India FDI- Does it really need it?

India has announced recently new policy which is being debated in the parliament. As it is in a robust democracy everyone has their fears opinions and some reasonable arguments and this debating seems to have a polarizing effect on the country, its main political parties and the society.

So why is the Foreign Direct Investment in retail sector so important now?

Indian development started in the 1990s when the country was struggling even to pay its fuel bills as it did not have enough foreign exchange. This led to IMF ( International Monetary Fund) forcing Indian the then finance minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh to open up markets to save the economy of the country. Although not much was done to liberalize the economy it was adequate to start a boom especially in the Information technology or IT sector by sheer coincidence. However unfortunately the current generation of Indian youth and those political parties who have selective amnesia seem to forget the fact that just 2 decades ago India did not have foreign exchange for its fuel bill.

So FDI in retail is the next wave of liberalization that needed to be done about a decade ago if not earlier. What does FDI do for people? First of all let us look at Agriculture. Indian tycoons so far have shied away from major investment in Agriculture infrastructure. India agriculture directly and indirectly feeds about 52% of the rural population, employs similar amount of the population while using decades old technology and giving minimum amount of profits to farmers due to subsidies (welfare) rather than due to true productivity. Add to this is the general inflation leading to food inflation. Reserve Bank is not able to increase or decrease the interest rates significantly unlike in the US UK and Australia as this would affect seriously self funded retirees of India who out number any welfare recipients. If Indian business giants had invested significantly in Indian agriculture infrastructure like rail, road transport logistics, silos chiller storages, modern agriculture technological practices, development co-operative based agriculture, creation of vertical value chain from farmgate to food consumption then there would not have been any need for foreign investments.

For various reasons Indian businesses have concentrated on developing mining interests in overseas countries, development of agriculture sector in Africa and sectors such as IT which are quick providers of dollars. Indian agriculture has none of these benefits one has to wait to realize the benefits.

India approximately produces 250 million tonnes of grain and is the largest livestock producer. This means issues such as green house gas emissions etc come into play along with investment by the foreign companies. Any company needs to have serious commitment to the agriculture sector and develop lot of systems and logistics almost from the ground up. Farmers need training and small scale equipment which is not used in the agriculture sectors in the US Australia and UK where mechanization rules and holding range from 200-20000 hectares. Indian farmers on an average hold 2-5 acres to a large extent although some own up to 50 acres. These farms are not well suited to full mechanization and due to urban migration and labour shortages not suited to manual labour either.

Indian agriculture needs some basic technology too. For e.g., it is very had to find any soil lab in India which would do soil test and provide comprehensive test result and explanation to farmers. It would be impossible to find Near Infra Red Machines (NIR) in silos to test wheat and other grains and provide prices as per premium quality or higher protein. Indian govt fixes the prices to socialize grain distribution resulting in farmers who grow high quality grain getting the same price as those who grow lower quality grain. This is akin to a IT sector programmer who programs satellite launch getting the same salary as those who develop an IPhone app. How many people would tolerate such inequality with their work? How many Indians who shout today that FDI will get rid of the Kirana stores are prepared to set up a system in India where farmers are paid a fair price not the price fixed unfairly to the farmers for their hard work and effort to produce the grain. Indian farming systems follow the same price structure which was followed when no technology was available for testing soils or grains and has this one price payed to all method. Farmers in India have to literally beg for subsidy money and a fair price. No other sector deserves more respect however no other sector is disrespected as much as Agriculture sector.

It is high time that Indian society and politicians respected farmers work and treated them as a business. It is high time they were provided with infrastructure to store and transport their produce. It is high time that price fixing by government was stopped to benefit its own PDS system. It is high time premium price was paid to premium product without farmers not having to beg for it. It is high time farmers were allowed to sell their premium product to overseas markets where it may make better price. If government does not restrict BPOs and IT companies on to whom they can provide service why are they preventing Indian agriculturalist to do so?

FDI such as this one has the potential for competition by the investors to compete for farmers, provide technology and training and then provide a fair price for a better product. This will reduce poverty too. Yes there are kirana stores. Has Indian govt stopped WIPROs INFOSYS etc from expansion just because there are many small IT shops in SP Road, Bangalore? Why are people are asking for such an unfair discrimination against farmers who battle drought heavy rain and hard work to bring food to people.

It is better that Indian society support farmers and pay a reasonable price to every vendor from big stores to the vendor in the corner of the street. If this disrespect of agriculture sector continues in India, and people start shedding crocodile tears for farmers then watch out! Many of the Indian farmers will become labourers and sell up their farms to developers and food prices will go through the roof.

Indians have to put up or shut up this time. Indian businesses have as much right to invest millions needed for agriculture. No one is stopping them. However if they can't do it they should allow others to do so and turn farm sector in India as a respectable one as it contributes 22% to the economy. It contributes only 7% and manufacturing 33%.

Long live the Indian Farmer!!!

India - A case for farm work mechanization and rural modernization

India is a vast country with over 1.2 billion people. That is combined number of people of US and Europe and then some. Countries like India had to commence industrial development overnight with the advent of independence with out much time or training to its people. When British left India according to Angus Madison's eminent British economists calculation India went from a contributor of 22% to the global economy to 3% to the global economy with a population of about 450 million and over 90% either uneducated or under educated with labouring skills at best as a human resource. Green Revolution in India in the 1960s due to the development of dwarf non lodging varieties saved Indians from literal starvation. The British had looted and scooted India without as much as a single pound of compensation or payment for all the grain looted from India for its War effort. In this scenario despite no support from the British what so ever India commenced its Industrialization with little or no skilled people on one hand, lack of finances on the other and grinding poverty famine and fragmented country to top it all.

In the background of all these was the Gandhi's appropriate pre-independence value of Swadeshi (with in own country) and the ideology of self reliance and multitude of political opinions from people who had not even run a chicken raffle leave alone a country with diverse complex problems. India thought self reliance means developing everything indigenous and with local labour force. That was fine if they had skills for a modern India that was urgently needed. The ideology seems to be more important than grinding poverty of masses. Indian population policy first to be developed in the world in 1950 was never implemented. Indian the then PM Nehru thought a socialistic system of government modelled along the lines of Russia would somehow give all the equality social justice and jobs needed by the peoples of India. Practical considerations were not looked at carefully or analysed carefully prior to implementing all intellectually based ideas rather than practical business and economy based ideas. India went from one 5 year plan to the next with minimal development either in the industrial or agricultural sectors. True there was a glimmer of hope now and then when satellites were launched and men went to the space. However India with out the required productivity without govt spend on welfare or infrastructure development until 1990s was grinding itself slowly but surely to bankruptcy and nearly came towards defaulting payments of its loans.

India has been referred to in articles as a "Reluctant Urbanizer". Yes India has failed to urbanize and develop countries infrastructure and more recently set it self a goal of developing 20km or road per day but has only met a target of about 12km/day. There are numerous reasons for this. However India has failed its rural population more than its urban population by hiding behind providing jobs to everyone and keeping the rural jobs labour intensive and preventing to a large extent by lack of incentives the mechanization of the farm work. It is a myth that mechanization of farm work will make people loose jobs. People will loose jobs only when they don't get prepared to take on the new jobs. Private sector at least to some extent as in the article below has now woken up to the fact and started the training process.

Mechanization per se has more benefits than negatives. First of all there are direct benefits where a farmer can access equipment to sow or harvest crops on time quickly and loose very little grain while harvesting. This means the standard of the harvest will be better safety will be higher and and quality of the work and harvest yield will be higher. Next let us say farmers daughter or son wants to train in the equipment and if they do they can not only work on their farm but start a business by contract sowing and harvesting. Then mechanization of spraying can lead to not only timely spraying and less use of chemicals but also development of businesses by those who own the equipment. Indirectly there are local sellers, distributors and repairers of these equipment leading to more businesses and employment in the areas. Rural youth then get employed at a much higher level jobs in the rural area but those who start businesses can hire apprentices and staff too. Since it is mechanized both men and women can partake in this activity as skill is the basis not the body strength. This has been the situation in the west. India is not so unique that it has to keep its people poor and in labouring jobs. Skilling up people is the key. Since mechanization will bring more prosperity farmers children can get better educated too as income levels of the family go up either directly or indirectly. India should not hide behind "aam admi" or "ordinary peoples" interest as if keeping them with crumbs of the economic development is a very satisfactory outcome of the growth boom.

Companies such as those below should be encouraged with incentives to provide training to rural youth men and women to develop mechanization skills not only in operation of the equipment but in repairs, distribution network development, innovation of new equipment, small business skills and financial literacy. Banks should be encouraged to provide loans to those who can develop these rural businesses to encourage rural youth to stay work and thrive in rural areas. Time for keeping rural people poor and hungry for vested interests is over.

I do hope everyone who sees this article will inspire someone to undertake this training. With over 52% of the population of India based in rural areas it is not possible to develop with out use of technology. IT is not the only technology rural youth in India require. Rural areas require modernization as much as urban areas. These farmers produce over 250 million tonnes of grain to feed India. However Indian urban people are failing them by not encouraging and providing pathway for rural modernization.

Please read a relevant article here

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gsZjaqfzqIzUnqXqC9v1yw4692UQ?docId=d0f271517202448ea5ad64fec5ff960a

Equipped to Farm ( article from The Hindu 31 Oct 2012)

Rural youth get training in farm techniques to address the gap in agri-productivity and food production


Technical skills and training were provided to unemployed rural youth for gainful employment in local villages. Under a certification programme, crop nutrition and agri-solution company, Tata Chemicals Ltd trained 20 farm technicians recently.

“As mechanisation caught up with rising demand, lack of trained manpower at local level surfaced. Without adequately skilled and locally available manpower it is not possible to address the gap in agriculture productivity and food production,” said Mr. R. Mukundan, Managing Director, Tata Chemicals Ltd.

National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM) was the academic partner for evaluating and certifying technicians.

The ‘Farm Technician Certification Program’ is a year long classroom plus on-the-job training, which seeks to instil the fundamentals of operating high tech farm equipments like rotavator, laser leveller, seed cum ferti drill, reaper etc. blended with theoretical lessons on land levelling, deep ploughing, crop sowing, nutrition and protection to rural youth who were unable to pursue education due to certain reasons, according to a release.

The company partnered with farm equipment manufacturers John Deere to impart technical training in farm equipments for the programme.



Bees as good workers in agirculture and garden

Bees are good for your agriculture and garden

The article below attracted my attention due to two issues. One the use of bees in agriculture often negelected area and the other a bus conductor seem to have more awareness than scientists in India. The insects are the pollinators scavengers and maintiners of ecosystem. This fact has been proven time and again yet there is a apathy interms of maintaining their ecosystem and habitat. Insects such as ants are also indicator species for weather. Bees in particular serve humanity so much that in Vedic times honey has been used to please gods by offering honey to smear gods, as offerings and during Homa or fire offerning to please Gods in Hindu religion. Yet bees which produce honey suffer due to lack of habitat over urbanization and removal of trees which have been their homes for a long time.

Bees are not only used for honey they are essential for seed yield of crops such as canola, lucerne (alfalfa) and many a horticultural and ornamental species. The urbanization happening in India at a breakneck speed in many areas near cities will have a huge impact on yield of crops thereby the economy. Bees also seem to protect vegetable plants from attack by harmful insects.Note that in many cases you will also attract native bees which are also efficient pollinators.

How to attract bees in your home garden

One does not have to keep bee boxes in the home garden to attract bees. Here are 2 simple methods I have used every year successfully. When I plant tomatoes, eggplants etc I plant several basil and marigold plants intersperced among them. The basil plants attract bees extensively and the bees get food and my plants get protection. Marigold plants also seem to act a biofumigation and protect plants from insect attacks and also reduce snail number. I find that dwarf marigold more useful as any and they are very easy to maintain as well. Try sowing basil and marigold in your garden any the color fragrance and protection from harmful insects without paying any price for it. Both basil and marigold seed can be harvested from the dried flowers so your cost is generally next to nothing.

The Hindu

A bus conductor links bee security to food security


M. J. Prabu

Maintaining the bees and sharing the income from honey is a new venture. Rarely do we come across individuals who apart from their regular work become obsessed with something that becomes their passion, dream and conviction. Mr. A. Parthiban is one such person who is popularly known as honey bee man in Gobichettypalayam, Tamil Nadu.

Working schedule

The man works as a bus conductor on the Gobi-Madurai route for nearly 12 hours a day, three days a week. During the rest of the week he is busy catching honeybees, installing bee boxes in several fields, orchards and coconut groves. Hailing from an ordinary farming family Mr. Parthiban seems to realize the importance of the bees in the ecological cycle. “The insects are essential for our food security. Without them many of our fruits, vegetables or flowers would become extinct. But sadly modern science doesn’t seem to realize this. In the name of advancement we are destroying many things that play an important role. Productive and rapidly declining honeybees are one such,” he says.

Western countries have recognized the effect of honey bee pollination and are doing their best to protect and encourage these insects. “But here in our place we call them a nuisance. We either smoke them away or drive them using fires.” he adds. Though initially Mr. Parthiban’s interest appeared weird to his friends and neighbours, they started supporting him once they started realizing that he was speaking some sense.

Lot of calls

Today he is flooded with calls from different areas requesting him to set up bee boxes or catch the bees hovering in the orchards and godowns. “People find the bees scary. They think the insect will sting them. Normally the insects do not sting anyone unless disturbed,” he says. The main popularity of the man in the region is that apart from setting up bee boxes he also offers to take care of the box and the bees (maintenance). “Maintaining the insects was one area which did not have many takers,” he says and adds: “I thought if I could step in it would increase the interest among many people to set up bee boxes in their place.”

Two approaches

He advocates two types of approaches in promoting this enterprise. One is installing the bee-boxes by the farmers’ investment and the sale from honey is given to the owner. Two, Mr. Parthiban himself installs the boxes and maintains them. The income from honey is shared between the owner of the farm and him.

Mr. K.K. Ramaswamy of Vaiyakadu thottam in kolapalur village had approached Mr. Parthiban to obtain a remedy for flower setting in his tamarind tree. Parthiban placed the bee boxes and advised Mr.Ramaswamy to wait for some months.

Increase in yield

And as predicted the tamarind farmer harvested 4,350 kgs of tamarind compared to previous yield of 1,000 Kgs from 250 trees. Apart from his monthly income the bees seem to have provided him with an additional income of nearly Rs. 20,000 a month. More than the danger involved in climbing trees to catch some bees, because of the painful stings, it is the feeling that he was doing something worthwhile, seems to be his conviction. Recently the district science forum in the region awarded his son Mr. Jawahar Raja an 8th class student for developing a solar melter for melting the honey combs.

Usually after the honey has been extracted the empty comb is heated in a pot or vessel for making candles. Through this solar melter the comb gets melted and the liquid oozes out through a outlet and collected in moulds.

“A humble earthworm during its lifetime makes the soil fertile, a silkworm before it dies spins some silk threads, aren’t we, endowed with a sixth sense, supposed to do better?” he asks.

Interested readers can contact Mr. A. Parthiban at 11/18 Makali amman, street, Kollapur post, Gobichettypalayam, mobile: 9442171818.

Principles of Best Mangement practices apply to agriculture and home gardens too

Good practices used in farms large or small can lead to profitability

Excellent way to do farming. Intercropping with a legume such as beans means low nitrogen input. Use of drip irrigation means less use of water less evaporation of water and less leaching of fertilizers. Hats off to this guy for adopting all best management practices in farming. He needs to be publicized widely among farmers to prevent flood irrigation and loss of water to the country and contamination of water ways.

Intercropping is similar to combined farming practices where one crop benefits another crop and thereby reduces inputs. In home gardens if one puts beans among tomatoes and eggplants then biological nitrogen fixed by the legumes such as beans will feed the non legumes there by increasing production with minimal inputs.

Both the examples below have certain practices in common intercropping where one crops benefits the other but it also helps to market in a better manner and obtain consistent income when one crop may be low and the other high. Next both these farmers have used mulch to conserve water and create better soil texture structure and soil environment for their plants. They have used water efficiently to reduce their inputs and not squandered the fertilizers.

These farmers are clear examples of Indian farmers being smart progressive and intelligent to adopt best practices in agriculture. These people are the examples of good custodianship of the land while living comfortably. These farmers are also demonstrating that one does not have to loot the land to make profits. Western farmers have been using fertilizers excessively for a long time and this had led to initial productivity and now decline of the land and thereby farm gate profits and productivity. These people in their small way are setting the example to the world by listening to good advice and using good practices. This way can be applied in home gardens too.

Beans and roses for this progressive farmer

V Rajagopal Malur, July 5, 2012, DHNS

A progressive farmer, Manjunath Reddy, of Hulimangala village of H Hosakote gram panchayat, has been successful in intercropping of beans with roses, with minimum use of water.

Manjunath first planted roses in his two-acre farm and in between two rows of roses he planted beans. On the advise of his relative, who work at Gandhi Krishi Vignan Kendra in Hebbal, Bangalore, he planted rows of Gold Orange breed of roses maintaining a distance of three feet between two rows. In between rows of roses he sowed Anupama breed of beans. It takes three months for the rose plant to bloom, while the beans start growing in a month. Beans grows during all seasons. While the water table is declining in the taluk, Manjunath has adopted drip irrigation managing with whatever little water is available in his borewell.

Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity. The most common goal of intercropping is to produce a greater yield on a given piece of land by making use of resources that would otherwise not be utilized by a single crop. Careful planning is required, taking into account the soil, climate, crops, and varieties. It is particularly important not to have crops competing with each other for physical space, nutrients, water, or sunlight. Examples of intercropping strategies are planting a deep-rooted crop with a shallow-rooted crop, or planting a tall crop with a shorter crop that requires partial shade.

Benefits

When crops are carefully selected, other agronomic benefits are also achieved. Lodging-prone plants, those that are prone to tip over in wind or heavy rain, may be given structural support by their companion crop. Creepers can also benefit from structural support. Some plants are used to suppress weeds or provide nutrients. Delicate or light sensitive plants may be given shade or protection, or otherwise wasted space can be utilized. An example is the tropical multi-tier system where coconut occupies the upper tier, banana the middle tier, and pineapple, ginger, or leguminous fodder, medicinal or aromatic plants occupy the lowest tier. Intercropping of compatible plants also encourages biodiversity, by providing a habitat for a variety of insects and soil organisms that would not be present in a single-crop environment.

Manjunath has also used mulch paper to control weeds and maintain soil moisture. The re is the added advantage that soil nutrients also do not get lost, resulting in a better crop yield. With the prices of vegetable, including beans, shooting up in June, Reddy was able to fetch a price of Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kg of beans of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per quintal. Beans are also sent to Tamil Nadu. While the peak season of beans is over, it is time for roses to bloom. Before adopting intercropping, Manjunath grew capsicum successfully, but now as beans get a better price he decided to grow beans. Gangappa, a technical officer in horticulture department says that it requires Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 to grow beans in one hectare of land. But it can fetch a profit of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. Beans is therefore called ‘farmer’s friend’, he adds.

Woman farmer extracts record oilpalm yield from a hectare

M. J. Prabu The Hindu July 4 2012

 

A record yield of 53.20 tonnes in three years has been achieved

Whatever the crop, it is the price that matters to farmers. “Getting a good price is essential for a farmer and especially for those growing crops like oilpalm, the price to a large extent depends on the international market over which we may not have much control. Nevertheless we are trying our best to guide oilpalm farmers in India to get a good yield,” says Dr. S. Arulraj, Director, Directorate of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh.

New start

Research on oil palm under irrigated conditions means practically a new start and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research established the National Research Centre for Oil Palm at Pedavegi in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh in 1995. It was upgraded as Directorate of Oil Palm Research (DOPR) to cater to the location specific programmes across the country. The institute serves as a centre for conducting and co-ordinating research on all aspects of oil palm conservation, improvement, production, protection, post-harvest technology and transfer of technology. It also has a research centre at Palode near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

“While it is true that in some areas of Andhra Pradesh and adjoining States farmers cut down their oil palm plantations in frustration of not being able to get a good price, there are also farmers like Mrs. Suma Kumar who has been able to get a record yield of 53.20 tonnes and also a good price from a hectare in three years,” says Dr. Arul Raj. The Directorate of Oil Palm Research honoured her with the best farmer award during the recent Kisan Mela celebrations. “This is the highest yield recorded so far in India,” says Dr. Arul Raj and adds the main reason being the innovative practices adopted by the farmer.

Intercropping

Suma Kumar planted the trees on 0.56 hectare 15 years ago. She also cultivated banana as intercrop during the first and second year of planting to generate income. Trenches were cut across the slope in the garden for draining excess water during monsoon. Mulching the palm basins using the cut fronds was also done to conserve moisture. Fertilizers were applied to the oilpalm crop in six split doses, thus, maximizing the fertilizer use efficiency. In addition, she applied poultry manure mixed with neem cake available locally at low cost. The poultry manure was kept for 2-3 months for decomposition in the trenches along with trash and cut leaves, and well decomposed material was applied in palm basins. Care was taken to apply the manures and fertilizers within an area of three metre radius in the basin. In addition, tank silt was applied, once in five years, to the garden to improve the soil physical conditions.

Harvested tonnage

The farmer harvested 58.24 tonnes in 2009-10, followed by 46.71 tonnes in 2010-11 and 54.68 tonnes per hectare on January, 2012. Thus, during the last three years, she could achieve an average yield of 53.20 tonnes per hectare over a period of three years. “We are ready and eager to address any issue or grievance from oilpalm farmers in the country. “They can contact me on my mobile or office phone and our institute will try its best to solve any problem an oil palm farmer is facing,” assures Dr. Arul Raj.

Ready to guide

Oilpalm farmers can contact Dr. S. Arulraj, Director, Directorate of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi - 534 450, Andhra Pradesh, email:dopr2009@gmail.com, Phone: 08812-259532 and 259409, mobile: 09491198244 and Mrs. M.S. Suma Kumar, Marse Village, Mandakahalli (P.O.), Varuna (Hobli), Mysore taluk and district, Karnataka, Mobile : 09986962289.



Can we just blame the pesticides? Or is it the ignorant and indiscrimate use that is to be blamed?

The latest episode of popular program Sathyameva Jayathe (Truth only Previals) has shown this episode called Toxic food and blames pesticides for health problems etc. I am no advocate for chemical pesticide industry nor am I an advocate for Organic food industry as both have been telling some truths but some not such correct facts either.

http://www.satyamevjayate.in/issue08/

There is not one bit of evidence through numerous studies conducted to show that Organic food is in any way better than convensionally grown foods yet the myth persists among populace and this myth is perpetuated by some half scientists and vested interests. Organic production is not simple nor is it economical to feed the large population of India.

However there is some truth in saying pesticides can cause problems if incorrectly used. The pesticides of yore such as Organophosphates, Mercuric Chroride Endosulphan etc are a thing of the psat in most industries in the west as their ill effects have been demonstrated and documented. However the newer chemcials when used correctly have not know to be directly responsible for any ill effects.

So what is the problem in India? Simple incorrect use of pesticides, lack of proper training for farmers, scientists and agronomists, lack of proper safety regulations set up by the government. Most of all lack of proper handling labeling and lack of information on lables and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and Integrated Pest Management strategies. Any one who compares lables MSDS in western countries to that of Indian ones for the same product will clearly see the difference of lack of information not only in the local languages but even in English. Why is this so. Once again the answer is simple lack of rigour in regulations in India. I have yet to see minimum residual limits and maximum withholding periods etc being even mentioned.

Have a look at my post How to conduct sparys in this blog to learn how to do things properly either in your farm or home.

One can't blame these problems on farmers as they are not aware of the risks to a large extent and paying through their health for this lack of regulation in India. Some memebers of the regularotory body do not take responsibility at all for their failures. It is the irgnorant use of chemicals in an inappropriate manner is the cause of the problem. It is hightime Indians demanded that their govt trained the farmers and regulated the industry properly and not allowed the scare mongers and vested interests from both sides to spread lies and half truths and allow farmers to pay the price in the end.

Womens participation in driving agricultural productivity and income

Practical womens emancipation to increase farmgate income.

The article below in The Hindu clearly shows that this is what needs to happen all over India. In the west many women work on the farm and run the farm and ranches and huge cattle yards. In India many women contribute extensively to the farm work yet they get paid less than a man and their contribution is never acknowledged leave alone recognized as valuable. 

If women are trained in mechanization and allowed work in a farm every where then then agricultural productivity is going to shoot through the roof. More than that women who earn put it toards education of chidlren and wellbeing of the family so the enire family will benefit. Congrats on those who thought of setting up this program this is the step in the right direction to wards emancipation of women in the rural areas as well education of children in rural areas. This has more merit than things like RTE.

Advantage mechanisation and women’s group approach


M. J. Prabu  ( Hindu 27 June 2012)

Women members of Krishi Sahayi group.

About 35 out of 100 panchayats in the district are adopting this model. Amidst reports of abandoning paddy cultivation due to high labour cost and labour scarcity in Kerala, records maintained by a leading paddy farmers’ group named Avunjikad Padashekhara Samithy in Malappuram District point to a saving of Rs. 63,375 on cost of transplanting in an area of 15 acres for paddy.

The records reveal that the total expenditure of fully mechanised paddy cultivation for an area of 3 acres is Rs. 38,430 instead of Rs. 74,890 in conventional method — a saving Rs.12,150 per acre.

A study shows that the cost of transplanting using a transplanter is Rs.36,000 and that of manual transplanting is Rs. 99,375.

Individual help

“This was made possible through the intervention of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Malappuram by developing a fully equipped women’s group named ‘Krishi Sahayi’ aimed at helping individual farmers and farmers’ groups in undertaking mechanised paddy cultivation in a cost effective way,” says Dr. Ayyappan, Director General, ICAR, New Delhi.

On gaining experience in the field under the supervision of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) scientists, women trainees decided to organise themselves into a self help group (SHG).

Thus, with the support and supervision of KVK, 11 women formed the group named ‘Krishi Sahayi’. KVK Malappuram convinced the paddy growing farmers of the advantages of mechanisation over conventional methods utilising Krishi Sahayi and as a result many farmers who turned away from paddy cultivation came forward to cultivate the crop in their fallow lands. The group received several calls from farmers to undertake similar mechanised paddy cultivation in their regions. But there was one problem. The group faced the constraint of repairing and servicing of machinery costing a huge amount from their earnings.

Vocational training

“In order to solve this problem the KVK conducted a vocational training on repair, maintenance and servicing of the paddy transplanting machine for this group with which we could increase their confidence level and income,” explains Dr. Habeeburrahman, Programme Co-ordinator.

Over a period of three years, this group has done mechanized transplanting, harvesting and threshing in an area of more than 300 hectares. Considering the demand for such work force from different parts of the district, KVK took up a project on “Formation and strengthening of activity groups for mechanized paddy cultivation in all the 14 Blocks” in collaboration with district Panchayat, Department of Agriculture and Kudumbhasree mission under the ‘Haritha Malappuram’ programme byempowering the activity groups with machinery worth Rs. 3 lakh.

With Krishi Shahayi as master trainers, KVK Malappuram became instrumental in the formation of 17 similar groups. The multiple effect of these groups resulted in bringing back 1,200 hectares under paddy cultivation in one year.

Motivational force

This successful model has motivated the KVK to adopt it in 35 out of 100 panchayats in the district.

The members of Krishi Sahayi belonged to economically backward class earning Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 12,000 annually from poultry, tailoring etc. At present they are having work on all days in the season and each of them earns about Rs. 350-700 a day,” says Er. Sajeena, Senior Assistant Professor, Mallapuram, KVK.

Proves two things

This model proves two things, according to Dr. Prabhukumar, Zonal Project Co-ordinator, ICAR.

One, is that mechanisation can be used to overcome labour shortage as and when required and two, the advantages of a group approach. It is important for farmers to know the basic mechanism of the machine with which they work. It will help them save time by taking care of it personally and reduce their dependence on others. Two, instead of a single farmer trying to do something useful, if a group comes together then they can easily upscale their work.

For more details contact Ms. Er. Sajeena, S. Assistant Professor and Dr. Habeeburrahman, P.V. Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Malappuram, Kerala, 679573 Phone 0494- 2686329, 09895703726.

Can poverty be eradicated from India? You are the answer Everyone of you!!

Among all the hoopla about growth stories, policy discussions and Global Investment Meet etc India poor have not seem any improvement. Why? There seems to be no end to the grinding poverty and unhygienic roads that even Mahatma Gandhi spoke about decades ago. While the rich watch programs such as Sathyameva Jayathe and wring their hands and shed tears regarding social issues bogging and bugging the middle class and rich people, the poor are striving and trying to feed themselves and their kids one meal per day leave alone solve other issues.

Recently I was visiting India and saw a cruel sight. As I was walking every day I used to notice a family of construction workers cooking food every morning quite early. This was going on every day. One day this young girl belonging to this group came jumping in utter joy dancing all over the street. She was screaming with happiness saying " Mom I found food I found food I found food again and again. She had in her hand a small plastic bag thrown in the garbage and it had fist full of food in it. No more. She was so happy that you would think that she had found something so unique that no one else had found.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the mother said share it and eat with others. There was only a fist full of food so how much could she share. I had to leave urgently so I had to catch the transport and go so I could not do much them. Later in the day I went to the shops and bought the best possible rice in the Shop called Sona Massori which was costing me 36 rupees a kilo and some butter biscuits and a savory item called Cahkkuli for the kids. I went and gave it to the family. Yes I could have bought some more rice for that money. But I wanted these kids to experience the joy of eating butter biscuits and chakkuli at least once in their life. Frankly it only cost me couple of hundred rupees. With the rice I gave them they could at least have 2 meals fully.

No doubt this is one of gesture and not even a drop in the ocean. However, I do hope these people would know that there are people in this world who notice them. I do hope this gesture in a society where majority of the people either throw food or just waste it as it no one wants it, this gesture would tell those children that there is hope. There is no illusion in my mind that I have done anything to solve the problem.

However let me challenge you. Next time you are in a country like India where poor are constructing homes for the richer people do you want to walk past them as if they are not human. Will you buy the best rice to the extent you can and give them so that they can eat for at least one day fully in their life? Will you say that is their karma and swing your head on the other side and move on.

Poverty does not end only with government policies. Poverty does not end because hundreds of NGOs have projects. Poverty will end when you me and every one who is blessed with wealth and food to eat share it with one poor family so that at least one meal fully. Imagine for this family only 365 people need to spend 100 rupees for rice so that they can eat for a day.

Indians need to wake up and look around them. These people are not beggars. They work hard to build homes roads and factories etc so that rich people can use them to enjoy life. Please don't ignore them. Respect them and pay them with 100 rupees once a year so that one family cant eat one day. If you can provide food for them every day when they construct your homes. These kids deserve to be fed and educated. When a child has to enjoy sharing a food bag picked from garbage bin how can policies such as Right to Education work?

When programs such as Sathyameva Jayathe also address issues such as poverty then Indian society can change. Poor people especially the working poor deserve not just their daily wages but also your respect. I will challenge you. Do their job for a day and live their life for a day and them send comments here how you feel. Do you think this life cant happen to you? Let me say here just one accident in life or one accident of nature can send you on the path of sheer poverty. So don't be so complacent in life. Poverty can happen to you too!!!!

I did not take the photo of this girl as I believe parading young children to seek to change society or donations is cruel and disrespectful.

Orchid display- Brings joy to hundreds

Orchids belong to the family Orchidaceae with over 21,000 species and 10% of all seeded plants. This family includes Vanilla which adds flavour to ice creams and cakes. Singapore has the best of the collection at the airport nourishing the senses of the tired traveller with the beauty of the colors shapes and textures. Orchids are grown all over the world in hothouses and people tend to associate them with romance, beauty and finer things of life.

The following photos are those of the orchid display by Tamworth Orchid Society. The members of the society do a massive service by bringing such biodiversity to general public and ensure that people are in touch with the natural world through flowers of such beauty and grace. These orchids bring joy and pride to many people and show that in the world we need to preserve enjoy and appreciate what nature has to offer. Thanks to these members of the society that every child in Tamworth has an opportunity to look and appreciate these magnificent flowers of nature. Just enjoy!!

Orchids have held a special place among gardners and they are similar to roses in some way as people adorne their beauty grace and enchanting looks and a sense of romance and finess they bring to human lives. They belong to family Orchidacease with over 21,000 species with about 10% of all seed plants. Vnailla whihc provides flaour to icecreams and cakes is part of this family. World over people grow them in hot houses and tend to care for them to ensure they have the best looking ones in their gardens. Singapore airport has the best of them and nourish the senses with best presentation and eye soothing colors and beauty. The following photos are the ones which were displyed in the malls in Tamworth, NSW Australia. This collection is small however, the pride of the Tamworth Orchid Society members is no less than the best collectors in the world. These societies not only bring pride and joy to the orchid onwers but also show general population the joy of flowers thereby gardening and the joy of valuing the biological diverstiy and appreciating the nature around us though flowers in different colors and huges leaves of different shapes and textures. These socieites do in some way more than many scientists as they bring biodiversity to general public who at times are disconnected to the natural world. Thank god for these people who make effort to conduct these displays that the children and city dwellers get to expirence the value of these plants.

Rural Training, not handouts that will develop rural India

Rural Development needs local solutions

The story below in The Hindu is a clear example of how training rural folk who are under and un educated can help to develop a better rural economy. Governments in India and Africa constantly apply the formula for development which they use in urban areas of India and Africa and fail to deliver targeted growth in rural areas. Why? Simple lack of locally based tailored thinking. Just like one can't apply the methodology and tools that one uses in large scale agriculture used in the western countries such as the US and Australia where a farmer could easily own 3000 hectares of land as a minimum  holding to subsistence farming in India and Africa where a farmer could own 2-50 hectares of land, one can't apply the thinking for urban development to rural one. Training based on local situational analysis and solutions are the way to go as seen in the story below.

Educational target set by Indian government is noble however not achievable to a large extent. Rural youth need rural based training such as training in agriculture equipment usage, management and repairs, development of businesses for contract sowing and harvesting considering rural India is facing farm labour shortage due to urban migration, development of small scale tunnell houses for industrial farming of high value farm crops such as cherry tomatoes, blue berries and strawberries, development of small scale rural tooling and machining operations etc.

Use of rural training to develop small scale solar equipment will allow for employment opportunities not just for those who are employed directly but indirectly for those who want to use them to develop businesses and for those who want to get educated. Right To Education can only happen when there are associated services and tools for the rural folk to enable their children to be educated not just up to high school but at least obtain a trade or vocational qualification that apply to rural industries and agriculture.

Solar mates- The Hindu 15-04-2012

Bharat Dogra

Barefoot women solar engineers of Rajasthan train their African sisters on how to light up their villages with the renewable resource

It's an unexpected scene that you come across in the dusty plains of Kishangarh block in Rajasthan's Ajmer district -- women from several African countries being trained by their Indian sisters to become barefoot solar engineers.

Welcome to the world of solar energy in Tilonia village. Here the campus of Barefoot College has emerged as a leading international centre for training barefoot solar engineers. Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme of the External Affairs Ministry, women from many underdeveloped countries come here regularly in small batches for training.

Speaking to trainees from Chad, Sierre Leone, Zambia, Namibia, Kenya and Tanzania, you learn that most of them are grandmothers from African villages who hoped to light up their hamlets with solar energy after returning from Tilonia. The necessary equipment would be sent in huge parcels even before they themselves leave Tilonia.

Follow-up records maintained at the Barefoot College reveal several success stories. Fatuma Ababker Ibrahim from Beyahile village in Afar (Ethiopia) made very good progress and returned to her village to install 90 fixed solar units. She also helped to start a rural electronic workshop in her village.

Gul Zaman, a 26-year old from Afghanistan, came to Tilonia with her husband Mohammed Jan. They returned to their community to provide solar electricity to around 50 houses.

The Tilonia project serves as an amazing example of women-to-women communication skills that can overcome in innovative ways despite crucial language barriers.

Most barefoot solar engineers under the project are provided six month training on vital technical details such as fabrication of charge controllers and inverters, printed circuit boards, testing, wiring, installation of solar panels, repair and maintenance. Trainers Leela and Magan Kanwar, who are currently active at the college, underwent the same training a few years back. They also coped with many initial problems and found their own innovative ways of overcoming them. Having gone through the entire process themselves, they are better able to understand problems faced by their sisters of Africa.

The involvement becomes so close that many trainees are in tears at the time of leaving, reveals Leela.

At a time of increasing involvement with decentralised rural energy systems particularly solar energy, such a system of training barefoot solar engineers can prove very useful in increasing the self-reliance of rural communities in installing and maintaining solar energy systems.

While there is fierce debate about the transfer of renewal energy technology from rich to poor countries, Tilonia's training provides a great example of how much can be achieved by South-South technical cooperation.Tilonia also conducts regular courses for trainees from remote areas within the country, including villages of Ladakh and other Himalayan areas.

The training has paid off. Several women with experience of solar energy work have got together to set up the Women Barefoot Solar Cooker Engineers' Society -- a registered association of rural women involved in fabrication and production of parabolic solar cookers.

This cooker can do the most environmental-friendly, cost effective, day time cooking on sunny days. Its design too is unique. The in-built spring and clock system is accurately set to complete one rotation in fixed time, and this in turn rotates the cooker to track the sun automatically, making the sunlight fall on all the 300 (9cm x 12cm) reflectors throughout the day. So once the cooker has been adjusted in the morning, uninterrupted cooking can be carried out the rest of the day. At Tilonia workshops cookers are fabricated using precise measurements by bending, welding and cutting. Such 2.5 sq.m parabolic solar cookers have been installed in nine villages and some institutions.

It is indeed remarkable that rural women with little formal education have not only learnt to make the cookers, but also travelled to other places to install the system successfully.

Rural and home garden profitablity - use technology smartly

Rural and home garden can be a profitable business if technology is used.

The article below  (The Hindu) clearly illustrates how even smaller jobs in rural areas can be turned into profitable business using technology. Technology such as Internet and mobile phones can be used to obtain information on sowing times, harvest times, weather, market prices new agricultural technological products garden products. If one has smart phone such as iPhone or android phone one can easily down load apps and use them for free and get information.

Many home gardeners in the west grow small amounts of exotic and regular crops and sell them to their local produce shops to make money. If one has a bit of land such as the home back yard it is not hard to grow some cherry tomatoes, chokos (chokote or Seemebadane kayi) etc and sell it locally either online or to their produce shop people. It is a matter of bit of an effort pride in oneself and entrepreneurship.

The following links will provide these information to either a home gardener or rural agriculturist.

http://www.gardenate.com/ (planting information on many vegetables in Australia, NZ, South Africa and the US)

http://www.weatherzone.com.au/ (weather information in Australia very reliable in a user friendly manner)

http://in.weather.com/search?searchText=IN&searchSourceType=2&sourcePageId=1&localeCode=en_IN&searchType=3&locationId=ASIA ( weahter in various cities of India includes smaller cities)

http://www.weatherusa.net/  (weather in the US)

To download Android apps for free go to https://play.google.com/store?hl=en

Login to get this plucky coconut plucker

Press Trust of India The Hindu, Thiruvananthapuram, April 4:

Shortage of trained nut pluckers is a grim farm sector problem in Kerala but for 37-year-old Selvin Chacko, coconut plucking is a hi-tech profession involving car, mobile phone and even a dedicated Web site.

While many youngsters look down upon coconut plucking as a non-glamorous vocation, Selvin from Changanassery opted for it with “pride and pleasure.” Keeping in tune with the changing times, he is using modern facilities such as mobile phone and Internet to get connected to customers.

Travelling in the car helps him save time as he can rush from one coconut garden to the next.

Selvin says he climbs 40 to 45 trees a day, earning not less than Rs 30,000 a month. His phone number and profile are available on a Web site launched in the name of 'Changathikoottam', a gathering of trained coconut pluckers.

A failed business man, Selvin said coconut plucking has helped him to rebuild his life.

“I have tried my luck in a number of enterprises but could not succeed. Finally, I started looking for a job which could give me a steady income. After some search, I found coconut plucking a gainful career as there is a huge demand for coconut harvesters in Kerala,” Selvin said.

After his schooling, Selvin became a bus conductor and even bought two buses eventually. But the bus business failed soon and he was pushed into a debt trap.

Father of three kids, he later joined a week long coconut climbing training programme conducted by the Krishi Vingnan Kendra in Kumarakom near Kottayam.

He gets an average of 100 calls a day from various parts of the district. Apart from wages, he also charges petrol price for the assignments outside the district.

“Though I mastered the nuances of tree climbing and nut plucking, I had to face stiff opposition from my family and traditional coconut pluckers in the initial days,” he said.

“My family and community members complained that I humiliated them by entering in the profession while conventional nut pluckers blamed me for charging lower wages.”

Of late, he has also turned a trainer, having helped a dozen youth learn the job.

Use of right crop and fertilizers can improve farm productivity in India

Indian farmers demonstrate their innovative capability.

The articles below from Deccan Herald and The Hindu clearly illustrate that Indian farmers can be innovative given the knowledge encouragement and assitance. These people are hard working and dont ask for much. High level cash crops need to be encouraged along with use of right amount and type of fertilizers. However since it is only one crop one needs to encourage the growing of other oil crops such as Thyme, ginger, rose, mint etc so that oil can be extracted. These oils are used heavily by cosmetic industries such as fragrance, aromatic oils, soaps etc and pure oils fetch as much as 8 dollars per 25ml of oil in the west. Encouraging farmers to grow these types of crops which allow them to get good profit. This inturn has a huge economic benefit as these farmers lives improve and they will send their kids for further education. Farmers are suffering due lack of agricultural centers in rural areas. In India agricultural officers have to be placed close to rural areas like in the west. One can't have agronomists located in cities. Schemes like "Bhoo Chethana" are heading in the right direction as they are encourging use of different fertilizers not just nitrogen based ones such as Urea and has demonstrated clearly to farmers that they can acheive good production out of crops including paddy. Indian agricultural growth can easily reach 10% if this kind of initiatives are used. India can become self sufficient and can even begin to export in a serious manner.

Aromatic crops provide good returns in hilly regions

M. J. Prabu
The Hindu March 8, 2012

The fragrance from these aromatic plants keeps wild animals at bay

Experiencing unexpected losses in agriculture due to adverse climate or pest attack is a common feature in the life of farmers. Even the best technologies fail when they have to gamble with adverse climate. The problem is all the more acute for those living in hilly regions bordering reserve forest areas.

Because apart from the vagaries of climate, farmers also have to keep track of movements of wild animals in their fields which cause sudden and disastrous loss both to the crops and sometimes to human lives.

Mrs. Puttiyamma, is a lady farmer of Bargur hills in Erode district of Tamil Nadu, successfully proved that all the above stated facts are not a deterrent when it comes to growing crops in the hills and successfully marketing them. Mrs. Puttiyamma owns about 4 acres of land and is presently growing Rosemary in about half an acre.

Rosemary group
“I was growing ragi and double beans and reaped only a minimum margin. With no alternative I sought other casual jobs to meet my family’s basic needs.
“I heard from sources in my village about MYRADA KVK (Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency — Krishi Vigyan Kendra) which is encouraging farmers in our area to grow Rosemary (an aromatic herb) and are also helping them to market the same produce by forming the rosemary group (Group of farmers with common interest being to market Rosemary),” she explained. She joined the group and started cultivating the crop. Rosemary thrives well both in irrigated and dry land conditions and is not disturbed and grazed by any wild animal because of its aroma.
As it is a perennial crop there is no need for investing money for seeds and land preparation every year and the crop provides a stable income.


Harvesting tonnage
Mrs. Puttiyamma harvested around 2 tonnes/year of fresh leaves and earned about Rs.20.00 per kg of fresh leaves in the past three years. “I have earned about Rs.40,000 per year from 1/2 an acre of land under rain fed condition whereas the returns from rest 3.5 acres of Ragi crop and beans have been only half of this income. My income kindled the interest of other farmers who also started growing the crop,” she said.
Oil extraction

As there has been an increase in the number of farmers who took to Rosemary cultivation the District Rural Development Agency, Erode funded the establishment of an oil extraction unit nearby.

The unit reduced the herbage loss during transport and has been able to increase the income to about Rs.3,600 per acre besides providing employment to the rural youth.

The tribals of this region grew crops such as ragi, double beans, tapioca, turmeric and some fruit varieties. But due to constant incursion by wild animals from the bordering reserve forests many of them could not succeed in their farming operations, explained Dr. P. Alagesan, Programme Co-ordinator, Myrada Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

“When some of the tribals approached us for guidance our team visited the area and after careful study realized that aromatic crops can be safely grown there as the climate is cool and favourable and also the fragrance emanating from these aromatic plants will keep the wild animals at bay,” he says.

Clear understanding

Myrada krishi vigyan Kendra encourages group approach to get fair price to the product. A clear understanding between marketing agencies and growers committee is ensured. The tribals are made to interact with officials Hope — an organization in Nilgiris — are pioneers in the cultivation and promotion of the crop.

In order to get additional revenue in the rosemary field/garden, other long term crops such as Tea, Eucalyptus citridora can be encouraged as a border crop, says Mr.Pachiappan, of the Kendra. The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University conferred an award on the lady farmer.

To speak to the farmer readers can contact Dr. P. Alagesan, Programme Co-ordinator, Myrada Krishi Vigyan Kendra, No.272, Perumal Nagar, Puduvalliyampalayam Road, Kalingiyam – Post, Gobichettipalayam – 638453, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, e-mail : myradakvk@gmail.com, myradakvk@dataone.in, website : www.myradakvk.org, Phone : 04285 241626, 241627.

Mint leaves make farmer smile
Published in Deccan Herald , Kadur, Mar 10, 2012, DHNS:

Hardwork coupled with interest and knowledge on crops can help a farmer to survive even in drought affected Kadur taluk. This has been proved by Lokesh of Bantaganahalli in Kadur taluk. By growing pudina (mint leaves), he has become model for others and has been fetching income for his livelihood.

When the monsoon failed, he started growing mint leaves in his arecanut plantation with the help of borewell water and started earning good income.

Before planting the mint leaves, the land should be levelled and the soil should be mixed with the manure. The mint leaves can be grown between the arecanut trees. The mint leaves plants should be grown with a distance of 20 to 22 cm. One can plant during any season. The plant will start sprouting within 15 days. The plants should be watered at least four times in a week.

“By applying DAP 20:20, mint leaves grow faster. To check diseases affecting the mint leaves, one need to spray metacid. With less expenditure, pudina can be grown. The fully grown mint leaves can be harvested within two months,” he says. “One will have to spend a sum of Rs 9,000 for growing mint leaves in an acre land. However, after harvest, it will fetch Rs 75,000 per acre. There is great demand for mint leaves in Shimoga and Bhadravathi. One thousand bunches (each bunch will have 10 to 12 plants) is sold for Rs 600,” says Lokesh.

Mint leaves remind us of chutney. It is rich in protein, fiber, and iron.

Paddy production shoots up by 20 pc in Kodagu



Srikanth Kallammanavar, Madikeri, Mar 10,2012, DHNS:
Bhoo Chethana Scheme breathes new lease of life

With the implementation of the ambitious project of the state government ‘Bhoo Chethana,’ Kodagu district has seen 20 per cent increase in the production of paddy and 25 per cent increase in maize. The scheme has brought smile on the face of the farmers.

In 2011-12, as many as 58 villages in Kodagu district were included under the project. The government had implemented the project on a pilot basis two years ago. The scheme aimed at supplying nutrients and micro nutrients needed for the agriculture lands at subsidised rate through cooperative societies. About 17,000 hectare of land under paddy and 2,000 hectare of maize was included under the scheme.

The scheme covered 4,434 hectare paddy grown area in Madikeri taluk, 6,665 hectare in Virajpet and 6,000 hectare in Somwarpet.

Farmers were given 60 tonnes of dolomite, 16.5 tonnes of borox, 53 tonnes of zinc sulphate and 43 tonnes of organic manure through 47 cooperative societies. Owing to the scheme, the paddy production was 1,53,254 tonne while the maize was 20,844 tonne, said officials.

Villages

The scheme was implemented in the following villages. Madikeri—Maragodu, Hoskeri, Kantharu Moornadu, Makkandur, Napoklu, Ballamavati-Nelaji-Peroor, Kaggodlu, Makeri, Made, Katakeri, Bettageri, Heravanadu, Thavur.

Somwarpet—Ganaguru, Yalakanur, Masagodu, Adinadooru, Thakeri, Kiragandur, Yadavanadu, Yaduru, Kalkanduru, Soorlabi, Garvale, Chettalli, Nellihudikeri, Nanjarayapattana, Guddehosu, Koodige, Nidtha, Gopalapura, Shivaralli, Avaredalu, Huluse, Shanthalli, Thaltarashettalli, Kumaralli, Tholur Shettali and Doddatholuru.

Virajpet—Kannangala, Hosur, Kirugur, Hudoor, Thithimathi, Kanoor, Nittur, Devanoor, Ponnappasanthe, Kadangamaroor, Palangala, Betoli, Maithadi, Nemmale, K Badaga, Harihara, Porad, Hudikeri and Haisodlur.

Land selected

The success of Bhoo chethana has inspired the agriculture department to select 32,500 hectare land during 2012-13. This include 29,500 hectare for paddy and 3,000 hectare for maize.