Small farmers lead way with natural methods

At a time when the need for self-reliant development is being increasingly emphasised in India, small farmers from weaker sections including Dalits and Adivasis have come up with promising initiatives. They have shown how despite all the constraints, food production and yield can increase even on very small farms using natural farming and low-cost methods, an achievement that bodes well for sustainable rural livelihoods, availability of healthy food and protection of the environment, including meeting the challenge of climate change.

Maali Ram’s small home and farm have been attracting many local people impressed by what this Bhil (tribal community) farmer has achieved with the help of his wife Dulkibai and other family members. When I recently visited this farm located in Kataron Ka Khera village in Pratapgarh district (Rajasthan), what impressed me most was the high level of creativity and intensity of involvement in his farming. On their small farm of a little over one acre, Maali Ram and Dulkibai have nearly 200 fruit and other trees, including guava, papaya, amla, lemon, jackfruit and chandan (sandalwood).

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Multi-layered pattern is used for growing over 15 vegetables. Natural farming methods are used in all this as well as grain, legume, oilseed and spice cultivation. Cows, bullocks, goats and poultry are integral parts of the farm and their excreta as well as other waste are used while preparing manure and natural pest repellants. Emphasis is on one activity or resource being of assistance to some other activity or resource, and of waste being minimized to be used as a resource.

A traditional well is just about able to meet the water needs of the farm. Maali Ram’s creativity has come into play since he started turning his three-bigha farm into natural farming, one bigha at a time to avoid disruption. Alongside his shift towards natural farming also came multi-layer vegetable cultivation and fruit trees, making him very busy. But this is the kind of work that gives him satisfaction. Many of these changes came due to the active presence in this and nearby villages of Srijan, a voluntary organization involved in supporting sustainable livelihoods that has b e en a source of help and encouragement for this enthusiastic farmer.

However, Maali Ram did not just take what was suggested to him, he also added his own creativity and experimentation. Maali Ram says that his aim is to follow a path of farming which protects his and his family’s health, which protects the health of others and the health of the soil. Following this path gives him happiness and satisfaction, he adds. He expresses delight that his brother who lives close by has now agreed to traverse this same path. Balchand Ahirwar is a Dalit farmer of Madhya Pradesh who has similarly raised high hopes by combining a highly creative, satisfying livelihood with environment protection.

He is happy working on his farm with his wife Guddi and other family members (see photograph) and exploring various creative possibilities. He is able to provide healthy food to his family through the year, apart from earning cash for other essential expenses. He is able to educate his two sons in city colleges. He is able to help many other farmers in adopting similar natural farming methods and he has been selected as a trainer of natural farming on the basis of his achievements. At the same time, he is careful to avoid wasteful expenditure and stays away from liquor and intoxicants, holding liquor responsible for many problems in villages.

I met Balchand in his village Lidhoratal in Jatara blo ck of Tikamgarh district. A key to the successful farming practiced by Balchand and Guddi is that they have reduced their farming expenses as much as possible. In recent years, expenses relating to chemical fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides have increased very sharply for most farmers. However, Balchand avoids these expenses by making natural fertilizers and pest repellants using local resources. For natural fertilizer he uses manure and urine from his own cattle, to which he adds some besan (gram powder) and jaggery. For natural pest repellants, he uses leaves having a bitter taste from local trees, mixing these with cow manure and cow urine.

While those buying market-purchased chemical inputs have to spend Rs. 6,000 on an acre of land, Balchand has to spend only Rs. 500. An additional Rs. 2,000 per acre is saved on irrigation water as the land using natural fertilizers needs lesser water compared to land using chemical fertilizers. Instead of using expensive tractors on his small farm, Balchand uses a power tiller which is several times cheaper but adequate for his needs. In addition, he says, he is able to avoid the loss to soil fertility caused by tractors. While reducing his costs Balchand is careful to utilize every inch of his two-acre farm in creative ways. In the two seasons of rabi and kharif, wheat and groundnut are the two main crops.

In addition, by using limited farm space wisely Balchand is able to grow a wide diversity of vegetables, legumes, fruits, millets, spices and flowers. We counted up to 44 crops grown within a cycle of one year by him, and there may still be some that we missed. The greatest diversity is in vegetables and a creative multi-layer garden has been created by him, installing bamboo, so that creepers get more support and the more vulnerable plants can grow in the shade of bigger and sturdier ones. Trees which will be yielding fruits soon also provide shade and moisture to soil and micro-organisms living in soil. Plants and trees on bunds add to the greenery as well as to water and soil conservation. When taking me around the field, Balchand dug up soil with his hands to show how many earthworms were at work within the soil to improve the farm.

is deeply committed to his farming. He says that this commitment and the willingness to put in a lot of caring work are essential for the success of natural farming. He emphasizes that he really enjoys this work. In fact, he is so committed to his work and farm that he has shifted his residence from the main village settlement to the farm. Balchand has been greatly helped in his efforts by Srijan. Srijan has helped to establish a natural farming center called the Palak Center where Balchand and Guddi make natural fertilizers and pest repellants on a large scale and these can be purchased at a modest price by other farmers who face difficulty in preparing these on their own.

has also been honoured by the district administration and plays a helpful role in natural farming programmes. Farmers like him and Maali Ram are leading the way forward for improved sustainable livelihoods based on a combination of increased production, reduction of costs and protection of the environment.

(The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Man over Machine and India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food.)