Inspired by World Environment Day, the Caritas India U3 program in Telangana decided to extend this celebration by dedicating a week use organic methods in agriculture U3 partner, Lodi Multipurpose Social Service Society (LMSSS) celebrated “Organic week” from the 22nd of June to 26th June 2022 in six villages of Gudur Mandal of Mahabubabad district, Telangana. The main objective was to promote the production of natural farming and hence Save the Soil and sensitize the farmer group on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) / Non Pesticidal Management (NPM), dissemination of IEC materials and indigenous seeds, demo of Organic Preparations such as Jeevamrutham and networking and dialoguing with Agriculture Department on Capacity building.

The training on IPM/NPM was facilitated by LMSSS to share pest control techniques and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels.

These measures are economically justified and reduce or minimize risks to human health and the environment. IPM emphasizes the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms. Disturbance in the ecological balance among different components of the crop ecosystem makes certain insects reach pest status.

From this perspective evolved the Non-Pesticidal Management which is an “ecological approach to pest management using knowledge and skill-based practices to prevent insects from reaching damaging stages and damaging proportions by making the best use of local resources, natural processes and community action. During this Organic week, good rapport was established with the Agriculture Department, and IEC materials were disseminated to the community such as multi-cropping, paddy, cotton and Chilli crops cultivation and techniques, cultivation of orchards, and organic farming methods. Indigenous seeds such as Ridge gourd, Bottle Gourd, Lady Finger and Cluster Beans were distributed to the villagers along with a brief orientation on the importance of conserving seeds.  

On a pilot basis, the team has distributed green manure seeds for mulching such as Green gram, Black gram to the five farmers in the Kommulavancha Village by the Agriculture dept under the Scheme Soil Mulching. M.Kalavathi, a progressive farmer cum SHG member received the vegetable seed which was used for the kitchen garden for the family use. LMSSS staff has demonstrated the process of making Jeevamrutham which is an organic growth-promoting solution and a good substitute for chemical fertilizers. Jeevamrutham is made of two words – Jeeva and Amrutham. Both the words are derived from Sanskrit. The word “Jeeva” means a living being and “Amrutham” means the elixir (medicine) up to extend the life of the soil fertility. It is a very good source of nutrients to the growing plant, which is very essential for plant growth and good yield while improving soil health. The microorganisms which are present in the soil are responsible for increasing the fertility of the soil and at the same time productivity of the crops.

Jeevamrutham enhances microbial activity in the soil and helps to improve soil fertility. During initial preparation time the Jeevamrutham is colour is moderate green and odour is mild foul odour and as we are store many days the colour becomes darker in colour with a strong foul odour. It is the best organic replant to increase the count of microorganisms. Mutthhayya from Patimeeda Tanda, Aged 45 yrs Adopted organic farming and practising in his 3 acres of land. He has attended this meeting and suggested that fellow farmers adopt this organic farming which has been told by the Lodi MPSSS. The villagers have promised to implement the learnings in their farmland which will be monitored by the staff of LMSSS. Training on Agronomic practices as part of sustainable farm management was also organised by the Agriculture dept in collaboration with LMSSS. 

Agronomic practices incorporate many areas of conservation. In farming any practice that entails conservation is an agronomic practise as reducing tillage managing plant population and controlling the use of water are some of the major agronomic practices that almost every farmer has tried. The changes in agronomy might be small, but the results of using the practices are massive. These routines nonetheless have yielded major dividends that farmers have enjoyed. Agricultural practices are generally associated with field crop production, including soil management, cultivation, tillage, the application of pesticides and fertilizers, timing of planting, row spacing, no-tillage, composting, green manuring etc., the partner continues to get a good response from the Agriculture department such as receiving referral and linkages systems from agriculture department and linking the farmers to different Government Schemes like..Raithu Bandhu, crop insurance, subsidy on seeds and manures etc.. future collaboration with this department includes capacity Building, distribution of Seeds and Trainings and Information on Sustainable Crop management. Save the soil campaign and massive awareness and linkages of these practices in the villages are the future engagement activities.