editorialteam
Well-Known Member
Specializes in water management, dairy fodder and soil fertility
Mr. Suman Jana is a social scientist dedicated to natural farming practices. He grows horticulture crops in three layers model and rears native breed cows. His farm is located on the outskirts of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It is a model farm to showcase that natural farming could be commercially viable for small and marginal farmers.
Mr. Suman Jana
Growing fodder in drought condition for cattle is the biggest challenge, “Yes, it is! And the solution is to grow three different fodder crops that need less water. First crop is ‘Lucerne Grass’ also known as alfalfa. It is the most reliable high yield fodder crop that grows well with little water in drought conditions and without any additional input apart from ‘jiwamitra’ (as developed by Padamshri Subhash Palekar ji) during monthly irrigation. Once grown it yields for 5 years and harvested ten times in a year. Preferably the grass is ideal for making silage instead of grazing,” highlights Mr. Jana. Lucerne produces a protein-rich 14t DM per hectare. “Another fodder crop is ‘Gliricidia.’ Being high in protein and low in fiber content it is apt to be fed to animals. In addition its leaves adds enough nitrogen in the soil thereby after its’ harvest farmer can cultivate any horticulture crop and they would get a bumper crop.”
The third crop is ‘Moringa Oleifera’. It is adaptive to harsh and drier environments of the arid/semi-arid zones, hills and even the humid regions during summer. “Moringa is not only rich source of highly digestible protein but also contains calcium, iron and vitamin C essential for human beings and cows. Different permutations and combination of quantity of these three fodders should be fed to the cattle. It is a miracle formula and the notable difference will be visible in couple of weeks,” he states. This balanced fodder will ensure good health of the cows, improve the milk yield and reproduction.
Mr. Jana claims that if native breed cow is fed with naturally grown fodder having a good balance of nutrients it will never become dry! Even bulls will be able to work round the clock on the farm to replace the modern machinery.
“Water is like money! As no one gives their money to others, in the same way farmers should hold back the water of their farm within their farm through farm bunds. 3-4 feet high bund must be created all around the farm and in between the rows of plantation 2-3 feet deep trenches must be dug. In the trenches farm waste must be added in the summers. During monsoon the water gets filled in the trenches as bunds from all four sides doesn’t allows the water to flow away,” explains Mr. Jana on the technique to manage water wisely. It creates a suitable micro environment for the earthworms and other beneficial micro organisms to work efficiently; as per him the earthworms are the “real farmers.”
He also insists on mulching and using desi cow dung and urine based manure to lessen the water requirements in the farm. “With mulching the water loss and evaporation is minimum hence water is restored in the farm naturally. Thereby water required for top irrigation is very less. Also every farmer must raise atleast one desi cow (Bos Indicus) in his farm for its highly beneficial excreta and not for milk,” he adds.
Speaking about soil fertility he says, “Our entire efforts are focused on increasing the population of earthworms and microbes in the soil. More the number of these organisms in the soil more shall be the fertility with increase in humus and less would be water requirement. Desi cow dung and urine are the exclusive source to billions of natural beneficial microbes and also a natural catalyst to activate the local earthworms deep within the soil in dormant stage. Working on this same principal we were able to turn an unhealthy land into fertile farmland in just two years.” In order to improve the farm income Mr. Jana practices natural farming in ‘Three Layers Model’.
Three Layers Model includes growing three crops grown simultaneously for enhancing/retaining soil fertility, animal fodder and regular cash inflow for the farmers. “Following this model, we grow moringa, marigold and cow pea. Moringa is multipurpose tree as its leaves are used animal fodder and sticks/fruits are sold in the market. Marigold is an add-on income for us as well as acts as natural pest controller. The flowers being bright yellow in colour attracts all the pests naturally. Cow pea is grown only for improving the soil fertility. We do not harvest it all. All the leaves and seeds fall into the trench and used for regeneration and mulching, thereby increasing the micro-organism in the soil by many folds,” he shares.
Moringa is grown keeping plant-plant and row-row distance of 5*5 feet. In between two moringa plants two marigold saplings are cultivated while around moringa cow-pea seeds are sown. “In this way we have tried to provide maximum benefit of nitrogen fixation through cow peas to moringa plants,” he asserts. Bee-keeping is also practiced at the farm to enhance pollination and have additional revenues.
In future Mr. Jana wants to launch a solar driven AC submersible pump. “We are working on this pump and want to make it available to the farmers for minimum amount less than the cost of solar DC pumps through government subsidy. Also we want to start a cooperative for desi cow urine collection as it is the best natural medicine for human and plant diseases.”
Mr. Jana concludes, “Farmers must do farming using the natural practices only. In this safeguarding desi cows is most vital step. It must be taken as revolution. Sooner the better!!”
Contact details:
Mr. Suman Jana
94, Mangalpuri, Ismailganj, Sector -8, Indira Nagar, Chinhat, Lucknow – 226 028, Uttar Pradesh
Email: iccfhelpdesk@gmail.com
Mr. Suman Jana is a social scientist dedicated to natural farming practices. He grows horticulture crops in three layers model and rears native breed cows. His farm is located on the outskirts of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It is a model farm to showcase that natural farming could be commercially viable for small and marginal farmers.
Mr. Suman Jana
Growing fodder in drought condition for cattle is the biggest challenge, “Yes, it is! And the solution is to grow three different fodder crops that need less water. First crop is ‘Lucerne Grass’ also known as alfalfa. It is the most reliable high yield fodder crop that grows well with little water in drought conditions and without any additional input apart from ‘jiwamitra’ (as developed by Padamshri Subhash Palekar ji) during monthly irrigation. Once grown it yields for 5 years and harvested ten times in a year. Preferably the grass is ideal for making silage instead of grazing,” highlights Mr. Jana. Lucerne produces a protein-rich 14t DM per hectare. “Another fodder crop is ‘Gliricidia.’ Being high in protein and low in fiber content it is apt to be fed to animals. In addition its leaves adds enough nitrogen in the soil thereby after its’ harvest farmer can cultivate any horticulture crop and they would get a bumper crop.”
The third crop is ‘Moringa Oleifera’. It is adaptive to harsh and drier environments of the arid/semi-arid zones, hills and even the humid regions during summer. “Moringa is not only rich source of highly digestible protein but also contains calcium, iron and vitamin C essential for human beings and cows. Different permutations and combination of quantity of these three fodders should be fed to the cattle. It is a miracle formula and the notable difference will be visible in couple of weeks,” he states. This balanced fodder will ensure good health of the cows, improve the milk yield and reproduction.
Mr. Jana claims that if native breed cow is fed with naturally grown fodder having a good balance of nutrients it will never become dry! Even bulls will be able to work round the clock on the farm to replace the modern machinery.
“Water is like money! As no one gives their money to others, in the same way farmers should hold back the water of their farm within their farm through farm bunds. 3-4 feet high bund must be created all around the farm and in between the rows of plantation 2-3 feet deep trenches must be dug. In the trenches farm waste must be added in the summers. During monsoon the water gets filled in the trenches as bunds from all four sides doesn’t allows the water to flow away,” explains Mr. Jana on the technique to manage water wisely. It creates a suitable micro environment for the earthworms and other beneficial micro organisms to work efficiently; as per him the earthworms are the “real farmers.”
He also insists on mulching and using desi cow dung and urine based manure to lessen the water requirements in the farm. “With mulching the water loss and evaporation is minimum hence water is restored in the farm naturally. Thereby water required for top irrigation is very less. Also every farmer must raise atleast one desi cow (Bos Indicus) in his farm for its highly beneficial excreta and not for milk,” he adds.
Speaking about soil fertility he says, “Our entire efforts are focused on increasing the population of earthworms and microbes in the soil. More the number of these organisms in the soil more shall be the fertility with increase in humus and less would be water requirement. Desi cow dung and urine are the exclusive source to billions of natural beneficial microbes and also a natural catalyst to activate the local earthworms deep within the soil in dormant stage. Working on this same principal we were able to turn an unhealthy land into fertile farmland in just two years.” In order to improve the farm income Mr. Jana practices natural farming in ‘Three Layers Model’.
Three Layers Model includes growing three crops grown simultaneously for enhancing/retaining soil fertility, animal fodder and regular cash inflow for the farmers. “Following this model, we grow moringa, marigold and cow pea. Moringa is multipurpose tree as its leaves are used animal fodder and sticks/fruits are sold in the market. Marigold is an add-on income for us as well as acts as natural pest controller. The flowers being bright yellow in colour attracts all the pests naturally. Cow pea is grown only for improving the soil fertility. We do not harvest it all. All the leaves and seeds fall into the trench and used for regeneration and mulching, thereby increasing the micro-organism in the soil by many folds,” he shares.
Moringa is grown keeping plant-plant and row-row distance of 5*5 feet. In between two moringa plants two marigold saplings are cultivated while around moringa cow-pea seeds are sown. “In this way we have tried to provide maximum benefit of nitrogen fixation through cow peas to moringa plants,” he asserts. Bee-keeping is also practiced at the farm to enhance pollination and have additional revenues.
In future Mr. Jana wants to launch a solar driven AC submersible pump. “We are working on this pump and want to make it available to the farmers for minimum amount less than the cost of solar DC pumps through government subsidy. Also we want to start a cooperative for desi cow urine collection as it is the best natural medicine for human and plant diseases.”
Mr. Jana concludes, “Farmers must do farming using the natural practices only. In this safeguarding desi cows is most vital step. It must be taken as revolution. Sooner the better!!”
Contact details:
Mr. Suman Jana
94, Mangalpuri, Ismailganj, Sector -8, Indira Nagar, Chinhat, Lucknow – 226 028, Uttar Pradesh
Email: iccfhelpdesk@gmail.com