About Sri Abhilash Padhan on Odisha Bhaskar
Use of stethoscope in early detection of plant borer: A farmer’s offering to the agrarian community
Licon Kumar Acharya
Scientist (On probation)
ICAR-National Centre for Integrated Pest Management (NCIPM)
It is estimated that 20-30 % of farm produce is damaged annually due to insect attack. Borers in particular are a major threat to fruits and plantation crops causing huge reduction in yield and subsequently leads to death of the mature and bearing plant. These are a group of insects that spend part of their adult or larval life stage feeding inside roots and branches or tunnelling beneath the bark or into the heartwood of many trees and shrubs. Tunnelling cuts off the water supply and can cause foliage to be off coloured or drop prematurely, cracking of the bark and dieback of branches and twigs. Injury caused by the borers can be long lasting and moderate to heavy infestation can cause death of the plant.
An early detection of the borers can reduce the crop loss. Many attempts has been made by the scientific community as well as farmers. One of such innovative technique is developed by Mr. Chakradhar Pradhan, earning him the sobriquet “Gachhara daktar” ( Doctor of plants) in his locality. He hails from Jahnapada village in Attabira block of Bargarh. Owing to economic trouble he had to drop out from school at 13 just after completing his seventh standard. He started supporting his father in agriculture work but he never let go of his dream. At the outset he developed a passion for agriculture and always wanted to excel in is field. His passion and enthusiasm led him to start a lemon orchard on over 30 decimals of land in 1983.Much to surprise of the fellow villagers his orchard was spread over 5 acres within no time and he became a successful farmer.
To his dismay once ¾th of lemon plants started drying up and died in quick succession, leaving him devastated. Local expert in agriculture failed to find out a convincing reason. In the meantime Dr. Manoranjan Sahu, MBBS paid a visit to his orchard. He was having a stethoscope with him and that created an out of box idea to the curious mind of Mr. Chakradhar Pradhan. He thought it would be great if he can find the pest in the trees using a stethoscope.
Surprised and amused with his idea Dr. Sahu gifted it to him and left. That day changed his life and rest is history. He started an expedition to discover something new by listening to the pulse of plant life. On examining dead plants with the stethoscope he could hear the sound of cutting which he could not hear in a healthy plant. Based on the observation he dug up the soil beneath the roots and found out insect of about 3c.m.
Excited at having discovered a cause he later came to know that the insect was root borer and it had indeed killed the plant. This identification of cause helped him to use necessary pesticide and eventually he was able to save his orchard. Initially his experiment was confined to lemon trees but later on he extended it to other plantation crops also.
This success came at cost of many struggle. Initially the villagers called him mad when they found him sitting underneath the dead lemon trees with a stethoscope to his ear. But he was adamant in his endeavour to succeed and years later his efforts were being recognised. His novel approach has been widely appreciated and has earned him many accolades. His work was documented by National Innovation Foundation(Autonomous Body of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India). Subsequently an American organisation “trees for life” had appreciated his technique and felicitated him. What began as a moment of inspiration followed by ridicule is now a novel idea for early detection of the borers.
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His concept can be applied to all most all perennial fruit trees such as coconut, arecanut and different species of palm and different temperate fruit trees such as Apple, Pear ,Peaches and plums which are prone with different shoot and root borer insects. This early detection of insects save the tree from death and helps the farmers to use different insecticides to save the plan
By using stethoscope we can detect Red Palm Weevil (Ryncophorus ferrugienus) in all palm species like Coconut, Arecanut etc and helps in preventing the damage and death of the mature bearing plant’s and save the crop.
Although his innovation of early detection of root and shoot borer insects using Stethoscope is already being recognised by ICAR(INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH) and patented by National Innovation Foundation(Autonomous Body of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India) on his name ,there is a lot of scope for further research in this area. He recommends that “Just like the medical science students are given stethoscope to measure the rate of hear beat and detects any health problems , agricultural science students should also use stethoscope to detect shoot and root borer insect in fruit and plantation crops.”
The students who are doing their research in the field of entomology; his method provides a great scope for further research of his concept of early detection by hearing the borer action sound in different fruits, vegetables, ornamental and plantation crops which are mostly affected by root and shoot borer insects. He is very kind enough to transfer his technology to the farmers and students who wish to contact him in this regard.We hope that his research in this early detection of root and shoot borer insects using stethoscope will help farmers across the world to detect the insects at early stage and save the plant from the damage and commercial loss it causes to the farmers.
(Mobile Number :91-9861697336, Sri Chakra Padhan,Janhapada,Bargarh,Odisha)
List of Photographs which provides an overview about achievments and works done by Sri Chakra Padhan (Farmer Innovator) from Janhapada village of Bargarh district of Odisha.
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.
KIWI CULTIVATION ON MID HILLS OF HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS: A HIGHLY REMUNERATIVE EXOTIC FRUIT CROP FOR THE SMALL AND MARGINAL ORCHARD GROWERS
Abhilash Padhan
Ph.D Research Scholar
(Fruit Science)
Munmun Joshi
Ph.D Research Scholar
(Fruit Science)
Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) which is otherwise also known as Chinese gooseberry is an important fruit crop of temperate regions and is widely grown in the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh, J & K, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand . They have been very newly introduced in the country and aren’t mostly grown locally. Estimation of area and production have not yet become available in terms of its high nutritive index and commercial value for the small and marginal farmers of mid hill range of Himalayan Mountains comprising Himachal Pradesh, Jammu n Kashmir, Uttarakhand and several north-eastern states such as Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. They have to be imported. Import means taxes, more transportation charge, and higher risk of damage. All this leads to higher prices.
It is a small fruit loaded with several health benefits and flavours. It is a bright green coloured fruit that contains several vitamins and minerals. It is highly recommended for consumption of Kiwifruit to safeguard ourselves from current situation of COVID-19. Presence of antioxidants and vitamin C helps in asthma treatment. Adding fresh kiwi to diet is beneficial for asthma patients. It is loaded with fibre which ensures better digestion. It also contains ‘actinidin’ which is a proteolytic enzyme that helps in breaking down protein. High fibre content can also prevent constipation. Presence of Vitamin C also helps to boost immunity and repairing skin and also keeps it hydrated.
Cultivation of Kiwi in commercial way is having a greater importance for the growers of mid hill areas of Himalayas. It is highly resistant to different insects, pests & diseases, whereas on the other hand fruit crops like Apple, Pear, Peach and Plum are susceptible to various insect, pest and disease attack in the same regions. So, due to its natural resistance against different biotic stress factors we don’t use any chemical pesticides on Kiwi Orchard and get a highly nutritive, tasty, healthy and chemical residue free fruit which fetches a high demand among the local consumer.
In terms of its marketing aspects kiwi is having a special importance. They are highly demandable in the local mandis. Due to its climacteric nature it is harvested at physiological maturity stage. Large sized berries are harvested first while smaller ones are allowed to increase in size. After harvesting, the fruits are rubbed with a coarse cloth to remove stiff hairs found on their surface. Hard fruits are transported to the market. The process of ripening when kept under proper storage takes about 8 to 10 days after harvesting. Subsequently, they lose their firmness in two weeks and become edible.
India’s first commercial Kiwi orchard was established in the year 1985 at Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan-Himachal Pradesh. The kiwi plants which were established nearly 35 years back is bearing heavy fruit each and every year with a maximum yield up to 100 kg Kiwi/Plant is harvested at present time. The average yield is 60-70 kg per plant/year of Kiwi. The average yield of Kiwi is up to 25 MT/Htr when we maintain 416 number of plants in a area of 10,000 square metre. This yield is comparatively the same with the kiwi producing countries of the World like Italy, China and New Zealand.
ADVANCED TECHNIQUES FOR KIWI ORCHARD MANAGEMENT
ARTIFICIAL HAND POLLINATION
Kiwifruit have male and female flowers on separate vines. Flowers do not produce nectar to attract insects. If there are other flowers around a kiwifruit orchard, insects may visit them instead. Another problem is that female flowers produce ‘fake’ pollen to attract insects. It is not the same as male pollen because it does not contain genetic material or food. Both of these problems make it tricky to grow lots of big kiwifruit. Kiwifruit growers often use artificial pollination to make sure their plants get all the pollination they need. Farmer collects pollen by hand from male flowers and spread it onto female flowers. Artificial hand pollination is an important step in increasing the overall pollination percentage and the overall yield of Kiwi.
FRUIT THINNING
Kiwi, being a heavy bearer crop, fruit thinning plays a very important role after artificial hand pollination to optimise the yield in preferred size of fruits (i.e., 90-100 gram) by keeping optimum number of fruits during pea stage for the market. After fruit thinning only a maximum number of 3 fruits are kept from a single point and maximum 6-8 numbers are kept in a single branch so as to maintain a good size and healthy fruit for the market. By this method the fruits produced are of grade A with a average weight of more than 100 gram.
ARTIFICIAL IRRIGATION
Artificial Irrigation is very much necessary to keep vines growing, productive and to maximize the fruit size. Water stress can reduce fruit size, limit flower numbers and can cause premature fruity drop. Summer drought can cause leaf drop and premature fruit ripening. Drip system is an important step towards fulfilling the annual water requirement for Kiwi Orchard and also economize the water use.
CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT
Kiwifruit can be grown in an area experiencing 700-800 chilling hours (no. of hours during which temperature remains at or below 70 C during the winter season). The plant can be grown at 800-1500 m. above mean sea level. It requires a high humidity and moderate temperature for its optimum growth, development and yield. High temperature during the month of summer is harmful for the growth of Kiwi plant. A moderate temperature in between 10-250 C with a high humidity is best for its growth and development.
TRAINING AND PRUNING
TRAINING
Training is required to establish and maintain a well-formed framework of main branches and fruiting arms. The supporting branches are erected even before planting the vines or thereafter as early as possible. A typical T-bar trellis consists of posts 5-6 foot long cross arm extending across in which the vines are trailed.
PRUNING
In kiwi, pruning is practised two times in a year.
- Dormant Pruning
This is widely practiced during the winter season to initiate reproductive growth during the spring season.
- Summer Pruning
Normally we avoid summer pruning but being a vine crop, summer pruning should be practiced. In this case, we cut the top portion of the branch while remaining 10-12 leaves after the fruits growth point. It helps in blocking the food material diversion towards the tip point and diverts it towards the growing fruits behind the branch which helps in increase in the size and weight of the fruits.
HARVESTING
Normally 25 to 40 per cent of total produce of fruits and vegetables is loss in India due to post harvest losses. The annual loss of fruit and vegetables is estimated to be more than 60,000 corers annually. If we can able to save 5 to 10 per cent of that loss, we are adding it to the profit share 5 to 10 per cent more. The post harvest losses occur during different stages such as harvesting, storage, packaging, transportation etc. For a grower, important point is to prevent the post harvest losses by harvesting at the perfect time of harvesting maturity.
The harvesting maturity is clearly defined in other fruit crops such as Apple, Mango and Banana by changes in its peel colour which is not the same in Kiwifruit as it shows little visual change as it approached to maturity. Kiwifruit continue to increase in fresh weight and size until harvested, but the most rapid size increase occurs the first 100 days of after bloom. If kiwi is harvested at the right stage of maturity it gives a very nice taste with perfect blend of acid and sugar. TSS content (Total Soluble Solids) (° Brix) is the most commonly used maturity index for kiwifruit. TSS is measured with the help of hand refractometer. Cultivars are harvested at 6.5° Brix. Fruits at this stage will attain good quality in storage. TSS is around 12 to 18 per cent when ripe.
Whereas, in case of Allison variety of Kiwi we can detect the harvesting maturity when the hairs above the fruit surface fall down by simply rubbing with finger above the fruit surface. The fruit hairs contains the fruit ripening hormone called as ethylene which should not be removed after harvesting during packing as its plays an important role in ripening after harvesting during the storage.
Due to lack of knowledge about the right stage of harvesting of Kiwifruits, the farmers harvest the crop in the month of September when it is having sour taste.
CALENDER DATE
It is used for calculating the harvesting maturity in many crops such as Wheat which is harvested in April 13th of each year on the day of Baisakhi. But due to climate change this method is not reliable in case of fruit crops.
DAYS FROM FULL BLOOM (DFFB) TO MATURITY
This is a most reliable method used in case of measuring the harvesting maturity of fruit crops when the plants having 60% of the total flowering till the maturity we calculate the number of days.
After taking this DDFB to maturity by various research trials at Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh is calculated for ALLISON (VAR): 190 days+- 1 week (7 days)
The days from full bloom to maturity varies according to the elevation (for Solan :190 days having elevation:1200-1500 m above mean sea level where as for Shimla its 190 plus 1 week extra having elevation:1500-2000 m above mean sea level)
CULTIVATED VARIETIES IN INDIA
Since kiwi is a dioecious plant, it bears pistillate (female) and staminate (male) flowers separately. Commercially grown important pistillate and staminate cultivars are:
Abbott : This is an early flowering and early maturing cultivar. The oblong, medium sized, fruits are covered with dense hairs. This cultivar is very sweet in taste with lower ascorbic acid content and medium titrable acidity.
Allison: Fruits resemble those of Abbott, except that these are slightly broader in proportion to its length. The most suited variety for Himachal Pradesh. It is also used for pollenizing different cultivars.
Bruno : This cultivar requires comparatively less chilling period. The fruits are tapering in shape towards the stem end. They are longest among all the cultivars. The fruits is dark brown having very dense, short and bristly hair, highest in ascorbic acid and titratable acidity.
Hayward : Most popular cultivar or the world, Hayward is comparatively shy bearer with a tendency of biennial bearing. The fruit is broad and flat, being much wider in relation to length, It is superior in flavour with high sugar and ascorbic acid content. It requires more chilling hours comparatively to other varieties.
Monty : It is a late flowering cultivar but fruit maturity is not late. The fruits are oblong, resembling those of Abbot and Allison. Being a highly prolific bearer cultivar, sometimes it needs hand thinning for obtaining good sized fruits. The fruit is somewhat wider towards blossom end with higher acidity and medium sugar content.
Tomuri : It is a good polliniser for Hayward and Monty, the late flowering kiwis.
PRESENT STATUS OF KIWI CULTIVATION IN INDIA
Due to its origin in South China, the climate of Arunachal Pradesh of India is having the best suitable climate for kiwi cultivation in India. Most of the commercial largescale big orchards are established in the state of Arunachal Pradesh occupying more than 60 per cent of the total Kiwi cultivation area of India.
PRESENT STATUS OF KIWI MARKET
The Indian fruit market has always been a thriving one. However, the demand for ‘exotic fruits’ has been rising recently because of a prospering urban class, an enhanced exposure to the cultures of different countries, and a rising demography of health-conscious people. Among all exotic fruits, Kiwi has witnessed the fastest growth, with a compound annual growth rate of 80-100%. Normally, we import Kiwi from Italy, Chile and New Zealand to meet the annual demand of Kiwifruit in India. But due to restrictions of import during this situation of COVID-19, the local Kiwi growers will hopefully get a higher price and higher profit in the coming season.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
“There is no doubt we get a good price by harvesting before the right maturity stage but due to low sugar acid ratio, the consumer could not get the taste and satisfaction. From the last 15 years of my experience harvesting of Kiwi at the perfect stage (second week of October) it tastes very sweet and get a overwhelming response by the people who purchased Kiwifruit from the University Kiwi Orchard.”- Dr. Vishal Singh Rana (Principal Scientist)
The harvesting date is October second week for Solan, whereas it can be harvested 1 week later in Shimla.
ADVANCE STEP TAKEN BY SOLAN KIWI GROWERS IN MARKETING
Many farmers of solan are doing online marketing of Kiwi through courier service of kiwi direct to consumers across India.
FUTURE PROSPECTS OF KIWI CULTIVATION IN INDIA
Kiwifruit have shown a tremendous potential in recent years. The major problem faced by our farmers of mid-hills from fruit crops like apricot, plum, peach is due to attack of different diseases and insect pest, whereas kiwi has assumed huge popularity and preference among the growers as well as consumers due to its favourable properties such as resistant to all these different diseases and insect and for easy maintenance and marketing besides having high nutritional and medicinal values.
A sharp decline in Peach production is observed in Rajgarh area ‘Peach bowl of Himachal Pradesh’ of Solan district due to different insect pest and disease attack. Due to its high nutritive value its sold in the Indian market up to 25 to 30 rupees per fruit and the health conscious urban consumer are ready to offer a good price for kiwi. Monkeys are an important animal pest in Himachal Pradesh for ruining the agriculture and horticulture produce, but in case of kiwifruit they do not attack the fruit as it is sour in taste during its growing period. People in north India during the Diwali celebrations are eager to gift kiwi fruit as a gift packet to relatives and friends in place of sweets. Kiwifruit has a bright future prospect in Himachal Pradesh. It has been assessed as one of the important future commercial fruits. It provides high return per unit area and the farmers can earn about Rs. 4 to 5 lakhs per hectare annually. Kiwifruit bears heavily every year with no crop failure. The kiwifruit could be developed into a vital industry for sustainable economy in hilly region. Its cultivation in our country is of recent, and the total production and productivity is very low, yet there is tremendous scope for its cultivation.
An improved Package of Practices of Kiwi cultivation is developed by Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh and the technology of kiwi cultivation has been transferred to other hilly states through continuous and regular research efforts. The technology of Kiwi cultivation is transferred to several states such as Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya.
The horticultural development society of Himachal Pradesh is promoting Kiwi cultivation by providing subsidy to the kiwi growers through Himachal Pradesh Government. The farmers can contact their block Horticulture Development Officer to know more about the government schemes for Kiwi cultivation. Due to the financial support through subsidy scheme of the state government many farmers of Himachal are interested to take Kiwi as a successful fruit crop to get a high remuneration.
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.
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.
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.
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