Natural farming and water conservation show the way

In Bundelkhand region spread over 14 districts of central India (in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh), water scarcity has been a frequent constraint in rural development initiatives, so recent efforts to spread natural farming decided to start with water conservation.

- BHARAT DOGRA

The results have been extremely encouraging, and many farmers including women farmers who have been prioritised are brimming with happiness and hope.

About 30 farmers of Elha village (in Manikpur block of Chitrakut district, Uttar Pradesh) have gathered for a group discussion in the courtyard of a farmer, along with activists of a voluntary organization ABSSS. One of the main subjects of discussion is - how far can the efforts of natural farming initiated about two years back progress?

Two farmers, Ram Bishun Yadav and Shiv Avtar Yadav, and an activist farmer, Gajendra Singh (from a nearby village) enter into a discussion on the progress achieved so far. In summary they say that a farmer getting two quintals earlier from a bigha of land has been able to get four quintals, increasing income from about Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000. At the same time there has been a saving of Rs 2,200 per bigha by giving up expenditure on chemical pesticides and chemical fertilizers, as also less intensive use of irrigation. Dry fodder or bhusa availability has increased by about Rs 1,000. Thus they calculate an increased net income of about Rs 7,200 per bigha of land.