Farmers get lesson in conservation agriculture

Rajni Shaleen Chopra, 20th May 2010

To break the tradition of burning wheat straw after every harvest season, which has proved harmful for soil nutrients, an initiative has been taken to teach farmers about straw management and conservation agriculture.

Fifty farmers of 14 blocks from rural Punjab have been a part of a classroom-cum-field training project programme, an initiative launched by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in collaboration with the Fazilka-based Jwalabai Nathu Ram Ahuja Trust, and Zamindara Farm Solutions.

Conservation agriculture, based on integrated practices such as zero tillage, crop rotations and permanent soil cover, is gaining ground internationally.
Under the programme, the farmers are being trained in ways through which straw burning can be avoided. In the first phase of the project, in March, groups of 30-35 farmers were given lessons on the ill-effects of burning straw and its devastating effect on the soil. The trust has now shortlisted 50 champion farmers, in whose fields demonstrations will be carried out on straw management.

Trustee Vikram Ahuja told The Indian Express the major issue in the state was paddy straw management. "The state produces approximately 175 million quintals of paddy straw, of which 90 per cent is burnt. The three options for usage of paddy straw are its use as raw material in power plants, sending it to other states as fodder, or conservation agriculture. This is a new concept, in which hi-tech farming equipment like the 'happy seeder' is used to sow wheat in standing paddy straw," he said.

The blocks where the project has been initiated are Muktsar, Malout, Lambi, Gidderbaha, Mamdot, Ferozepur, Zira, Gursarsahai, Jalalabad, Fazilka, Abohar, Khuian Sarwar, Makhu and Ghalkhurd.

Jagdeep Singh, a Sangrur-based farmer who has gone in for conservation agriculture, vouches for its "major benefits".
"Setting the field afire to burn straw kills the natural organisms in the soil that help plant growth and also leaves the land parched. Sowing wheat in standing paddy straw, hence, saves on multiple-irrigation, improves soil quality and increases the yield. Besides, farmers can save at least Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,400 per acre," he said.
An effort is also being made to educate farmers on not taking loans to buy farming equipment, but rent it.

Officials at NABARD's regional office in Chandigarh said the fields of these farmers where conservation agriculture is practised would act as demonstration units for other farmers in the area

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/farmers-get-lesson-in-conservation-agriculture/621191/2

विकलांग सहायता कैंप : 600 का किया चेकअप

Jan 20, 08:52 pm
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_4102268.html
फाजिल्का -रविवार को रोटरी क्लब द्वारा जमीदारा फार्म शोल्यूशन के सहयोग से स्थानीय डीसी डीएवी पब्लिक स्कूल में विकलांग सहायता कैंप का आयोजन किया गया। शिविर का शुभारंभ एसडीएम राजीव पराशर ने किया। क्लब के अध्यक्ष डा. अजय धवन ने बताया कि यह कैंप शहर व पास लगते गांवो के विकलांग लोगों के लिए लगाया गया। उन्होंने बताया कि बाहर से आई डा. हांडा की टीम द्वारा रविवार को विकलांगों के अंगों का माप लिए गए। इसमें करीब 600 मरीजों की जांच की गई।

बीस मार्च को कृत्रिम अंग व खराब टांगों के लिए बैसाखी आदि क्लब की ओर से मरीजों को वितरित की जाएंगी। जिन जरूरतमंदों को ट्राइसाइकिल की जरूरत होगी वे प्रशासन के सहयोग से मरीजों को मुफ्त दिए जाएंगे। इस कैंप में करीब 25 हजार का खर्च होगा जो फाजिल्का के जमीदारा फार्म सोल्यूशन की ओर से दिए जाएंगे। उन्होंने बताया कि जिन लोगों के हाथ कटे हुए है, उनको जयपुर रेफर किया जा रहा है। उनका इलाज वहां की भगवान महावीर सेवा समिति के सहयोग वहां के एसएम अस्पताल में नि:शुल्क किया जाएगा। पोलियो से जिन बच्चों के जोड़ जाम हो चुके है, उन बच्चों को उदयपुर के श्री नारायण सेवा समिति विकलांग अस्पताल में भेजा जाएगा। वहां पर उनका इलाज मुफ्त में किया जाएगा। अंबाला से अपनी टीम के साथ आए डा. हांडा ने बताया कि इस शिविर में कृत्रिम अंग उपलब्ध करवाए जा रहे है। इसके लिए माप लिए जा रहे हैं। उनको क्लब के सहयोग से वे बीस मार्च को खुद अपनी टीम के साथ आकर कृत्रिम अंग लगाएंगे। इस शिविर में उद्योगपति सुरिंद्र अहूजा, डायरेक्टर विक्रम अहूजा, प्रिंसिपल डा. बीसी जोसन, अढ़तिया एसोसिएशन के अध्यक्ष ओम प्रकाश सेतिया, संस्था के प्रोजेक्ट चेयरमैन असीम कामरा, सचिव डा. रजनीश कमरा, को-प्रोजेक्ट चेयरमैन दविंद्र अग्रवाल, प्रिंसिपल मंजुला सहगल व अन्य सदस्यों ने पूर्ण रूप से सहयोग दिया।

Fazilka Shinning - First Agri Based Call Centre of North India in Fazilka

Farmers call for problem solving

Anilesh S Mahajan TNN :
Fazilka/Chandigarh: Call centres are definitely proving a boon for farmers in far off villages where technology and its advantages may otherwise never reach them. In a similar effort started six months back, though a far cry from swanky settings but nonetheless effective, NRIturned-farmer Vikram Ahuja caters to needs of the farming community from his dusty office on the outskirts of Fazilka in Ferozpur district. Farmers from around this town and neighbouring areas of Rajasthan call on 9915184000 and are attended to by five people employed at the call centre running from the first floor of Ahuja’s Zamindara’s Farm Solutions. ‘‘It is high time we connect the laptop with agriculture for a good market,’’ says Ahuja. Equipped with five computers running on Pentium II and old-fashioned headphones, this centre has reportedly become very popular among farmers. Vikas Rai, a farmer of Nehal Khehra village near Abohar says, ‘‘I was suggested laser-levelling in my field and it has benefited me more than traditional levelling methods. And the solution was just a call away,’’ says a happy Rai. While word of mouth has familiarised farmers with this call centre, the local media has also played a positive role, says Ahuja. Apart from catering to individual farmers, this centre reportedly outsources its services to farm products producer group Haryali and it has also done a pilot project with Punjab Agro and Punjab agriculture department. ‘‘We guide farmers to opt for citrus farming, horticulture, cotton, wheat and use of agritools for special work. I got the database from US, Italy and other European countries. With the help of government machinery, I hope to help the local farming community,’’ says Ahuja. Starting with minimum infrastructure, Ahuja is glad to say, ‘‘We get calls from Ganganagar and Hanumangarh in Rajasthan. Most farmers have small problems and with better communication, call centres like ours will really benefit them.’’ It is a free of cost service, which Vikram has initiated for farmers of this backward and border area of Fazilka Abohar and neighbouring areas. In my various trips to abroad I have seen that technology is giving a big boost to various fields, then why not in farming, saidVikram. “ It is quick, fast and free of cost for farmers. I am focusing on reducing input costs of farmer, I advice them to rent tools rather than buying them, and use a technique, which is best suited.’’

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/TOICG/2007/10/18/TOICG_2007_10_18_5.pdf

Times of India, Chandigarh Edition, 18th October, 2007