Krishak Panchayat for Sustainable Agriculture

Krishak Panchayat for Sustainable Agriculture In a fast changing agrarian scenario, farmers in the Sangamner block had started farming that depended on heavy use of fertilizers, hybrid varieties with intensive use of water. However, in a drought prone region these practices did not yield good returns with farmers incurring debt to purchase these inputs.

Traditionally the farmers depended on indigenous seed varieties, which are hardy and drought resistant. Use of farmyard manure was prevalent. Besides this farmers also used the mixed cropping system, growing several crops that acted as a safety net in case any one crop failed. But these sustainable, low input practices are being discarded.

LokPanchayat realized the need to revive the traditional methods of sustainable farming and initiated the project of KrishakPanchayat which focused on ;

• Conservation and propagation of indigenous seed varieties by forming farmer groups which shared seeds for extensionthrough a seed bank
• Making organic manure and pesticides for use at farm level
• Supporting demonstration plots and keeping records of progress
• Learning through exposure visits and farmer to farmer interaction
• Integrating women in decision making on crops to be cultivated and learning improved farming methods

List of seed with local and botanical name :

A) Wheat (Triticum Vulgare)

1) Kalhya Kusalacha Gahu
2) Bakshi
3) Kudarat
4) Bodaka
5) Chandoshi
6) Wakada
7) Dilli
8) Kathya
9) Khapali

B) Bajari(Pearl Millet)

1) Devathan

C) Jowar ( Sorghum)

1) Bendari
2) Khondya ( Fodder)
3) Utawali

D) Rice ( Paddy)

1) Kaal Bhaat
2) Jirawel
3) Kolapi
4) Tivashya
5) Krishna Saal
6) Ambe Mohor
7) Dhavool
8) Khadakya Raibhog

E) Ground Nut

1) Khandya Bhuimug
2) Ghungarya

F) Pulses

1) Ladya moong
2) Gavathi moong
3) Ganaran Mataki
4) Gavathi Harabhara
5) Manjya Kulid
6) Tambada Kulid
7) Masur
8) Gavaran Udid
9) Bahuvarashau Tur
10) Gavaran Tur
11) Pandhari Chavali
12) Mothi Chavali
13) Kala Watana

G) Bean

1) God Waal
2) Kadu Waal
3) Farashi Waal
4) Ghewada Waal
5) Motha Waal
6) Pandhara Waal
7) Shrawani Waal
8) Papadi Waal

H) Vegetables and Other

1) Batu or Kutu (Buck Wheat)
2) Sherani
3) Walook
4) Dangi Kakadi
5) Gavathi Kakadi
6) Tondali
7) Futavi Mirachi
8) Sukelhi (Local Banana)
9) Kothabir (Badami Dhane)
10) Gavathi Kanda (Onion)
11) Halad
12) Lasun Ghaas (fodder grass)
13) Methi
14) Ambat Chuka
15) Ralha
16) Pandhari Maka
17) Lal Maka
18) Mula
19) Dingari
20) Karale
21) Palak
22) Karadai
23) Papai..lala dethachi
24) Papai… Gavaran
25) Madanfalli Tomato
26) Hadaga
27) Shevaga
28) Khurasani
29) Dodaka
30) Bhopala
31) Tandulka (wild vegetable)
32) Gavthi Lasun
33) Maath Bhaji
34) Gavathi Teel
35) Tambada Bhopala
36) Chakki
37) Javas
38) Gawar
39) Ghosale
40) Dev Kapashi
41) Aaliv (cress)
42) Pundya Us (Sugar cane)
43) Rajgira
44) Godhadi chai (tubers)
45) Shevari (Fodder)

I) Mountain Millet

1) Jabad Nachani/ Nagali
2) Mutaki Nagali
3) Sava
4) Kodra
5) Varai
6) Dhengali
7) Bhadali

This was implemented through farmers groups called KrishakPanchayat where farmers in a village came together to discuss, plan and monitor progress of plots usingsustainable agricultural practices. The members of KrishakPanchayats also supported each other for collective marketing. These farmer groups have also joined with the NABARD promoted Farmers Club programme which promotes sustainable agriculture.

More than 20,000 farmers have joined in this process that was supported by UNDP under its Small Grant Programme.

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