editorialteam
Well-Known Member
Farmers empowered to analyze, think and act to bring transformation all by themselves
“Yes! We are trapped in the swamp of hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. We know our farmland soil is deteriorating, water tables are depleting and environment is in distress. And we want to get out of this mess. Show us the path and we would follow,” were the words of the farmers of Kedia village told to Mr. Ishteyaque Ahmed in 2014. Agriculture centric Kedia village in Jamui district, Bihar was suffering to the core but in just two years the village has transformed itself into an eco-agricultural model village.
100 families wrapped in 639 total population analyzed the prevailing circumstances, presented the problems faced, accepted the constraints, looked for new solutions, sought Government help and implemented the changes. Consequently, dependency on chemical farming inputs is reduced, cows have returned, biomass has increased, soil is becoming fertile, water resources are well managed and farms are thriving. “Collective efforts of Kedia village farmers have paid off well! They are regaining the confidence in farming and proceeding towards being a self-reliant village that will be soon free from the clutches of MNC power,” asserts Mr. Ahmed. Today the village has 282 vermi compost beds, 11 biogas plants, 5 ponds, 5 pukka cow sheds, 1 solar cold-storage unit and 20ecosan toilets.
Mr. Ishteyaque is working with Greenpeace India to contribute in creating an agriculture system which has elements of traditional knowledge and new innovations in rural India and heading it towards prosperity. “To begin with, in the 2014 we never imposed our findings and conclusion on agriculture on farmers in Kedia village instead we had an open discussion with them to know about the ground realities of their lives and how it is affecting farming,” he says. The three key findings were – knowledge on farming practices prior to green revolution was lost, and absence of finances for infrastructure building required for moving towards ecological agriculture. Biomass was not available because of reduction in cattle as tractors replaced bulls, native breeds were exchanged by hybrid breed cows and available cattle dung was used as cooking fuel. “In addition there was no awareness on many agricultural schemes available from the Government.”
After a well thought plan, first, all the agricultural related schemes and programmes from Government were identified and applied by the farmers themselves such as vermi-composting units, biogas plants cemented cattle sheds, rainwater harvesting ponds etc. “We invested in the process with helped in empowering the farmers to take the lead in all the activities. Of course we supported them but they had to work on their own. Reason being they had to stand, act and fight their battle independently,” highlights Mr. Ahmed.
Next priority was to have biomass. Human and livestock excreta are rich in nutrients required for the soil but it needs to be processed before use therefore biogas plants and ecological sanitation toilets. Alongside to convert other organic waste vermicompost beds are also installed. “The manure produced from all three sources are collected and used in the farmlands. In addition, liquid manures such as Amrit pani, Jeevamrit, Neemamrit and many pest management solutions were adopted. Farmers started saving and exchanging seeds. The biomass-based ecological fertilisers has improved the water retention capacity in the soil therefore water required for irrigation has come down by 50%. All added together input cost has reduced by 40% and chemical pesticide spraying has been nullified totally,” he informs. Population of earthworms and other soil organisms has increased and natural predators like birds and snakes have returned back thereby improving the environmental bio-diversity.
Number of cattle has increased to 650, all native breeds. “Farmers are convinced now to retain even the dry cows for its excreta and bulls for plowing because tractors make the soil hard plus kills the micro organisms in the soil,” Mr. Ahmed elaborates the changes that led to transformation. “Also they are warmly trying to experiment with new crops like pulses, spices, oilseeds and vegetables unlike the routine cycle of wheat and paddy. Villagers are now buying only sugar and salt from the market rest all food commodities are produced by the farmers.”
Rainwater harvesting through five ponds have made the farmers water-sustainable to some extent. They are not using the borewell at all as the wells are re-charged adequately as well as they deploy shallow irrigation and have built a canal to fulfill the water requirements. “Another 5 ponds are in construction stage that shall suffice the arrangement for well-recharging,” he states.
Farming inputs cost has reduced considerably and so is the use of chemical fertilizer. The farm produce is sold in the local market after fulfilling the demand of all the items in the village. “Most important point to note here is that farmers have kept the price reasonable inspite of going natural. It has been observed that Kedia village is gaining recognition in the market as our produce is sold first and after it is exhausted fully other producers are able to sell their products. The demand is increasing day by day!” shares Mr. Ahmed. Soon Farmers Cooperative shall be registered through which produce of village will be sold collectively. Also value added products like sun-dried vegetables, multigrain flour, cold pressed oil shall be produced and sold under the same banner.
Revealing future plans Mr. Ahmed concludes, “Kedia village has transformed magnificently into a progressive model village in Bihar state. Our 2017 target is to convince Bihar government to develop atleast one village like Kedia village in every district of the state depending on its strengths. And our 2020 target is making this project operational in one more Indian state. After all nation’s affluence lies in the villages.”
Mr. Ishteyaque Ahmed did his master in geography from Jamia Millia Islami, New Delhi. Past 20 years he is working constantly with the farmers precisely in the conflict areas with the aim to increase their revenues and decrease the farming expenditure. He has been associated with Greenpeace India for over 4 years.
Contact details:
Mr. Ishteyaque Ahmed
Kedia Village, Jamui district, Bihar
Phone: 08084507888
Email: ishteyaque.ahmed@greenpeace.org
“Yes! We are trapped in the swamp of hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. We know our farmland soil is deteriorating, water tables are depleting and environment is in distress. And we want to get out of this mess. Show us the path and we would follow,” were the words of the farmers of Kedia village told to Mr. Ishteyaque Ahmed in 2014. Agriculture centric Kedia village in Jamui district, Bihar was suffering to the core but in just two years the village has transformed itself into an eco-agricultural model village.
100 families wrapped in 639 total population analyzed the prevailing circumstances, presented the problems faced, accepted the constraints, looked for new solutions, sought Government help and implemented the changes. Consequently, dependency on chemical farming inputs is reduced, cows have returned, biomass has increased, soil is becoming fertile, water resources are well managed and farms are thriving. “Collective efforts of Kedia village farmers have paid off well! They are regaining the confidence in farming and proceeding towards being a self-reliant village that will be soon free from the clutches of MNC power,” asserts Mr. Ahmed. Today the village has 282 vermi compost beds, 11 biogas plants, 5 ponds, 5 pukka cow sheds, 1 solar cold-storage unit and 20ecosan toilets.
Mr. Ishteyaque is working with Greenpeace India to contribute in creating an agriculture system which has elements of traditional knowledge and new innovations in rural India and heading it towards prosperity. “To begin with, in the 2014 we never imposed our findings and conclusion on agriculture on farmers in Kedia village instead we had an open discussion with them to know about the ground realities of their lives and how it is affecting farming,” he says. The three key findings were – knowledge on farming practices prior to green revolution was lost, and absence of finances for infrastructure building required for moving towards ecological agriculture. Biomass was not available because of reduction in cattle as tractors replaced bulls, native breeds were exchanged by hybrid breed cows and available cattle dung was used as cooking fuel. “In addition there was no awareness on many agricultural schemes available from the Government.”
After a well thought plan, first, all the agricultural related schemes and programmes from Government were identified and applied by the farmers themselves such as vermi-composting units, biogas plants cemented cattle sheds, rainwater harvesting ponds etc. “We invested in the process with helped in empowering the farmers to take the lead in all the activities. Of course we supported them but they had to work on their own. Reason being they had to stand, act and fight their battle independently,” highlights Mr. Ahmed.
Next priority was to have biomass. Human and livestock excreta are rich in nutrients required for the soil but it needs to be processed before use therefore biogas plants and ecological sanitation toilets. Alongside to convert other organic waste vermicompost beds are also installed. “The manure produced from all three sources are collected and used in the farmlands. In addition, liquid manures such as Amrit pani, Jeevamrit, Neemamrit and many pest management solutions were adopted. Farmers started saving and exchanging seeds. The biomass-based ecological fertilisers has improved the water retention capacity in the soil therefore water required for irrigation has come down by 50%. All added together input cost has reduced by 40% and chemical pesticide spraying has been nullified totally,” he informs. Population of earthworms and other soil organisms has increased and natural predators like birds and snakes have returned back thereby improving the environmental bio-diversity.
Number of cattle has increased to 650, all native breeds. “Farmers are convinced now to retain even the dry cows for its excreta and bulls for plowing because tractors make the soil hard plus kills the micro organisms in the soil,” Mr. Ahmed elaborates the changes that led to transformation. “Also they are warmly trying to experiment with new crops like pulses, spices, oilseeds and vegetables unlike the routine cycle of wheat and paddy. Villagers are now buying only sugar and salt from the market rest all food commodities are produced by the farmers.”
Rainwater harvesting through five ponds have made the farmers water-sustainable to some extent. They are not using the borewell at all as the wells are re-charged adequately as well as they deploy shallow irrigation and have built a canal to fulfill the water requirements. “Another 5 ponds are in construction stage that shall suffice the arrangement for well-recharging,” he states.
Farming inputs cost has reduced considerably and so is the use of chemical fertilizer. The farm produce is sold in the local market after fulfilling the demand of all the items in the village. “Most important point to note here is that farmers have kept the price reasonable inspite of going natural. It has been observed that Kedia village is gaining recognition in the market as our produce is sold first and after it is exhausted fully other producers are able to sell their products. The demand is increasing day by day!” shares Mr. Ahmed. Soon Farmers Cooperative shall be registered through which produce of village will be sold collectively. Also value added products like sun-dried vegetables, multigrain flour, cold pressed oil shall be produced and sold under the same banner.
Revealing future plans Mr. Ahmed concludes, “Kedia village has transformed magnificently into a progressive model village in Bihar state. Our 2017 target is to convince Bihar government to develop atleast one village like Kedia village in every district of the state depending on its strengths. And our 2020 target is making this project operational in one more Indian state. After all nation’s affluence lies in the villages.”
Mr. Ishteyaque Ahmed did his master in geography from Jamia Millia Islami, New Delhi. Past 20 years he is working constantly with the farmers precisely in the conflict areas with the aim to increase their revenues and decrease the farming expenditure. He has been associated with Greenpeace India for over 4 years.
Contact details:
Mr. Ishteyaque Ahmed
Kedia Village, Jamui district, Bihar
Phone: 08084507888
Email: ishteyaque.ahmed@greenpeace.org