water water

Karsog Valley Farmers Group ,Local NGO, came into existence in April,29,2006 with a motive to work for the welfare of farming community. We have seen the multiple problems being faced by the ill fated farmers, attended hundreds of meetings with the farmers. One major problem , they talk about is the water scarcity.
In ancient Indian literature and religious teachings water is equated with life and held in great veneration. Rivers were worshipped. Strict rules guided the maintenance of the riverbeds and the utilization of water. This maintenance clause is no more applicable for present society, that’s why All bavdis, springs have turned dry
Anna Hazare, the renowned activist and environmentalist once remarked, “These schemes result in more money harvesting than water harvesting!” Mark Tully, one time BBC correspondent and long time observer of the Indian scene, summed it up aptly, “Repeated droughts have made water harvesting fashionable.”
Though there is a lot of doubts while talking about Government schemes, some of them indeed have succeeded. One such success story comes from the district Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh. Over a period of five years more than a thousand check-dams were constructed. Nearly the same number of ponds was also dug. These steps led to ‘drought-proofing’ of the village. Agriculture improved, migration to cities was arrested and the villagers found gainful occupations in the village itself. But such cases are rare and far between.
But there is hope yet! There are spectacular success stories from several parts of rural India. The common factor that runs through these stories like a golden thread is the initiative and active participation of local people. They have proved the timeless truth in the saying “Apne hath Jagannath!” (Destiny is in our own hands.) With a little help from NGOs, who prefer to call themselves facilitators, these villages have drawn upon ancient wisdom and made use of the present technology with the future in mind.
Almost Every one knows That Rajender Singh educated the villagers about the wisdom of ancient methods of water conservation. “Pani Yatras” were taken out through the villages. Soon the Sangh had thousands of villagers across hundreds of villages repairing abandoned johads, check dams, and restoring dried up wells. As in the case of Ralegaon, TBS insisted that at least part of the finances required must come from the villagers to ensure greater involvement and interest. Over the years the villagers’ contribution and interest has risen and hundreds of villages have become self-sufficient in water. Miraculously the river Aravari, that had only been a fading memory, started flowing again after about eight decades! Local people who had to migrate to cities in summer looking for employment now stay back to look after their crops. Women freed from the drudgery of trudging miles for drinking water have taken up cash-generating activities like traditional crafts and poultry. More children attend schools. Forest cover and grasslands have increased leading to more milk production. This in turn has led to the revival of the age-old industry of making milk cakes, famous throughout the state in the past.
The success stories recounted above show a silver lining in the otherwise bleak scenario of droughts, floods and failing monsoons. The simple village folk, relying on traditional wisdom have shown us the value of ancient systems. They have also proved that God helps those who help themselves. Perhaps the time has come for communities to take up a more active role in nation building without waiting for the Government to do everything. As John F Kennedy once remarked, let us think of what we can do for the country rather than what the country can do for us.
The introduction of NREGA has brought a lot of fortune to the rural India. It has given employment opportunity to the rural people. The adverse thing which I have noticed with concern to the water is that the Panchayat representative have started making money of it. They have converted our old traditional Johars (kufers) into concrete tanks. A kufar can absorb water more than 100 times of its volume.I have witnessed three Kufars converting into concrete tanks .In various meetings with farmers we draw their attention to it and motivate them to protest against this conversion. Brikam Ram,62 years old resident of the village described that the kufer(now turned into a pacca water tank) is without water for the first time in last 50-60 years. They used to use its water for cattles, vegetables production, but this time they have to hire a vehicle to carry water for cattles and other domestic need.

I am sure if the funds of NREGA are used to make JOHARS, Check Dams and plantation of environment friendly trees, our state can become DROUGHT FREE state.

Unplanned schemes for high risking farming.

Close to half of the India’s land area is fertile for agriculture as compared with less than quarter in China and the US, according to US central intelligence agency factbook . Yet 40% of Indian farmers want to quit Agriculture , a 2005 studies by the Indian Agriculture Ministry shows.
Despite having good potential for even apple farming, younger generation is looking for government job. why? The government has not been able to motivate young generation for adoption of farming. Our apple yield is the lowest in the world. It appears ,when we look at farming methods, we still live in ancient times. Horticulture departments is having demonstration and progeny Farms, but there is nothing to be demonstrated. Mistakenly, if any farmer visits these farms, he will immediately quit to adopt farming.
Government has huge plans for infrastructure development, under Din Dayal Krishi samridhi Yojana They have not worked for marketing strategy. They have also not come up with growing plans. I fear if most of the green house growers start growing Colour capsicum, the farmers will never be able to meet out even their production costs, The clientele for which is limited. It had happened ,and ,it is going to happen very shortly again.
In Pandit Din Dayal Upadhyay Krishi samridhi Yojana the stress is given to the water structures only, (apart from green houses) for only those who have water sources available. The main source is indeed RAIN, but rainwater harvesting is missing from the scheme. Any farmer thinking to create water storage tank, out from rain water is not going to get any benefit under the scheme. Field functionaries are insisting upon the tartima to get any benefit under the scheme,but neither Patwari visits sites nor agricultural officers are in a position to read the tartima,infact Nakal jamabandi is enough to acertain the title of land holding of the proposed beneficiary.In most of the cases tartima is baseless.After the computerisation of revenue department one may take two or more months to obtain tartima from patwari that too not free of cost.

Jain irrigation had been working for long time and installing the irrigation systems efficiently but after the big agri scheme launched,they shifted their attention to the more profitable venture,green house fabrication work. It is our personal experience that today they have almost nil staff for irrigation systems in the field.
Despite subsidies ,farmers are continue to struggle with the risk of unpredictable monsoons and climatic conditions. Fortunately if they succeed to grow vegetables or fruits, They get only 20% of the retail price. They also have no site of final consumers because of the long chain of middleman. Govt must plan for the removal of these middleman and should try to make farmers access with the consumers.
Huge subsidies for chemical fertilizers, transport subsidy for industries promotions (for raw material) but no transport subsidy if mushroom compost is transported from private farm by mushroom grower.
Marketing boards are working, but with no new strategy, only photo copying the old marketing yards. Providing platform (like railway platforms) for traders, the middleman, nothing for farmers. Yes, if farmers take their produce to the nearby market , they impose production tax. Northharvest, an SSG promoted by karsog Valley Farmers Group are paying at the crossing of Mandi-Shimla border at Tattapani @Rs10/box which carries vegetables worth Rs 100-200, but for an apple box (cost 1000- 2500) this fee is Rs 3/box(Though In other districts this fee is Rs 2/box) , so different rules for different districts.
In the name of marketing committee ,Farmers know only one marketing person-tax collector at TattaPani.

Seminar 2009 video

Seminar on organic farming and Quality awareness

Potential and Prospects for India’s Apple

High cost of Indian and imported Apples have limited the consumption of this fruit to the higher income group.US apple accounted for the largest Indian market share, but started facing competition from the high quality and low cost Chinese apples. Although India has high (50%) tariff on imported apples. Indian domestic growers appear not to have been damaged by the entry of relatively high priced and high quality imports, nor they exploited the opportunity to boost earning by improving quality ,and increasing yield to compete with imported apples
India’s per capita apple consumption of about 1.35 kg per year is low relative to other major apple producing countries. Simply because apple is the relatively highest –priced fruit in India. Turkey has the highest 36.8 kg,France 16.2 ,China 14Kg,US 9 .7Kg .

Indian apple production averaged nearly 1.4 million tons during 2002-2004, making it the sixth largest apple producer in the world, while its average yield, about 5.5 metric tons per hectare, is the lowest of the major world producers. Production is concentrated in a few regions of northern India where the climate suits production of temperate zone crops, such as apples.

Annual growth rate of India’s area, production, and per hectare yield of apples have been decelerating since the 1970s. Although harvested area has expended since 1990, declining average yield have slowed annual production growth to about 1.6 percent. Output growth has been slower than that of several major world producers, most notably China and Chile, but it has been near the average for the major world producers and significantly stronger than in the United States, France and Italy.


Most apple orchards in India are 30 years old or older and are characterised by declining yield and lack of fruit uniformity in terms of shape, size, and colour . The low productivity and poor quality of apples is linked to monoculture of a few old cultivars and that have degenerated over the years. For example, in Himachal Pradesh , only a few old cultivars, such as Royal Delicious and Rich Red account for most apple area.
Farmers are increasingly concerned about problems with apple scab disease, out break of premature leaf fall and infestation of red spider mite On these varieties, Although more than 700 accessions of apples introduced from abroad have been tried and tested during last 50 years, the delicious group of cultivar still accounts for 83 percent of production in Himachal Pradesh and more than 45 percent in Jammu and Kashmir.

Many Factors for low apple yields

Non availability and awareness of clonal rootstocks and advanced apple varieties in the state.
Poor extension services by the state horticulture departments for the promotion of technology up gradation, adoption of clonal rootstocks. Non availability of Horticulture officials towards High Density plantation.
82 % grower of Himachal Pradesh grow apples as supplementary crop. So their main concern is with the other conventional crops. Thus many farmers keep best land for conventional crops, to secure their living.
Awareness among the farmers in regards to the advance technique of apple farming , like high density apple plantation on clonal rootstocks.
Erratic moisture and poor water use efficiency: India’s monsoon climate provides highly seasonal and erratic rainfall in apple producing areas. The mountainous conditions reduce the efficiency with which available moisture is used by the crop.
Low use of organic fertilisers: typically used below recommended levels and due to use of old convention seedling rootstock the nutrient uptake is also low, also because of the terrain . However this uptake in clonal rootstock is very high.
Weather: weather conditions, such as spring frost and hailstorms, reduce productivity.
Technology: As mentioned such as use of clonal rootstocks, renewal pruning technique, and micro nutrient application. At present these technologies are not being adopted by the growers, still apple is being grown with traditional way.
Use of fertilizers: generally growers do not use fertilizers and micro nutrients according to the need of soil, plant, but some farmers also use excessive use of these fertilisers.
Farmers are least concerned about the soil health and ,rarely, few people go for soil analyses test.

Changing climate is also challenging the apple production adversely . The need is awareness, planning and adoption of the appropriate technology like selection of rootstock, variety, advanced pruning techniques knowledge of nutrients requirements of growing and fruit giving plants and above all the soil analyses.
More than 60 % of India’s total Income is shared by only 40 % of population But, even if we assume that apple is confined to this 40 % high income group, per capita consumption of 3.5 Kg is still low in comparisons with other major producing countries. We have enormous market potential available for Apples, but only thing is , increase production by increase in growing area or increasing our yield by adopting scientific way of cultivation. Till date the cost of production of apple is 1/12 of cost of production in USA. We have only three major desease ( insect threat or Fungus attacks) against Seven threats for apple growers in United States.

Source :-Economic survey, Govt. of India, National Horticulture board, FAOSTAT(Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.) and study done by Satish Dhar, Associate professor at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad , India . Maurice Landes and Berry Krissoff , senior economist, USDA Economic Research Service

Karsog Valley Farmers Group organises a seminar on Organic Farming

Karsog Valley Farmers Group (KVFG) is an NGO based out of Kalasan which is a village 7 km from Churag on Mandi road. The NGO works for the benefit of farmers of the region. The group was established on 29th April 2006 and has since been working directly with farmers in disseminating information on Organic Farming techniques, Integrated Pest Management and Crop production practices to name a few. In continuation with these activities the group organised a seminar for farmers. About 150 farmers of various villages attend the seminar which was held at the Prof KL Sharma Trust (Ashram) at Thandapani.

The seminar was focused on various techniques and farm products available in the market for organic farming. In addition to this a competition was held for farmers on variety of crops they produce. A number of farmers got their best quality vegetables for the competition. The area was full of colors and aroma of the produce. Farmers were also distributed literature on various techniques practiced elsewhere in India. The meeting hall was well setup with banners on topics such as Integrated Pest Management, Water Harvesting techniques such as Kufars and various types of Bio-pesticides and plant growth enhancers.

Presentations were held on various topics such as Organic Farming products such as Bio-pesticides, Bio-fertilizers and useful organisms such as VAM, Rhizobium and Pseudo Monas. In addition to this advanced Organic farming techniques such as Biodynamics and their use at places around India was also introduced. Various other easily available bio-pesticides such as Neem oil, garlic, cow-urine and sour butter milk were discussed as easy options to use in Organic Farming. In keeping with the current curiosity around the country, a discussion was also with the farmers on the issue and concerns over the introduction of Genetically Modified Crops in India. Documentaries on Bio-dynamics, GM foods and Organic farming were also played out for the benefit of the farmers. Presenters from Delhi and Hyderabad shared their experiences with farmers and sought feedback of problems faced by them too. The harmful effects and toxicity of chemical pesticides were also discussed and farmers were sensitised in using proper protection such as gloves, masks and other gear if they had to use them as a last resort.

Mr. Vikram Rawat of KVFG introduced history, goals and vision of the NGO to the quorum. Mr. VP Rao of KN Bioscience, a company from Hyderabad supplying Bio-Organic Fertilizers and agents, explained the various agents such as bacteria and fungi available for the purpose of organic farming. Mr. Ashish Gupta from Delhi presented an introduction on Biodynamic Farming methods as practiced in Southern India. Mr. Rawat is also experimenting with biodynamic compost and Cow Pat Pit methods at his farm in Kalasan.

The participation of women in the seminar was noteworthy as was the level of interaction farmers had with the presenters. The seminar was held in Hindi and this made it easier for the farmers to relate with the information presented. Lunch was served in the traditional Himachal 'Dham' style and made from farm fresh produce of the region.

The vegetable competition held was noteworthy. Varieties of exotic vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, snow peas, ice lettuce, cherry tomatoes and zucchini etc. were put up on display. The farmers vehemently argued their quality with the judges which went to show that they were proud of their produce. Dr. Bhupesh Gupta an Agricultural scientist from YS Parmar University kindly judged the event on benchmarks such as shape, smoothness, presentation, crispiness, size and aroma.

This entire event was successful in disseminating information to farmers. Such events much be encouraged and arranged more frequently. In today’s time where the farmer is the only person on the chain of Economics who is at maximum risk by vagaries of weather, markets and health, it only makes sense that this community be sensitized towards more friendly techniques. As Mr. B.D. Sharma, who attended the seminar put it, Farmers are the backbone of the country and today everyone (markets, weather and policies) is trying to break this back bone. The farmer must be protected today at all costs.