, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Belur Math , Howrah, West Bengal, India

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Development of Low Cost Organic Agriculture Technologies ,

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“ she(India) is awakening .. from her deep long sleep. ... masses and the poor are to RKMVU be made happy.” 3

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“Hence our object is to see that everyone down to ‘chandal’ be helped to attain the right to Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.”

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Inspiration

The spiritual impact that has come to Belur [Math] will last fifteen hundred years, and it will be a great university. Do not think I imagine it; I see it. RKMVU

Swami Vivekananda envisioned a University that would combine the best elements of the East and the West. 11/8/2013

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• In fact, on the very last day of his passing away in mahasamadhi, he said: “Keeping the ancient Indian ideological roots firm and blending it with modern science and technology, we should establish a University at Belur Math.” • Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, headquartered at Belur Math, is a humble attempt to actualize this vision of Swamiji. RKMVU 11/8/2013

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The School of Agriculture and Rural Development of the University with its two faculty centres at Narendrapur, Kolkata and Ranchhi, Jharkhand strives to combine the traditional wisdom of the farmers with modern science and technology. 11/8/2013

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Attracting Youths in Agriculture • National sample survey shows us that thousands of farmers, among them the younger ones, are leaving their profession every year. This is a huge challenge before us. • Western science needs to be harmoniously blended with traditional wisdom as envisioned by Swami Vivekananda in order to retain the educated rural youths in their respective villages and earn their livelihood with dignity and deep satisfaction. • To address this challenge, we have to see that farming becomes a profitable, prestigious, sustainable and organized profession. RKMVU 11/8/2013

To show them new means of food production is our first and foremost duty. - Swami Vivekananda RKMVU

Essence of religion “I

do not believe in a God or religion which cannot wipe out the widow's tears or bring a piece of bread to the orphan's mouth,... To stake one's whole life and soul to save thousands who are dying of starvation—this is the essence of the religion of the Vedanta!" • Swami Vivekananda

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Albert Einstein in his message to the people of India had rightly said in 1948, “India should not go for mechanized farming. Soil in the U.S.A. has lost much of its fertility within a span of just three hundred years, whereas India’s soil retains its fertility till today, even though farming has been going on for last 10000 years. Tractor’s ploughing and use of fertilizers will bring loss of fertility, eventually causing incalculable and irreparable harm to the country.” RKMVU

Challenges before us • • • • • • • • • • •

Declining Cultivated Land Increasing Population Declining Soil Fertility Decreasing Input Use efficiency Declining Water Table Increasing Problems of Soil Salinity Stagnation in Yield of High Yielding Varieties Increasing Problems of Pests and their Resistance Loss of Biodiversity and Pollution Polluted Food and Causes for fatal Diseases like Cancer Self Sufficiency in Food

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Cancer Train

Abohor Bikaner passenger train carrying passengers from cotton growing region of Malwar region

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Thirsty and hungry soil of India “Soils in India are often not only 'thirsty' but also 'hungry'. Inputs are needed for output. Therefore, what we need is a reduction in the use of market purchased chemical input and not of inputs per se.” Swaminathan (1992) RKMVU

Solution---

Evergreen Revolution through

Organic Agriculture 11/8/2013

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What is Organic Agriculture? Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and

cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved. RKMVU

Principles of Organic Agriculture • Principle of Health- Health of soil, plant, animal, man and planet • Principle Ecology- conserving and promoting local eco-system • Principle of Fairness • Principle of Care 11/8/2013

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Parameters of a proven technology/system • Desired Productivity of clean foods and other products • Higher Profitability • Sustainability • Higher Input Use Efficiency • Eco-friendliness sustaining biodiversity • Social acceptability RKMVU

Elements of Organic agriculture

• Soil conservation • Crop diversity

• INM • IPM

• Water conservation • Agro- forestry • Marketing

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Natural resource: Land PROBLEMS • Degradation due to water and wind erosion

• Loss of productivity • Chemical and physical degradation • Water logging/ soil salinity

PRACTICES  Crop rotation, cover crops and aforestation  Recycling of crop residue  Organic manure

 Biofertilizaer  Green manuring

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Natural resource: Water

PROBLEM • Low water table, Run off loss

PRACTICES • • • •

Conserving every drop of Rainwater Scheduling of Irrigation Water Maximizing the Water Use Efficiency Conjunctive Use RKMVU

Natural Resource: Biodiversity • Agroforestry: combining food crops (annuals) with tree crops preferably the nitrogen fixing ones(perennials) • Silvi-pasture: tree + a perennial legume of grass species as pasture • Agri-horticulture: crops + fruit trees • Alley cropping: crops are grown in allies formed between trees/ shrubs Selection should be done considering land capability systems and annual rainfall RKMVU

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Green manure

Fertilizers

Biofertilizers

INM Organic Manure

Organic liquid manure

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Development of Low Cost Organic Package  Vedic agriculture based on some ancient books like Surapala's Vrikshayurveda, Lokopakaro, Viswaballabha etc  Natural farming of Mr Fukuoka  Organic farming concept & methods of IFOAM  Resource conserving technologies of modern agriculture  Sri Subhash Pallekar-Zero Budget  Farmers’ Field  Research and experiments of our University  SALCoT -a DST sponsored project under RuTAG  Our own experience in organic cultivation RKMVU

Ongoing Projects • “Efficacy of microbial pesticides and natural enemy to control pest in the farmers’ field” funded by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of West Bengal • Improved Quality of Rural Life through Scientific Management of Natural Resources Funded by – Department of Science and Technology, Government of India

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Low cost package of technologies for sustainable farming i) ii)

Land preparation- Raised bed technique, zero/minimum tillage Soil drenching with liquid manures for land reclamation and/manuring iii) Appropriate crop selection according to soil type and land situation; and seed treatment with beeja Sanjivani iv) Integrated Nutrient Management: a. Manuring- Compost, vermicompost, biofertilisers in soil, on standing crops, with seeds and manures b. Preparation and use of different liquid manures c. Green manuring and green leaf manuring- Culturing Azolla, ploughing down green manured plants, using green legume leaves, growing leguminous plants on bunds, borders of the field/farm etc d. Creating congenial environment for growth and multiplication of earthworms and beneficial microbes RKMVU

v) In situ water management- Every drop of water is conserved through adoption of different soil and water conservation practices and thus reduces requirement of irrigation vi) Mulching – Covering plots with crop residues or other biodegradable materials to control weeds, conserve moistures, add biomass etc vii) Integrated Pest management- Biopesticides, botanical pesticides, organic pesticides and natural control viii) Weed management- Furrow irrigation in raised beds, mulching, cover crops, use of well rotten cowdung manures, proper crop rotation, uprooting weeds before seed formation etc ix) Live fencing for protection of crops from grazing animals x) Seed storage-Using botanical and organic preparation xi) Appropriate crop rotation according soil and land situation.

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HigHligHts…….

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Furrow irrigated raised beds for kharif crops Narendrapur-08 RKMVU 35

Effect of raised beds in Rose Garden

Rose in raised beds Rose in control beds RKMVU Belur Math Campus

Effect of raised beds with mulching, Belur Math Campus RKMVU

Germination Test

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Mulching and its benefits: It is one of the most important operations in organic farming. Cultivated land should be covered with uncut paddy straw, paddy husk or dried leaves up to 3-4 cm thickness just after sowing of seed or transplanting of seedlings. It helps to: a. conserve soil moisture, b. check soil erosion c. check weed growth, d. maintain moderate soil temperature, e. promote activity of soil microbes, RKMVU 40

Mulching and its benefits: f. keep soil loose and aerated, g. add organic matter in soil after decomposition of mulching materials, h. protects seeds from birds etc. • Live mulching specially with leguminous crops is effective in enriching soil with nitrogenous nutrients, biomass production and soil moisture conservation in addition to generating additional income. e.g. cow pea, dhaincha, berseem etc. RKMVU

Mulching in raised beds Ranchi-08 RKMVU

Effect of mulching and raised bed on weeds in cabbage: Sl No.

Name of the treatment

1.

Raised bed furrow Straw mulching

+

22

2.

Raised Bed + no mulching

34

3.

No raised mulching

300

bed

+

Average count (including all types of weed)

no

Source:Organic Farm,Narendrapur, 2007-08

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NADEP uknsicompost dEiksLV

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Nadep Compost, RKMVU

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In situ composting, Ranchi,09

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Vermicompost in Packets for Sale

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Spraying liquid manure in Tomato, Narendrapur, 2007

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Live fencing

Ipomea sp

Nishinda,Sindwar (Vitex negunda) RKMVU

Live Fencing with Karamcha

Purba Gopal Nagar, 24pgs(S), Jan 13 RKMVU

Glyricidia Seeds and Hedge

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Pheromone Trap and Light Trap

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Light Trap in vegetable field

Kamarpukur _8 Feb 14

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Parasites and predators

Lady bird beetle

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Spider- natural enemy of pest RKMVU 57

Beneficial Insect

Preying mentis

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Garden Lizard(Calotes versicolor) Garden Lizard

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Spider with its web in organic cabbage

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Org cabbage of Kamarpukur_8 Feb 14

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Spider with its web in organic tomato

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Org tomato of Kamarpukur_8 Feb 14

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Bee

20% increase in yield RKMVU

Bio Control of pests

Bird’s perch

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Parrot control by glossy paper and thread

Organic Wheat,Ranchi-Jan,09

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Biopesticides in Packets

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Botanical Pesticides Sl. No

1 2

3 4 5 6 7

Plants

Vitex negunda(Nishinda)(2%) + Neem kernel cake(1%) Vitex negunda(Nishinda)(2%) + Calotrpis gigantia(Akanda) Neem kernel cake 3% Perthenium sp(3%)+ Vinca rosea(1%) Papaya(3%) Ocimum sp(Thulsi)(3%)

Pest controlled

Thrips Aphids

Leaf eating catterpillar Thrips

Leaf eating catterpillar Catterpillars and spotted leaf beetles Soak Turmeric 1 Kg in 10 lts of cow Catterpillars and Aphids urine for two days and then dilute it 67 to 100 lt for an acre of crop. RKMVU

Azoyan

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Akanda (Calotropis gigantia)

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Nishinda, Sindwar (Vitex negunda) RKMVU

Karabi(Nerium indicum)

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Neem (Azadiracta indica) RKMVU

Tulsi (Ocimum sp) RKMVU

Putush(Lantana camera) RKMVU

Karanj tree(Pongamia sp)

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Leaves for botanical pesticides Ipomea Akanda

Ajowan Neem Parthenium

Papaya

Datura

Nishinda/Agastya RKMVU

Boiling for getting leaf extract

Ranchi, April 12 RKMVU

Prepared Mixed Leaf Extract

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Spraying botanical pesticides in sesame,Ranchi,2007 79

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Caterpillars in Cowpea

Ranchi-08

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Control of insects

Ranchi-08

100% insect control after spray of soap powder and kerosene solution, Ranchi

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Control (No treatment)

At the time of treatment

4 days after no treatment

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Agroforestry

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Flowering mustard plants at organic field, Ranchi ,2007 RKMVU

Organic Niger

Ranchi-Dec-08 RKMVU

Organic Cabbage

Organic Plot, Narendrapur, 2007

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Organic Cauliflower

Organic Plot, Narendrapur, 2007

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Organic KnolKhol, Ranchi-Nov,08

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Flowering Pea

Organic farm,Narendrapur,2007

89

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Organic Chilli

Organic Field at Narenndrapur,2007

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Organic greengram

Vegetative growth

Organic Field at Narenndrapur,2007

91

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Organic Wheat,Ranchi-Jan,09

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Organic Gram,Ranchi-Jan,09

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Organic Lentil-Jan,09,Ranchi

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Organic Fenugreek(Methi)

Ranchi-Jan,09 RKMVU

Organic Brinjal without borers

Ranchi_March 11

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Organic Dahlia, RKMVU

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Organic Flower garden

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University RKMVU Belur Math

Enrichment of soil in organic Plot, Ranchi,Sept-08

Inorganic plot

Organic plot

After two years of organic cultivation

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Organic farming and Global warming Organic farming produces the same yield as does conventional farming, but uses 30% less energy, less water and no pesticides, a review of 22 year farming trial in Cornell University study concludes. The fact that organic agriculture systems also absorb and retain significant amount of carbon in the soil has implications over global warming. David Pimentel, prof of Ecology and Agriculture, said that soil carbon in the organic systems increased by 15 to 28 %, the equivalent of taking 3500 pounds of carbon dioxide per ha out of air. RKMVU

Organic Vegetables are more nutritive

Higher nutrient content in five frequently studied vegetables based on 75 years study on differences in four nutrients content between organic and conventional vegetables. For the one toxic compound, nitrates, the organic crop had a lower content in the majority of the time. Source: Worthington (2001) RKMVU

Effect of Sanjivani on Blackgram Control

Protein Content (%) 30 ± 3.43 DPPH radical scavenging activity (% inhibition) (Antioxidant) 28.68 ± 0.77

Treated with Sanjivani(10%) 30.76 ± 6.85

33.76 ± 0.45

RuTAG_EI,NDP-08

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Yield record of Organic fields Name of the

Farm

Variety Yield

crop and year

(Q/ha)

Potential Yield (Q/ha)(Jharkhand Average)Source-BAU

1

2

3

Mustard(Rabi -

Morabadi Pusa

2007-08)

,Ranchi

8-10

106.6

100-125

7.4

6-8 in marginal land

Agrani

Cow pea(Kharif- ,,

(Pole

07)

type)

Mung(Kharif-

11.22

,,

07)

and 10-12 in medium land

4

5

Cabbage(Rabi -

Narendra Rare

2007-08)

pur,WB

ball

Beans(Rabi -

,,

Dwarf

2007-08)

type

352.5

250-300

53.13

50-55 103

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Comparative study of benefit cost ratio of black gram cultivation (Vigna mungo)

Organic

Cost of

Net

Benefit cost

cultivation

return

ratio

2409.2

6290.8

3.61

3319.2

4780.8

2.44

cultivation

Inorganic cultivation

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Comparative study of benefit cost ratio of mustard cultivation (Brassica juncea) in one acre of land in Jharkhand -2007-08

Cost of

cultivation in INR Organic

cultivation Inorganic cultivation

Net return in INR

Benefit cost ratio

10,745

13, 500

2.26

11,145

12000

2.08 RKMVU

Comparative study of benefit cost ratio of lentil cultivation (Lens culinaris) in one acre of land in Jharkhand -2007-08 Cost of Cost of Net Net return Benefit cost ratio nd cultiva cultivation return (2 year nd year tion (2nd year (1st onward) 2 st 1 year (1st onward) year)Rs (Assuming onward year) lower range of yield )Rs Organic

11120

8120

36880

39880

4.32

5.91

11520

11520

33480

33480

3.91

3.91

cultivation Inorganic cultivation

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Comparative study of benefit cost ratio of Tomato cultivation (Solanum lycopersicum) in one acre of land in Jharkhand -2009-10 Cost of cultivation (1st year)

Net return (1st year)Rs

Organic cultivation

37500

35250

1.94

Inorganic cultivation

37500

32750

1.87

Benefit cost ratio 1st year

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Comparative study of benefit cost ratio of Cabbage cultivation (B. oleracea var. capitata ) in one acre of land in Jharkhand -2009-10 Cost of cultivation (1st year)

Net return (1st year)Rs

Organic cultivation

35000

51000

2.45

Inorganic cultivation

37500

34100

1.91

Benefit cost ratio 1st year

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DREAM ORGANIC

EAT ORGANIC

RKMVU LIVE ORGANIC