This students experience rural life at fields in Mysuru

 A group of  final year MSc Agriculture students from College of Agriculture, VC Farm, Mandya have camped at villages of Varuna Hobli and Nanjangud, and are giving hands on experience for farmers on new farming practices and latest technologies in farming. 

The students are staying at the villages from last three months under the Rural Agriculture Work Experience Programme (RAWEP), which aims at providing first hand experience of rural life for students, and to gain practical experience in promoting and transforming technologies related to agriculture and allied fields among Farmers.

About 77 students divided into seven groups had camped at Varuna Hobli - Dandikere, PutteGowdana Hundi, Chattanahalli palya; and Maradihundi, Tummanerale, Nandigunda of Nanjangud Taluk. They have created a Crop Museum in three guntas of land in the above villages, and have given demonstration on mixed farming, and inter cropping. Paddy, varieties of Ragi, Maize, all millets, pulses , fodder, commercial crops are grown for demonstration.

The demonstration of Paddy in direct sowing, Random transplating and SRI method (System of Rice Intensification), where Paddy seedlings are transplanted in square system, which is more economical and a farmers get more number tillers per plant are drawing the attention of villagers.

Their programme activity concluded on Friday, and the students had hosted a agriculture exhibition displaying models.

MS Ramu, final year B.Sc Agriculture student and a native of Doddaballapura says, “I had no idea about agriculture, but was interested to complete by B.Sc in agriculture. Staying at villages and observing the plight and lifestyle of farmers is an unique experience. Working with different rural institution and serving for the farming community is a great opportunity. The RAWEP has helped to imbibe entrepreneurship qualities among us. I have noticed most of the government programmes have not reached farmers, and they are not aware of the latest technologies. I want to work as a field officer in Agriculture department, and make the government schemes reach farmers.”

“Before visiting the village, we had collected the basic information of the villages, which include agro ecology map, resource map, social map, Mobility map, wealth ranking, livelihood analysis, technology map, and much more. After holding discussion with villagers we sketched a problem tree, solution tree, action plan to address the woes of the farmers. The experience working in farmers field, gave us a different dimension to know the farmers problems and hone our skills,” says GM Preethi, another student.

 “The students conducted Vanamahotsava, and got built two toilets in village with the help of gram panchayat. They have dig pits for azolla cultivation and demonstration on mushroom cultivation, value addition to fruits and vegetables, the campaign for educating girls, information on seed treatments with insecticides are very helpful,” says Nagarajgowda, villager of Dandikere.

“We were thought how to prepare mixed fruit jam and information were given on selling them. The students have opined an agriculture information center and are giving solutions for several agriculture related problems.  Compost pits, azolla pits, nutritional gardens are very useful,” adds Sumithra, villager of Tummanerale.

Highlights

* Farmers are informed about the importance of testing soil fertility, indigenous technologies, selection crop, rain water harvesting and are encouraging the farmers to grow millets.

* Experts from Agriculture and Horticulture fields are invited every week to deliver lecture on a crop.  They are also educating farmers about methods to be followed to grow crops, the amount of pesticides to be used, how to convert the produce and product, marketing linkage, and much more.

 * Community development programmes like Swachch Bharath Andolan, judicious use of water, toilet room construction, parthenium eradication, safe use of chemicals, etc are being held.  

* Every day the students will visit a farmer’s house and farm and discuss their agriculture problems and know about their livelihood. They engage farmers in group discussions and give demonstration on various agriculture aspects.