Organic practices avoid investment on costly chemicals
Ms. Rajareega at her farm in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu seen
manufacturing the botanical pesticides.
There is a growing body of evidence to suggest
that in the past 4-5 decades there has been an excessive dumping of
chemical toxins on the soil. As a result the soil has become barren and
ground water toxic, in many places.
Contrast this with organic inputs that are safe, non toxic,
and cost much less. For example, if using chemical pesticides and
fertilizers for growing a crop in a hectare works out to about
Rs.6,000-7,000 the cost of growing the same crop using organic inputs
may come to only about Rs.500 - Rs. 1,000, according to Ms. Rajareega
of Raasi organic farms at Muthupatti village in Sivaganga district,
Tamil Nadu.
Lower cost
Even if some critics say that organic
farming cannot provide the same high yields as chemical farming, the
organic farmers argue that at least their land is safe; that they have
not invested in buying the chemicals and increasing their cost of
cultivation.“If you look at the suicides by farmers, then you will
understand that all those farmers who committed suicides have built up
huge debts.
The debts kept growing because of
borrowing at high interest rates for buying these chemicals which
promised to increase the yield. In the end, it only increased their
debts,” she explains.
“If only farmers use safer and natural pest
repellents and manures then where is the question of debt and
suicides,?” she enquires.
She has been using only organic manures and bio-repellents
made from locally available resources.
Five leaf extract
For example she uses 5 different leaf extracts (eindhu ilai karaisal in Tamil) derived from Calotropis (called y erukku in Tamil), Jatropha curcas (kattu amanaku in Tamil), Neem (vembu in Tamil), Guduchhi/Amruth (seenthil kodi in Tamil), Chaste tree (nochi in Tamil), Malabar nut (adathoda in Tamil), Kalmegh (siriyanangai in Tamil), Clerodendron (peenarisanghu in Tamil) and Usil (arappu
in Tamil). These plants are commonly found in all villages. About 1 kg
of leaves from each plant is taken and powdered and then ground into a
paste. It is then mixed with 5 litres of cow’s urine.
The concoction is then diluted in 5
litres of water and left undisturbed for 5 days. When required for
using about 500 ml of this concoction is diluted in 10 litres of water
and sprayed over the plants, she explains.
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| Image courtesy : wikipedia |
Ginger garlic extract
Another tried and proven mixture she uses is ginger garlic extract (called inji poondu karaisal in
Tamil). About 1 gm of ginger and garlic each, 2gm of green chilli and 5
litres of cow’s urine and water are taken. The garlic, ginger and
green chilli are ground into a paste and mixed with cow’s urine and
water. After 10 days the mixture is filtered and used. The prescribed
quantity is about 500 ml of this solution diluted in 10 litres of water
which can be sprayed over the plants.
Ideal spraying time
The ideal time for spraying these
karasals is during 6 am to 8.30 am and between 4 pm and 6.30 pm.
Depending upon the soil, crop and other climatic factors the
concentration can be raised or lowered.
Farmers can contact their nearby organic farmers who are using
these karaisals or can contact Ms. Rajareega for guidelines regarding
the concentration.
Effective control
Both the above karaisals have been
found effective in controlling leaf roller, thrips, mealy bugs, fruit,
stem and bark borer, hairy caterpillar and aphids.
Even if a farmer is not convinced about the benefits of
organic inputs he can continue to grow his crops using chemicals, but at
the same time he can set aside a small portion in his field to grow
the same crop using organic inputs. By doing so he can find out for
himself the cost benefit ratio. That itself can convince him of its
efficacy.
Readers can contact Ms. Rajareega,
Raasi organic farms, Muthupatti, via Kallal, A. Siruvayal (post),
Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, email: rajareega@rediffmail.com,
mobile: 9865-582142 and phone: 04565-284937.
source:tnau
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