Agriculture Enhancement WHRC

Pests and pesticides present significant economic and ecological challenges for farmers, affecting their crops and living environment. Experience in Andhra Pradesh with Non-Pesticidal Management (NPM) shows that pests are a symptom of ecological disturbance, rather than a cause, and can be effectively managed using local resources and timely action. This emerging sustainable agriculture paradigm, which combines traditional practices with modern science, offers both ecological and economic benefits to farmers. The success achieved in a few villages has been scaled up to more than 1.5 million hectares in three years, significantly reducing cultivation costs without lowering yields. Community-Based Organizations, like Federations of Women Self Help Groups, provide an excellent platform for expanding these ecological farming practices. This grassroots extension system, managed by the community, has brought significant positive changes and helped the farming community overcome crises.

Non-Pesticide Management (NPM)

Farmers in the region focus on two critical aspects of pest management:

1. Enhancing Soil Fertility: Building stronger, richer soil as the first defense against pest attacks.
2. Enhancing Biodiversity: Increasing farm biodiversity as a primary defense against insect pests.

In addition to these principles, farmers follow various NPM options, many based on traditional knowledge systems:

• Deep summer plowing
• Use of pest-tolerant varieties
• Crop rotation
• Trap cropping with marigold, castor, and sunflower
• Bird perching
• Light traps
• Spraying jaggery solution
• Broadcasting corned puffs and yellow WHRC
• Pheromone traps for pest monitoring
• Neem seed kernel extract
• Chilli and garlic extract
• Cow dung and urine extract
• Use of NPV virus
• Manual collection and destruction of larvae
• Shaking plants in severe pest infestation cases

Farmers who adopted these ecological practices saw highly encouraging results. Initially, the program started with 10 farmers. Workshops covering various aspects of pest management, including neem seed collection, biodiversity, botanical pesticides, pest life cycles, and natural enemies, were organized annually before pest attacks. Extension activities such as field days, exposure visits, wall paintings, cultural shows using local folk media, and farmer experience exchanges were conducted. These activities also provided opportunities to learn from farmers about their experiences with NPM.

Overall Achievements of the Program:

• NPM has become a trusted practice among communities working with DDS, not just another program.
• Improved farmer knowledge regarding pests and natural enemies.
• Increased expertise in botanical pesticide preparation within the farming community.
• Empowered women, especially Dalits, to become NPM leaders, sought for their KNOW-HOW.
• Created a large group of master trainers within the organization and farming community, promoting the horizontal spread of NPM concepts.
• Reduced farmer dependency on external inputs.
• Systematized non-chemical pest management practices traditionally followed by resource-poor farmers.

Conclusion

The issue of pesticides is now a pressing concern, affecting the water we drink and the food we eat. Toxic poisons are an inseparable part of our lives today. Advocates of modernization and progress often overlook our most crucial sources of existence. Pesticides do not discriminate; they harm everyone regardless of origin.

As of the year 2000, more than a thousand farmers in the region are directly involved in the NPM movement, covering around 600 hectares. Results show that NPM farmers’ average production in pigeon pea crops was 283 kg/ha compared to 208 kg/ha for chemical farmers. The average plant protection cost for NPM farmers was Rs 150/ha, whereas for chemical farmers, it was Rs 980/ha. The average net income for NPM farmers was Rs 1623/ha, compared to Rs 900/ha for chemical farmers. During severe pest outbreaks, NPM farmers harvested 125-200 kg/ha.

NPM Initiative by WHRC

WHRC promoted the NPM model in Adilabad District, Indravelli Mandal, specifically in the villages of Indravelly, Yamaikunta, Harkapoor, Chinthakarra, and Wadagom. This initiative aimed to reduce cultivation costs by adopting practices based on farmers’ knowledge and modern science, utilizing local resources and natural processes.

Farmers’ Clubs:

Farmers’ Clubs are grassroots-level informal forums organized by rural bank branches, NGOs, and KVKs with NABARD’s support and financial assistance. The objective is to achieve prosperity for farmers through overall agricultural development, facilitating credit, technology, and market counseling. The main motto is rural development through credit, technology transfer, awareness, and capacity building.

Benefits of Farmers’ Clubs:

• Increased savings
• Increased credit flow and diversification of lending
• Generation of new business avenues
• Improved recoveries and reduced non-performing assets
• Socio-economic development of villages
• Enhanced bargaining power for bulk purchases of inputs and marketing produce

NABARD’s Support to Farmers’ Club Program:

NABARD’s policy supports linking technologies with Farmers’ Club members and facilitating market access through:

• Capacity building of Farmers’ Club members, including leadership training
• Linkage with technology and markets
• Formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs)