2013

Organic Farming
 Purpose
Reasons for Organic Farming
Clean food-
o No residues of toxic pesticides and fertilizers in the food you eat
Clean environment
o Organic farming releases less greenhouse gases than non-organic farming
- choosing organic, local and seasonal food can significantly reduce carbon
footprint
Protection of Flora and Fauna
o Organic farming techniques employs bulls in ploughing, protecting them
from slaughter
o It also preserves wildlife and provides homes for bees, birds and
butterflies.
Preservation of soil
o Long term usage of chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides makes the soil
toxic, reducing it to an infertile mass, and also pollutes the groundwater.
Though producing progressive yields in the initial years, it has been
observed that the yield in chemical farming drastically drops with progress
of time. So much so, that the land needs to be left inactive for years to
facilitate its recuperation.

Link to core concept

Govardhan Eco Village (GEV) is a humble attempt to highlight the importance of living
in harmony with nature and using the gifts that Nature and God have bestowed upon
us to serve the society by setting up a model farm community. Our aim is to develop
farm communities as they present the only sustainable way of leading a life which is
physically, mentally, socially, economically, spiritually and environmentally friendly.

Farming is the central activity of GEV. All other activities are planned around organic
farming. Every activity has an output which directly contributes towards this farming.
This case study will highlight how this practice helps in overall sustenance of the
ecology while giving the required yields.

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 The Process
Organic farming involves using techniques that aid in achieving good yields without
damaging the environment or the people who live and work in it. So any farming
practice, be it old or new, that complies with this principle can be adopted in Organic
Farming.

Organic fertilizers
Adding organic matter in various forms such as living or dead plant and animal material
to the soil is the keystone to enhancing this soil requirement. Organic matter supplies
raw materials to naturally occurring bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms in the
soil. These organisms digest organic matter in a process known as the decay cycle. The
decay cycle breaks down the complex compounds in the plant material into forms that
can be absorbed by plant roots, creating a natural recycling process.
At Govardhan Eco Village cow dung slurry, produced from the biogas plant, is used as a
fertilizer. The digested slurry in the process of biogas generation is a highly nutrient rich
substance and can be used directly for farming applications. Having extracted all the
natural gas in the plant, the threat of emissions of methane - a strong green-house gas,
is also avoided.
On the other hand chemical fertilizers do not work on the soil but the plants directly
absorb them without nourishing the soil. This causes the soil to lose its fertility
gradually with time.

Advantages
Improves the structure, organic matter content and nutrient content of the soil.
Increasing the water retaining capacity, prevent erosion and weed growth.

Organic Pesticides
Studies have shown that in the past 50 years, insecticide use has increased tenfold,
while crop losses from pest damage have doubled. Owing to these drawbacks natural
pesticides are the way to go for ecofriendly farming.

Govardhan Eco Village uses organic pesticides to achieve optimum results in farming.
Good results have been achieved by using the following methods

Go mutra (Cow urine)

Neem oil and Neem leaf extracts

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 Chilligarlic extract that are highly effective in many cases
Dasaparni, an extract made from 10 different tree leaves, is one of the best
organic herbal formulations that achieve good results for pest control and overall
crop growth. The formulation consists of locally and cheaply available items in
market or farm like Neem, Castor, Custard apple, papaya etc., which are
grounded and mixed in water. This concoction is fermented for a month and can
be sprayed after filtration.
This mixture when sprayed is very effective against all types of leaf worms and
viral infections. Dasaparni also helps hormonal growth and increases the quality
of produce.
In the Rope method, two people stand across the side of the field holding a
rope across the field at the plant level. As they run along the length of the field,
the rope is dragged over all the plants along the way thus brushing the bugs and
larvae into the flooded ground, killing them.
Also at GEV, we use pest traps like yellow sticky traps, light traps and
Pheromone traps that are a safe way of controlling pest population without
using any deadly chemicals.
By tactful usage of these alternatives, the usage of deadly chemicals can be avoided
ensuring purity of the produce today and the safety of ecology tomorrow.

Raised bed farming

Conventionally the rice saplings are grown in the same tract of land where the paddy is
eventually grown from which they are removed and then replanted. This process of re-
plantation is tedious, time consuming and involves lot of expenditure on labor.
Unlike the traditional practice, at GEV, we follow the technique of growing the rice
saplings on a permanent raised bed and then transplant them onto the actual field. This
technique not only is more efficient but also cost effective. The bed is usually
prepared one month before sowing of the seeds. The 4ft x 80ft permanent raised beds
are prepared by first removing the topsoil from the bed area. Then alternate layers of
dry biomass, slurry, green biomass and slurry are installed. Finally the topsoil is again
covered up forming a layer 1 to 2 inches thick. The bed has to be kept moist
continuously so that the biological decomposition takes place effectively. At GEV we use

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 sprinklers system and garden showers to
keep the bed moist. The genesis of
adapting to this approach lies in
consideration of the condition here in
Maharashtra.

Fruits and vegetables are not shifted and

instead grown permanently out of the
raised bed and we are extensively
involved in promoting this technique for
vegetable farming.

Advantages -
The raised bed technology facilitates better aeration
As the wood rots in due course, the released heat aids the decomposition
process
Excellent for growing fruit and vegetables in the inhospitable temperatures and
altitudes
Provides good water drainage facility during the rainy seasons

Cow Urine for rice saplings

After 8 days of the sapling appear on the raised bed the first spray of gomutra or cow
urine is applied. Cow urine which is 7-10 days old is diluted to 3-4% and then sprayed.
A second spray of gomutra is again applied after 16 days.

Advantage - It boosts the hormonal growth and also acts as a pest-cum-disease

controlling agent.

Rope line method for sampling

plantation
In this technique, a rope is run through
the field and so that the famers plant in
a straight line along the rope. Once a
line is finished, the rope is shifted for
plantation in another row.
This systematic plantation scheme
ensures even space for each sapling by
which the plant gets enough sunlight
and nutrients.
Due to the even spacing the process of
weeding and pest control also becomes

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 easy.
At GEV we have successfully employed this technique and have found that the shoots
grow taller and healthier.

Composting
Compost is any organic matter that has been decomposed. It is a natural fertilizer and
soil conditioner that restores the soil texture and makes the soil nutrients rich.

Worm-composting and Hot composting are being successfully used at GEV.

Hot composting includes creating heaps of organic

matter up to a height of 3-4 ft. with base of 5ft x 8ft.
Organic matter includes any natural substance like
husk, dry foliage, dry grass, left-over food etc. Organic
matter is covered with cow dung slurry and layers are
stacked and left for natural decomposition. The heap is
turned in regular intervals, so that the aerobic digestion
takes place in 2-3 months, which would otherwise take
6 months.

Worm composting is the highly efficient and

relatively low maintenance method of composting, especially for the difficult to deal
with wastes. Worms like redwiggler, white worms, and earthworms, when kept inside a
bioreactor, converts the organic mass by chewing into finer particles. The resultant
product is called vermicompost and it is rich in nutrients and microbial activity. When
needed to process huge quantities of bio waste, Worm composting forms the best
alternative.
Fermentation process for composting takes place at low temperatures, which can be
maintained by running the process in the anaerobic conditions.

Mulching
Mulching is a standard organic farming practice that prevents soil erosion by using a
protective cover over the soil.
At GEV, along with natural grasses and leaves, jute bags are commonly used as
mulches and have proven to be very effective. Mulching has to be done over wet soil,
there by retaining the soil moisture by reducing water loss due to evaporation.
Advantages
Prevents soil erosion,
Retain the moisture in the soil
Helps maintain a uniform soil temperature in most seasons.

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 Boost microbial activity and the breeding of earthworms.
By covering the inter-plant spaces completely, mulches block the sunlight for any
weeds, thus controlling their growth.
Some mulches can also be used as compost and helps improve the soil fertility
and provides nutrients to the plants.
However care has to be taken to not use excess mulch, as too much moisture will cause
the roots of the plant to decay. Excess mulch also leads to anaerobic decomposition of
the bottom layers and release of phytotoxic materials that may prove detrimental to the
plant growth. Regular rotation of the mulch prevents formation of toxic materials. The
harmful effects of phytotoxins can be countered by watering, which helps dilute the
toxins and reduce the pH value of the soil. Excess mulching can also breed rodents and
insects that might affect the tree bark.

Impact and Sustainability

Head Values
Land in cultivation for Vegetables 3.1 acres
Land in cultivation for grains and other crops 11 acres
Cow Urine used/ month 50ltr
Cow Dung/ Slurry used/ month 1 Ton
Savings/ month by use of Cow based Organic Fertilizers Rs 50,000

Major achievements at GEV

Researched on the production of varieties of vegetables by systematic day to day
monitoring.
Designed our vegetable plantation and harvesting cycle as per the lunar calendar,
which helps in better prediction of seasonal changes.
Started using Vedic rainfall prediction techniques for estimating monsoon time
and sowing seeds accordingly.
A book based on compilation of traditional techniques of Pest Control containing
some very effective but forgotten techniques of Pest Control using organic
substances is under preparation.
Perpetuating traditional organic seeds by sharing them with farmers.
Resident students are doing research on a different variety/ specie of plant or
grain every year at GEV.
54 varieties of rare rice varieties have been cultivated and seed bank created at
GEV. The three medicinal varieties harvested at GEV:
Mahadi is known for its benefits in speedy recovery from fractures, while
Rajgudiya is known to be a good treatment for physical weakness.

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 Govinda Bhog, a scented variety of rice popularly used in many exotic
cuisines is also a good source of vitamins and hemoglobin.

Innovation in method
We have received recognition from independent bodies for our work in raised bed
technique.

Recognising this effort, Krishi sutra survey - conducted by the Small Farmers Agri-
Business Consortium - has listed GEV as one of the top 100 agriculture innovators in
India, for extensively using this technique.