Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Farmer Puttaraju cultivates rare traditional color maize in his land

Let, it be rain or shine. Puttaraju, a organic farmer of Byloor Village, Kollegal Taluk in Chamarajanagar will also get good returns from his land. He has cultivated a combination of 14 varieties of Ragi, different types of minor millets, pulses, and traditional color maize in his land. Monoculture of maize rules in his village, but millets where even finger millet as a main crop.

Being a small farmer in the obtained two acres of land, he has strive hard to cultivate a combination of different millets, pulses. He has producted 'Akkadi', an traditional multi cropping system in his land. From which he produces about nine varieties of oilseeds, pulses millets and ensure the house hold food security and also get good returns. The major advantage of Akkadi is even if one crops fails, another several crops will grow.

One of the rare traditional colour maize which are only prevailing in South India and is conserved by the Soliga Community of Biligiri Range can also be seen in his land.

He is the first certified organic farmer in his area based on the  the nutrient availability, water holding capacity, and soil fertility, in addition to natural pest and disease control. He is also inspiring the farmers in his locality and asking to save the traditional practice of farming.

“I got interested in organic faring just eight years ago. With the help of  Sahaja Samrudha and Department of Agriculture, I came to know about  traditional cropping systems. Now, I am very much happy. Even though rains have severely hit the farmers this year, I am getting good returns as I have grown 14 varieties of ragi. Ragi does'nt need so much of water,” says Puttaswamy who is in his 50's.

Krishna Prasad of Sahaja Samrudha said that ‘akkadi- traditional  multi cropping of ragi act as insurance. One or the other crop will give returns to the farmer in case of rain failure or excess rain’.
  

1 comment:

  1. Dr M D Subash ChandranAugust 26, 2014 at 8:57 PM

    Great reading. Puttaaraju be hailed as a model farmer. In persons like him the State can repose faith for conserving agricultural diversity and farm ecosystems
    Dr M D Subash Chandran
    Member Karnataka Biodiversity Board
    9449813043

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