Nagojipalya, Bellibtlahalli, B.V.PalyaChikkagundagallu, Anupanahalli, Junjaramanahalli, Kuramkote, Jonigarahalli
SIF Partner: AVISHKAR, Tumkur

Promotion and Popularization of organic farming for enhanced agricultural sustainability by focussing on farmers meets, motivating the farmers on organic farming, collecting the farmer data, micro-planning, training and capacity building, follow up with farmers from the last phase and field demonstrations for new SIF organic farmers.  

Objectives:

• To create awareness and adopt innovative and eco-friendly practices for organic farming systems in selected SIF farmers in ten villages 
• To enhance agricultural production and improve productivity of land through promotion of eco-friendly tree based farming systems. 
• To reduce cost of production and dependency on external inputs for production of vegetables and food grains. 
• To establish linkages of buyers, bankers, technical institutions with the farmers

Activities:

• Farmers meetings: Importance of organic farming, negative impact of high usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, SIF organic farming project aims and objectives, formation of Organic FPO 
• Collection of Famers data: Base line survey and micro-planning for 25 SIF farmers to understand the problems faced by the farmers ,technology gaps, techniques adopted by them, marketing, value addition, input procurement, livestock details, manure application, existing trees, irrigation facilities etc. 
• Selection of SIF- organic farmers: Selected 25 organic farmers based on small and marginal farmers, willingness to adopt organic farming , participation in the trainings and meetings, member of Organic FPO
• Trainings and capacity building program
  • Training program on organic farming for third year organic farmers 
  • Soil and water conservation and different composting techniques.
  • Desi Cow farmers orientation program.
  • Exposure visit to Aruna organic farm and Mahesh organic farm
  • Beekeeping training program  for all the SIF project farmers 
  • Training program on Organic farming and Preparation of Jeevamrutha 
• Soil testing: Total 25 soil tests were carried out, Soil health cards distributed to SIF organic farmers, soil nutrient status orientation, application of organic manures based on the soil test results. 

Field Demonstration Activities:

• Preparation and application of Jeevamrutha: (Organized in C.K.Nagaraju SIF organic farmer land in Chikkagundgallu village)  Nine SIF farmers have prepared and applied the Jeevamrutha for vegetables and coconut and arecanut crops.  They have received good impact on the application of Jeevamrutha. 
• Enriched composting techniques: (Organized at Somashekar farm, Junjaramanahalli village) Demo for using bio- fertilizer such as Arka Microbial Consortium (AMC), Farm Yard Manure and Neem cake. 22 SIF farmers have participated in this demonstration. Distributed AMC and Neem cake for 6 SIF organic farmers.
• Providing Horticulture and Forestry plants: Provided horticulture plants such as Tamarind, Guava, mango and lime. Forestry plants such as Meliadubia, Jamun, sesbania and silver plants to 25 SIF organic farmers.
• Demonstration of organic farming on Vegetables and Finger millet crops: Three farmers were motivated to adopt organic farming for vegetable cultivation and five farmers taken up Finger millet (Ragi) cultivation in Chikkadoddawadi Anupanahalli, Chikkagundagallu and Nagojipalya villages. The project has supplied bio-fertilizers, neem cake, organic manures and neem oil.  The farmers are preparing and applying Jeevamrutha regularly.
• Construction of Vermicomposting units: During the Third year, 15 Vermicomposting pits were constructed under this project covering 15 SIF organic farmers. During the Fourth year 10 vermicomposting pits were constructed for 10 Organic farmers. The vermicomposting filling method was demonstrated in two SIF organic farmer fields at Junjaramanahalli and Nagojipalya villages. 
• Soil & Water conservation: The project has supported field bunding (Trench and bunding) activity in 13 SIF farmers in the third year and 9 farmers in the fourth year project.  The farmers were taught its benefits especially in soil moisture conservation and water conservation..  
• Tank silt application: The project has supported Tank silt application activity for 17 SIF organic farmers for first and second year farmers. All the 17 SIF organic farmers have been provided this benefit. These farmers were given 30 to 40 trolleys of tank silt and they applied it to their land. After the application they have improved soil fertility status and adopted the intercropping farming technologies.

  Impact of Tank silt application 

  • Case study1: (Jagadeesh S/o Late Mudlagiriappa, Urdigere  hobli)  This small farmer was cultivating ragi and groundnut. After the application of 35 trolleys of tank silt, land fertility has improved and he is expecting good yield. He has also adopted an intercropping farming system with crops such as Banana, Pulses and vegetables. He is very happy about the project support for tank silt application.  
  • Case study 2: ( Siddagangappa S/o Kala Boraiah, Kadaranahalli, Urdigere hobli ). He was cultivating ragi. After the tank silt application of 40 trolleys, land fertility has improved and he is expecting good yield for the current season. He has adopted a mixed cropping system with vegetables and commercial crops.
• Providing Desi cows: The project has supported purchase of local cows for small and marginal farmers. This has supported 12  SIF first and second year organic  farmers. The overall impact was good and SIF organic farmers are experiencing quality outputs. The project was able to motivate the farmers to adopt organic farming practices and sustain yields.