Ms.
Rajareega at her farm in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu seen manufacturing the
botanical pesticide. |
Organic practices avoid investment in costly chemicals.
There is a growing
body of evidence to suggest that in the past 4 - 5 decades there has been an
excessive dumping of chemical toxins on the soil. As a result the soil has
become barren and ground water toxic, in many places. Contrast this with organic inputs that are safe, nontoxic, and cost
much less. For example, if using chemical pesticides and fertilizers for
growing a crop in a hectare works out to about Rs.6, 000 - 7,000 the cost of
growing the same crop using organic inputs may come to only about Rs.500 – Rs.
1,000, according to Ms. Rajareega of Raasi organic farms at Muthupatti village
in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu.
Lower cost
Even if some critics say that organic
farming cannot provide the same high yields as chemical farming, the organic
farmers argue that at least their land is safe; that they have not invested in
buying the chemicals and increasing their cost of cultivation. “If you look at
the suicides by farmers, then you will understand that all those farmers who
committed suicides have built up huge debts.
The debts kept growing because of
borrowing at high interest rates for buying these chemicals which promised to
increase the yield. In the end, it only increased their debts,” she explains.
“If only farmers used safer and natural
pest repellents and manures then where would be the question of debt and
suicides?” she enquires. She has been using only organic manures and
bio-repellents made from locally available resources.
Five leaf extract
For example she uses 5 different leaf
extracts (eindhu
ilai karaisal in Tamil) derived from Calotropis (called y erukku in
Tamil), Jatropha
curcas (kattu amanaku in Tamil), Neem (vembu in
Tamil), Guduchhi/Amruth (seenthil kodi in Tamil), Chaste tree (nochi in
Tamil), Malabar nut (adathoda in Tamil), Kalmegh (siriyanangai in
Tamil), Clerodendron (peenarisanghu in Tamil) and Usil (arappu in
Tamil). These plants are commonly found in all villages. About 1 kg of leaves
from each plant is taken and powdered and then ground into a paste. It is then
mixed with 5 litres of cow’s urine.
The concoction is then diluted in 5
litres of water and left undisturbed for 5 days. When required for using about
500 ml of this concoction is diluted in 10 litres of water and sprayed over the
plants, she explains.
Ginger garlic extract
Another tried and proven mixture she
uses is ginger garlic extract (called inji poondu karaisal in Tamil). About 1 gm of ginger
and garlic each, 2gm of green chilli and 5 litres of cow’s urine and water are
taken. The garlic, ginger and green chilli are ground into a paste and mixed
with cow’s urine and water. After 10 days the mixture is filtered and used. The
prescribed quantity is about 500 ml of this solution diluted in 10 litres of
water which can be sprayed over the plants.
Ideal spraying time
The ideal time for spraying these
karasals is during 6am to 8.30am and between 4pm and 6.30pm. Depending upon the
soil, crop and other climatic factors the concentration can be raised or
lowered. Farmers can contact their nearby organic farmers who are using these
karaisals or can contact Ms. Rajareega for guidelines regarding the
concentration.
Effective control
Both the above karaisals have been
found effective in controlling leaf roller, thrips, mealy bugs, fruit, stem and
bark borer, hairy caterpillar and aphids. Even if a farmer is not convinced
about the benefits of organic inputs he can continue to grow his crops using
chemicals, but at the same time he can set aside a small portion in his field
to grow the same crop using organic inputs. By doing so he can find out for himself
the cost benefit ratio. That itself can convince him of its efficacy.
Comments
Post a Comment