Category: Agriculture

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The Concept of Organic Kitchen Garden by Abhinavakrishi Research Organisation Sambalpur Odisha

Ashutosh Chattar
MSc Floriculture student
OUAT, Bhubaneswar

Importance of kitchen Garden

Kitchen garden is advice to grow vegetables on a small plot of land. It is delightful hobby and can be pursued at homes or in school. Develop a taste for kitchen gardening and it will stay in your life.

The importance of a kitchen garden is great and manifold. A kitchen garden ensures an inexpensive, regular and handy supply of fresh vegetables which are basic to nutrition. The green vegetables contain vitamins and minerals which protect us against diseases. Lack of vegetables, particularly the green leafy vegetables, leads o malnutrition which causes diseases like anemia and night-blindness. Dark green leafy vegetables such as Palak and brown vegetables like carrots prevent blinding malnutrition.

Kitchen garden also helps us to solve our food problem. Apart from green and leafy vegetables, we can also grow several roots and tubers like potato, suran, goradu etc. which are similar to cereals and provide us heat and energy. These roots and tubers can be substituted to cereals.

Kitchen garden prevents pollution of air. It purifies the air through the plants. Plants breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen which is vital for our life,

In order to preserve health and prevent malnutrition, we should develop a kitchen garden; grow fresh and clean vegetables and make them a part of our daily diet.

Nutritional requirements of farming family

They supply nearly all of the vitamins and minerals required for good health. Vegetable contains fibre and a few of them, such as legumes, are great a source of plant protein. Vegetables have little or no fat, no cholesterol and are low in calories. Vegetables are nutrient dense.

Nutritional value of leafy vegetabls

Green leafy vegetables are vital for growth and good health as they contain all important nutrients.

In India, a wide range of greens are consumed. The most popular ones being Spinach, Amaranth, Gogu, Fenugreek, Drumstick leaves, Mint etc.,

Leafy vegetables are particularly rich in mineral nutrient and iron. Iron deficiency leads to anaemia, a common health problem among pregnant and lactating women and also children.

Inclusion of greens in daily diet would help prevent anaemia and promote good health.

Green leafy vegetables are also a rich source of Calcium, Beta carotene and Vitamin C.

In India, nearly 30,000 children under five years of age go blind every year due to  Vitamin A deficiency. Carotene in greens gets converted in the body to form Vitamin A which prevents blindness.

To preserve Vitamin C content in greens, prolonged cooking should be avoided, as this nutrient, which keeps gums in good condition is lost on overcooking.

Greens also contain some of the B-Complex Vitamins

Some Vegetable  crops variety and special characters for kitchen Garden

Nutritional and Medicinal properties of Drumstick

Drumstick pods and leaves are a storehouse of essential nutrients, whereas the leaves are the most nutrient part of the plant and one of the finest sources of calcium, iron, zinc, selenium and magnesium.  Fresh pods and seeds are a great source of oleic acid, a healthy fatty acid which is known to promote heart health. Moringa leaves is unique among all the greens as it is heaped with a good amount of protein about 9.8 gram of protein per 100 grams. Dry powdered leaves are an amazing source of good quality essential amino acids.

Drumstick is also referred as Moringa Oleifera. Phytonutrients are present in Drumsticks for preventing various conditions such as cancer, asthma, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, anemia, obesity and the phytonutrients improve immune system. The powdered leaves of drumstick also have health benefits related to allergies, stomach disorders, edema, eye protection, diabetes cure, hair care, healthy skin, bone health, cardiovascular health, wound healing.   It is also rich in antifungal and antibacterial properties that help to fight against infections.

Nutritional properties of Root vegetable

Cowpea:kashi kanchan

This is dwarf and bush type (height 50-60 cm), photo-insensitive, early flowering (40-45 days after sowing) and early picking (50-55 days after sowing) variety suitable for growing in both spring-summer and rainy seasons. Pods are about 30-35 cm long, dark green, soft, fleshy and free from parchment.

Palak:all green

Leaf colour of this spinach variety is lush green. Variety has good tolerance to diseases.

Radish:pusa chetki

Roots flesh is crispy with mild pungency. Roots are pure white in color. The shape is long, cylindrical. It is grown as a summer and monsoon crop from April September. Root length is 30 to 35 cm.

Cucumber:pusa udaya

Suitable for cultivation both in spring-summer and rainy seasons. Maturity 50-55 days. Average Yield 155 q/ha, which is 28% higher over check (Poinsette).

Bottle gourd:pusa Naveen

Fruits cylindrical, straight and free from crooked neck.  Average weight 550 g.

Drumstick:pkm-1

Plants grow to a height of 4-6 m and come to flower in 90-100 days after planting. The first harvest starts 160-170 days after planting and on an average each tree bears 200-225 fruits / year. Pods are 65-70 cm long with 6.3 cm girth and 150 g weight. Fruits are green coloured and highly pulpy.

Okra:Arka Anamika

 Plants tall well branched. Fruits lush green, tender and long. Fruits borne in two flushes. Purple pigment present on both sides of the petal base. Green stem with purple shade. Fruits free from spines having 5-6 ridges, delicate aroma. Good keeping and cooking qualities. Resistant to Yellow vein mosaic virus Duration 130-135 days. Yield 20 t/ha.

Chilli:pusa jwala

The most popular hot pepper grown all over India and used in most popular spicy foods in India. This long thin wrinkled chilli which ripen from light-green to red when ripe. If you love hot chilli then this one surely needs your attention. This will be your favorite and won’t stop growing anymore! I assure you the beautiful aroma of this green chilli will stay in your mind for a long time!

This is an ideal chilli for flavouring Indian curries. So taste your own Indian food at home!

They are very easy to grow & easy to maintain. This plant will continuously produce chilli for 5/6 months each year. Best time to sow seeds after frost. Seeds need minimum 20°C to germinate. With a proper care in frosty time this will survive up to 3 years.

Soak the seeds in water for a few hours before planting and sow them in 5mm deep in a sunny, well-drained position. Sow them indoor in warmer condition and transfer outside when mature enough to survive. Germinates between 3-5 weeks, depending on the weather condition.

Onion:Agrifound dark red

Bulbs are dark red,globular round in shape, 4-6 cm in size withtight skin and moderately pungent.Keeping quality of bulbs is good. They contain 130B total soluble solids, 14-15%dry matter and12.

Cauliflower:kashi Gobhi-25 Indian/tropical cauliflower, November maturity (first fortnight of November around 25 °C temperature). White compact and hemispherical curd free from riceyness, leafiness and fuzziness. Marketable curd weight 600-700 g and yield 25-28 t/ha.

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Panchayats and Sustainable Livelihoods after COVID-19: Impacts and Implications

Tapan Kumar Giri
Phd (Floriculture)

The corona crisis has impacted several sectors and regarded as the most destructive disaster to mankind since last few decades engulfing almost all countries of the world. As of date this pandemic has affected 2 million people worldwide and the death toll is soaring high at 1.5 lakhs.

Both the state Govt. of Odisha and the central Govt. with a bold step to control the spread o this highly contagious disease has enforced country wide lockdown which has shifted the country to a halt. Though the economic loss rendered by this pandemic is still to be estimated, the most important sector affected badly is the livelihoods of common people.

Agriculture is affected in northern India due to the Rabi crop, but in Odisha the affect is less. Animal husbandry sector has been facing a troublesome growth due to false rumors on poultry. How ever the availability of feed and fodder has been a greater issue for farmers and traders. How ever the plight of the flower growers have crossed over every other else.  Both flower growers and traders have been incurring null business opportunities.

(Picture 2: Sri Manbod Barik ,a flower grower from Sanatanpali village of Sambalpur district suffering a lot in the marketing of flower as there is lack of support from the administration)

However the future of the country will be harsh if prior measures are not taken now. Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and Rural development and Panchayati Raj Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar in a press meet told that Agriculture sector needs to be focused and state Govt. must work rigorously towards ensuring productivity and doubling farm incomes for this kharif. Panchayats have to play a key role in ensuring this wit collaboration of Department of Agriculture.

Hence the agricultural activities are exempted from the current lock down scenario. It’s high time when farmers need to ensure their fields be ready for next crop. Field preparation, summer ploughing and procurement of seeds must be ensured at their end. But one thing they must do and panchayats must take initiatives in execution is the procurements of seeds and sowing of Green manuring crops now.

It will improve soil conditions and ensure better productivity in Kharif crops and will boost the farm income thus realizing the thoughts of the Hon’ble minister. Panchayats need to ensure procurement and distribution of green manuring crop seeds at farmers’ level for the time being.

Afterwards, there must be procurement of seed materials, fertilizers, pesticides etc for all farmers and panchayats must ensure it in line with respective departments. However the future strategy must aim towards self sufficiency and less dependency.

Hence keeping own seed materials for future use, use of self prepared manures and organic preparations that can be done easily must be given attention. Panchayats can also make storage structures from different schemes and store seed materials as a reserve for farmers for future crops in case of paucity.

(Picture 4. Sri Sudam Sahu from Katapali, Bargarh of Odisha who is an indigenous seed conservator displaying his collection of different varieties of rice ,he is involved in preservation ,seed production and distribution of different indigenous rice varieties among the rural farmers of Odisha)

Manufacturing industries have been badly affected so also the jobs of people working there. Hence it is the time to realize the importance of cottage industries at household level. Every panchayat in Odisha is having the people from highly skilled castes whose ancestors were engages in their craftsmanship occupation inherited by their parents can go back to their traditional profession which can reduce their dependence on the industries outside.

Though the inherited profession skills are embedded in their genes, they can be re-trained for their specific works. Panchayats must take the lead in identifying them, train them and marketing of their produce after they start their works at home. For example, if a Kumbhar (man engaged in pottery) produces pots, the panchayat or nearby people will purchase them. It will help in livelihoods security of people simultaneously reduce the dependence of panchayats from external supply. Handicrafts must also be promoted.

(Picture no.5: A traditional weaver during weaving of World Famous Sambalpuri Saree which having a great export potential to USA and UK)

Skill based trainings which can be easily transferred to large communities can be emphasized more. Sewing is a best example of that. In COVID-19 crisis situation also, SHGs and sewing skilled women played a major role in fighting the awfully contagious disease by making masks in numerous number in a very small time. These things must be aggravated among communities and panchayats have a role to link the interested unemployed candidates to various schemes of Government in acquiring these trainings.

It’s a pleasure that Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works has been started in Odisha with appropriate precautions. This will help the daily wage laborer’s in earning their bread and butter. However migrant laborers are in a great trouble now. There is an urgent need to address their problems. They also need to find works nearby. If possible, they can also get back to their hereditary occupation and be involved in cottage industries based on public requirements of their locality and available resources with them.

“We need not find solutions anywhere else or invent something new always. Let’s rewind memories and follow only those our forefathers used to.”

Faculty- Natural Resource Management,
SIRD & PR, Bhubaneswar
Email ID: tapan.ouat@gmail.com

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An indigenous seed conservator

Sri Sudam Sahu Ji is an indigenous seed conservator. In his in situ germplasm unit present in Bargarh Odisha having more than 600 indigenous rice seed VARIETIES( 6 black rice, Red rice, AROMATIC rice, medicinal rice, etc and more than 100 vegetables seed variety which he is promoting for the last 20 years free of cost to small and marginal Farmers across India and abroad. Any Farmer’ of India wants to take any seed from him and wants to do trials in his location, he provides free of cost also. He does seed exchange too. In that case, seed whatever he will be giving, you too have to give him an indigenous local seed of any cereals pulses vegetables and fruits to him.

His organization is doing marvelous work in western parts of Odisha by promoting Organic farming practices using indigenous rice in more than 20000 acres amongst more than 4000 small and marginal Farmers. Those VARIETIES of rice are highly resistant to both biotic and abiotic stresses factors under Desi Bihan Surakhay Mancha Odisha.

He has developed more than 6 rice VARIETIES too.

#jai Bharat Jai Kisan Jai Indigenous Desi Seeds Conservation.

Let’s work together to make India a better Country.
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Thanks and best regards
Abhilash Padhan
Jai Bharat Jai Kisan

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Black Rice

Out of 30 landraces of black rice available in India, in Odisha, we have 6  black rice varieties available in our indigenous seed germplasm of Bargarh district of Odisha.

One local variety of black rice is “Kalabati” which grows up to 5 to 6.5 feet in height. The duration of Kalabati is 150 days. Medium type of land(Mal) is suitable for growing of Kalabati. The color of its leaves is a mix of green and purple color.

The number of tillers per plant is minimum 20 to 30. The total duration of the crop is 150 days so it can be called as a  long duration type rice. After 2 to 3 months of its growth when the plant reaches a height of 2 to 3 feet, it is pruned once during its main vegetative period of growth to encourage more numbers of productive tillers which increases the total yield and productivity per unit area.

The pruned green and purple mix leaves of black rice plant are used to feed the milking cows and buffaloes. There is an increase in the amount of production of milk is observed after giving black rice leaves harvested after 2 to 3 months of crop growth as a highly nutritious (rich in antioxidants and iron) feed to cows and buffaloes.

Rice Panicle are harvested after a period of 5 months starting transplanting in  June- July till harvesting the black rice grains in January -February. Low temperature during the winter season from the month’s of September up to January is highly necessary to increase the number of productive tillers and total grain yield of black rice per acre.

The black rice “Kalabati” (local Variety of Odisha) can only be grown once in a year during Kharif season, Whereas Manipuri black rice Chakhao is grown twice as well as thrice in a year due to shorter duration of crop growing period.

It is transplanted under SRI(system of rice intensification) or Row transplanting. The traditional way of cultivating black rice using broadcasting (Bihida dhan) process can consume 30-40 kg seeds per acre.

Seed rate is 5 kg/acre under SRI as recommended by expert’s group of team ABHINAVAKRISHI Sambalpur. Seedlings are transplanted @ 25cm(row to row) x 25cm(plant to plant)  to maintain 64,000 seedlings/acre.

On behalf of the whole team of ABHINAVAKRISHI  Sambalpur, we are promoting black rice all over India for the benefit of our small and marginal farmers as it’s a highly beneficial crop.

Although its yield is comparatively very low(12 to 15 quintal/acre), the price of its seed and rice is sold above 200 Indian rupees per Kilogram in the retail market all over India which is highest among all rice grown in India.

The benefit-cost ratio of this variety is more than 10:1 per acre whereas normal MTU 1001,1010 rice is 1.5-2:1 in Bargarh district of Odisha.

Due to purple color of its leaves, the insect’s groups are least attracted to the plant. As this variety is highly tolerant to all most all kinds of rice diseases like bacterial leaf blight, blast, brown spots and BPH (BROWN PLANTHOPPER) our farmers grow it in medium type land with good water drainage facilities without using any chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

This variety is only grown under Organic management practices with a small dosage of biofertilizers and biopesticides. Application of UREA (NITROGEN FERTILIZER) is observed harmful to this crop as the height is up to minimum 5-6 feet.  The plant show’s lodging of tillers and yield is reduced due to difficulties in the harvesting of the crop while using chemical fertilizers like UREA.

We have already distributed the seeds of black rice Kalabati in Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, New Delhi NCR, Uttarakhand for cultivation among farmers who are mostly small and marginal.

As black rice is rich in protein, iron, and antioxidants it is sold at minimum Rs 200 to Rs 800₹ per Kg across India.

We are maintaining a stock of black rice seeds(Kalabati and Manipuri ‘Chakhao ) which we would like to distribute among interested  farmers groups across India for the benefit of small and marginal Farmers and to provide highly nutritious natural black rice to people’s mostly suffering from diabetics, kidney, heart diseases , cancer as it is rich source of protein and antioxidants.

Waiting for Your Kind Response to Make India a better Country.

For purchase of black rice & seed contact
Biswajit Pradhan (M-8249817078)

Jai Bharat Jai Kisan

Thanks & Best Regards:
Abhilash Padhan( BSC AGRICULTURE)
Abhinava Krishi, Sambalpur