|
Major Ongoing Programmes
Better
Management Practice in Cotton
India is the
second largest producer of cotton in world. But recently
India has seen its cotton sector undergo critical
changes due to excessive use of chemicals and other
inputs. This is resulting in indebtness and distress of
farming community. Hence it is the priority to bring
down the cost of production and provide better support
systems for the farmers to control environmental
degradation and reduce vulnerability. So taking this
into consideration an innovative project Better
Management Practices in cotton (BMP Cotton) is
implemented jointly by AFPRO & IKEA at Yavatmal district
of Maharashtra.
The term BMP introduce by IKEA, which refer to
cultivation of cotton using Better Management Practices.
The BMP Cotton developed on as a concept that can be
traced back to the IPM (Integrated Pest Management)
techniques that have traditionally focused on reducing
the use of pesticides in the cultivation of agricultural
commodities including the critical issues related to
cotton cultivation i.e. Water Conservation, Soil
Management, and Nutrient Management etc.
Objective of
the Project:
1. To motivate
the farmers to produce pesticide free cotton, so that
damage
to the environment is reduced.
2. To reduce
the cost of production of Cotton.
3. To ensure
the good market price by forming farmers groups &
associations.
In
Yavatmal district, the BMP project was initiated from
the year 2008 and within two years, this project has
covered ninety two villages in eleven clusters reaching
to more than ten thousand farmers. As a first step, to
attract farmers for taking part in this programme, large
scale campaign was carried out in identified areas with
the help of the support organizations. In order to
demonstrate the BMP practices and initiating cross
learning system of the farmers, demonstration of
practices was organized in each village covering of 1 ha
area of two farmers, where various inputs have been
provided to the demo plots on different IPM (Integrated
Pest Management) and INM (Integrated Nutrient
Management) practices.
In order to promote the
concept of Integrated Nutrient Management, soil samples
from different clusters were scientifically collected
from the demonstration plots & accordingly analyzed.
Based on the available organic carbon & available N, P,
K content in the soil, the doses of organic/Inorganic
fertilizers were recommended for improving fertility of
soil in demonstration plots.
For promoting the concept
of IPM, practical training was given to the staff
members of support organization. Subsequently intensive
extension work was carried out to transfer the knowledge
of better management practices for controlling diseases
and pest attack. The farmers in area have realized the
importance of adopting the balance approach for
controlling excessive use of chemicals.
For the year 2010, this
project is extended for three regions of India i.e.,
Yavatmal (Maharashtra). Rajkot (Gujarat) and
Surendranagar (Gujarat).
|
