New Billion Beats Feb2009 Issue 5 V6

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Vol. 2, Issue : 5

Sunday, February 01,

Age
Didn’t
deter...
“Innovate to empower agriculture”

Double
Food
An Advocate become an advocate of Organic farming
Produc-
tion…..b Organic farming, pure seeds and commitment success mantra of Mr. Yadav

Sustain-
His mission was on preventing outbreak of
able
rural
A man with passion in his eyes in his 60’s diseases and pests and he never allows any
devel-
opment.
was trying to meet Dr. Kalam as soon as the weed to grow in the crop or on the field bunds.
inaugural function of “Technology bank” is Farmyard manure and compost are applied
over at the National Institute of Rural De- liberally. Green manure crop like dhaincha is
velopment, Hyderabad on 20 Oct 2008, it grown and incorporated. Suitable variety,
appeared like yearning for one of those short timely sowing and optimum plant population
courtesy exchanges. But how this get to- are followed. Low quantity of incorganic fertil-
gether fur- ther unfolded! izers, especially nitrogenous ones is applied.
Mr. Gori-
parthi Na- Mr. Yadav has successfully
OATH rasimharaju obtained the
For encouraging yadav of
Organic Farming
Guduru,
Krishna dis-
1. I will carry out trict (Andhra
research on organic Pradesh)
farming and develop came with the
plant varieties which bunch of
will give high yield documents to
for organic farmers
with minimum
explain to Dr.
expenditure. Kalam.
2. I will disseminate
the success stories He narrated his
of organic farming experience to
to other districts Dr. Kalam. His
and panchayats, so main area of
that they can use activities are
the techniques and improvement
process for and production
3. I will provide all the
resources including
technology of
finance to the rice, groundnut, record production
farmers in-time, so black gram, pro- of rice, groundnut and black gram
that they can carry duction technology of through proper management. For record out-
out organic farming fruits and vegetables, organic farming; input, Mr. Yadav says “I have followed organic
successfully. troduction of new crops, cropping and farm- farming, besides suitable varieties, timely sow-
4. I will propagate that ing systems; maintenance and improvement ing, optimum plant population, balanced nutri-
the organic farming of cattle (Ongole breed); and fish culture. tion, proper water management, early weed
product are free Mr. Yadav has grown new varieties of dif- control and pests and disease control. The re-
from the ill effects ferent crops in his field and demonstrated cord production of mango and coconut was
of chemical
fertilizers and
the potentiality of the variety to the farmers also due to application of organic manures”. In
pesticides leading to of the region for the last two decades. He his farm he has the 400 years old mango tree
better development also distributes pure seeds of the variety to which gives the yield of 23456 mangos. He
of market for the farmers as per market price or even also had a record paddy yield of 17250 kgs per
organic produce. lower than that. hectare.

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Gift extinguishes the divine
light of the person An advocate become an advocate of Organic Farming
I was reading the lessons
loudly and I heard a knock at the
Mr. Yadav says with confidence, he has achieved double the yield than other farmers of the
door. We never used to lock the
door in Rameshwaram in those
region and having increased income. He also ensured that the entire farming community was
days. Somebody opened the door,
benefited by supplying pure seed of new varieties, demonstrating the use of organic manures,
came in and asked me where my
and introducing multiple cropping systems.
father was? I told him that father
had gone for evening Namaz. Then He is a great advocate of organic farming. He uses lesser quantity of chemical fertilizers, espe-
he said, I have brought something cially nitrogenous ones. He partly substitutes nitrogen with farmyard manure, compost and
for him, can I keep it here? Since green manure. He has always discouraged high seed rate and indiscrimate use of pesticides. It
my father had gone for Namaz, I shows the systemic approach towards farming and agriculture practices always yields better.
shouted for my mother to get her The land of earth never betrays the hardworking farmer with scientific approach. This depicts
permission to receive the item.
the success of the individual due to his father’s inspiration and the strong commitment and
Since she was also on the Namaz
love towards agriculture and organic farming practices. Age didn’t deter him to spread the
there was no response. I asked the
organic farming, Mr. Yadav is a B.A, LL.B, but wedded to agriculture.
person to leave the item on the
cot. After that I continued my
studies. I used to learn by reading
aloud in my younger days. I was
reading loud and fully concentrat-
Doubling food production - a coordinated mission
ing on my studies. At that time my When a mission is launched with the help of multiple partners with dedicated com-
father came in and saw a tam-
mitment, it results into success. Yes, this is one of the examples of the partnership between
balum kept in the cot. He asked
farmers, government, agricultural scientists, NGOs which is happened in Bihar. An experi-
me "what is this? Who has given
ment has been carried out by the TIFAC (Technology Information Forecast and Assessment
that?" I told him, "somebody came
and has kept this for you". He
Council) team in Bihar, in the RP Channel 5 and Majholi distributory and later extended to
opened the cover of the tambalum
Paliganj and
and found there was a costly other 5 di-
dhoti, angawastram, some fruits stributaries on
and some sweets and he could see the request of
the slip that the person had left farmers. Today
behind. I was the youngest child they are work-
of my father, he really loved me ing agricultural
and I also loved him a lot. He was best practices
upset at the sight of the Tam-
existing in the
balum and gifts left by some one.
country. This
That was the first time I saw him
very angry and also that was the
project has
first time I had got a thorough
been carried
beating from him. I got frightened
out by the TI-
and started weeping. My mother FAC, in col-
embraced and consoled me. Then laboration with
my father came and touched my a farmer’s co-
shoulder lovingly with affection operative soci-
and advised me not to receive any ety, Indian
gift without his permission. He Agricultural
quoted an Islamic Hadith, which
Research Insti-
states that, "When the Almighty
tute (IARI) and
appoints a person to a position,
the agricultural
He takes care of his provision. If a
person takes anything beyond
university in Pusa, Bihar under the leadership of Dr. S.K. Sinha. Using scientific method of
that, it is an illegal gain." Then he
farming involving soil characterization, matching the right seed to soil, seeding in time, fertil-
told me that it is not a good habit. izer and pesticide selection, water management, pre and post harvesting methodology produc-
Gift is always accompanied by tivity has been more than doubled. The productivity of paddy has increased in these villages
some purpose and a gift is a from 2 tons per hectare to 4 – 5.8 tons per hectare and in respect of wheat productivity; it has
dangerous thing. It is like touch- increased from around 2 tonnes per hectare to around 4 - 5 tonnes per hectare. Presently,
ing a snake and getting the poison paddy and wheat crops are spread in an area greater than 2500 hectares involving 3000 farm-
in turn. This lesson stands out ers. This is the collective success of the citizens of India.
always in my mind even when I
am in my seventies. This incident,
This experience clearly shows that the winning spirit is embedded in the every individual of
taught me a very valuable lesson
this country. But what is needed is kindling the spirit at right time to have it flame which will
for my life. It is deeply embedded
in my mind.
bring the light of knowledge thus resulting peace and prosperity. How to spread the success to
the entire nation? Can we think of a methodology to spread it? You may give your feedback.
February 1, 2009


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Success of villagers was the place of celebration
Silent rural revolution at Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur Districts of Tamilnadu by NAF

On 15 OCT 2008, when Dr. Kalam completed the 77th orbit of the sun and entered into 78th orbit, he chose to
visit the villages of Thiruvallur District and Kancheepuram district to see the silent progress made by the villagers with
the help of National Agro Foundation. 30 rural children in the age group of 2-4 years from the model playschool func-
tioning in the NAF CFRD Campus since 2005, were ready with the birthday cake at the NAF. He urged the children to
dream big, and elicited a promise from them to plant trees and teach at least one unlettered person to read and write.
He interacted with 50 Students in the age group of 12-15 years from Government Secondary Schools in Chunampet,
Kadapakkam, Vennangupet and Andarkuppam.
Mr. S. Rajsekar, NAF had organized the visit and shown Dr. Kalam, how NAF has silently worked and brought a
difference in the life of a common citizens in number of villages in Chithamur block of Kancheepuram where the NAF,
along with the panchayats, has undertaken several development works.

I am an empowered village women
Dr. Kalam visited puthirankotai village of Kancheepuram district which is about 100 km from Chennai and
reached in the morning at 10.00 am sharp, the people in the village thronged to receive him, and gave a resounding
welcome to him. Before the NAF started sensitizing its residents on the need for proper sanitation, only a handful of
households had individual toilets. Now, 368 of the 402 households have the facility. "We were able to achieve this mile-
stone and become a role model for other panchayats thanks to the active participation of our residents," said Usha
Chelladurai, president, Puthrankottai Panchayat. The village panchayat president Smt. Usha Chelladurai had explained
about the progress they made in implementing the total sanitation programme of the state government with the active
support of NAF. Then the self-help group members of the village took Dr. Kalam in to the hut, and there he met num-
ber of women who have become literate by the efforts of NAF members.


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She enquired the women who were assembled in the hut and asked one women to read a newspaper. She
started reading the paper in loud voice. He asked her to open another page and read? She opened and happily read the
newspaper fluently. Dr. Kalam enquired since when she knows how to read and write. She replied that she knows from
the last 5 months and her face was radiating into glow of knowledge because she has become a literate person. But she
wanted to tell something to him, yes, Dr. Kalam patiently heard. She told “Sir I am empowered, because now I know
how to read and write; now I have a clean toilet in my home and now I am earning more than earlier due to help of
Self-Help-Group loans. Not only me, but all the women in this village are empowered”. It was a happy moment for the
entire self-help group members of that village and they all took photographs with him. It was because of the interven-
tion of NAF which has taken up Computerized Functional Literacy Program in its villages. Tamil Software for the same
has been provided by Tata Consultancy Services. Classes were held in the night in the hamlets at their convenient tim-
ings. Duration of the course is 90 days. So far, more than 4200 illiterates (comprising of about 80% women) have be-
come functionally literate after completion of the course. More than 200 persons are currently undergoing the training.
Dr. Kalam congratulated the instructors and neo-literates on making progress. NAF has formed 288 SHGs as of June

2008. When he came out of the hut, village panchayat president husband garlanded Dr. Kalam and introduced himself
as the husband of the village panchayat board. Dr. Kalam asked the women president, Will your husband influence your
decisions? She replied negative and her husband said, sir I used to help her only. Dr. Kalam said you should empower
her to work independently and shouldn’t interfere in her duties as the village panchayat president; she will certainly do
the best, ok. Dr. Kalam again ensured that he understood this message and got the affirmative reply from the husband.
All village women cheered the event.


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Our water table has increased

Dr. Kalam’s next stop was Arasur Watershed Project which covers an area of over 1000 ha and benefits 7 vil-
lages covering a population of about 3000 people. This project has brought considerable improvement in raising the
water table in that region. Where he visited the watershed development project and interacted with the village citi-
zens. During his earlier visit to NAF Research & Development Centre on September 4, 2006; Dr Kalam advised NAF to
initiate watershed programs for natural resources management in the villages, NAF has implemented Watershed Devel-
opment Programme in its adopted villages with the support from NABARD. NAF has undertaken Arasur Watershed pro-
ject and Sirukalathur Watershed project covering 6 villages and area of 1500 ha. Dr. Kalam appreciated the watershed
development work that the NAF is undertaking, later suggesting that a similar arrangement be made for Puthirankottai
where water is scarce.

I am earning thrice
Dr. Kalam then visited Illedu village at Kancheepuram district where he met and interacted around 300 farm-
ers, agriculturalists, cooperative bank officials and other NAF members. During the interaction he remembered an
event when he met C. Subramanian at his residence. At the age of 90 yrs, Mr. C. Subramanian unveiled his vision on the
Second green revolution. He said “The second green revolution is indeed a knowledge graduation from characterization
of soil to the matching of the seed with the composition of the fertilizer, water management and evolving pre-
harvesting techniques for such conditions. The domain of a farmer has to enlarge from grain production to food proc-
essing and marketing. While doing so, utmost care would have to be taken for various environmental and people re-
lated aspects leading to sustainable development”. The vision of Bharat Ratna C. Subramanian’s has started yielding
results from the innovative efforts of NAF in this region of Kancheepuram district. NAF is promoting technology based
agriculture in its adopted villages with a view to improve the agricultural productivity and the farmers’ earnings. So far,
technology has been transferred to over 1200 acres of small and marginal farmers’ fields since inception. There has
been improvement in crop productivity to the tune of 40% - 150% for various crops ranging from paddy, groundnut,
sugarcane, roses, pulses, vegetables, maize etc. There has been good response for this technology transfer from farm-
ers. Use of farm machinery is also being promoted in the villages. Awareness is being created amongst farmers on im-
portance of soil fertility improvement and soil testing. Soil tests are being conducted scientifically using the sophisti-
cated equipment provided by TIFAC in the year 2000. So far, more than 7000 subsidized soil tests have been conducted
for the farming community. One farmer stood up and told him “Sir, today I am earning thrice than earlier and happy
to do the farming again and again”. So, what a transformation has come to the life of the farmer by Mr. S Rajsekar and
his dedicated team under the aegis of NAF. Incidentally, Mr. S. Rajsekar is the son of Mr. C. Subramaniam, who has
chosen the path of societal transformation as envisioned by his father.

In the function Dr. Kalam, called for changing the method of cultivation pattern and adopt new methods to
increase the overall productivity. He stressed on the on the need for making available inputs such as seeds and fertiliz-
ers in state-run outlets similar to the public distribution system shops rather than in private shops, Kalam, who served
as NAF chairman in 2000, noted that instead of setting up such outlets, the government could bring in a quality assur-
ance system to cover seeds and farm equipment. It would help the farmers identify genuine products available in the
market. In this context, he said, the NAF should also establish centers to certify companies on the quality of the farming
inputs. Next whirlwind visit was to the village where the doorstep crossbreeding and other veterinary services are be-
ing provided with a view to upgrade the local cattle and improved their milk productivity. So far, more than 3000 cross-
breds have been born out of NAF Artificial Insemination Program and the milk yield has been improved to the tune of
300% from that of the local mother cow. NAF has also tied-up with Hatsun Agro Dairy for sale milk which fetches bet-
ter price to the farmers. The milk collection centers in the villages are run by members of Self Help Groups, who also
get an additional income for the amount of milk collected in their centre. Cattle rearing are also viewed upon as sus-
tainable livelihood venture complementing agriculture. Hence, NAF promotes cattle rearing in the villages and has fa-
cilitated induction of 350 crossbred animals for beneficiaries through bank credit linkage. Dr. Kalam met around 150
women and men Self-help group members, there he asked the people to repeat them, they readily agreed and re-
peated the oath “We will educate our children, we will not succumb to drinking and gambling, we will celebrate the
success of others”. All of them assembled were repeated with enthusiasm and assured him that we will follow the oath
administered by him.


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I am aware how to manage diabetes

On the way, we have witnessed the mobile Tele-medicine facility providing healthcare services to the village citizens.
Dr. Kalam visited the mobile tele-medicine facility established by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), in
collaboration with National Agro Foundation and World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), Denmark, for rural diabetes pro-
ject at Chunampet. Dr. Kalam enquired a patient who were taking treatment at the tele-medicine facility for diabetes,
she said, “Sir now I am aware how to manage diabetes”. That is the awareness this intervention had created in the
minds of the people. This initiative has been supported by the Indian Space Research Organization [ISRO], Bangalore,
which is providing satellite connection with all necessary hardware for the telemedicine facility. About 30 patients are
being treated using this facility everyday and it has brought health awareness among the people in that region and also
provided timely healthcare services to the people.

I am a proud earning member of my family

The next destination was at Chunampet. Where NAF has persuaded the city entrepreneur to setup an export garment
factory where number of women underwent vocational training programme on tailoring at NAF and have employed
them in export garment factory. Dr. Kalam met every one of them and interacted with them. The women employed in
the factory expressed happiness and said that this factory has brought a value addition and improved their quality of
life. One women said, “Sir now I am a proud earning member of my family, I got all the respect which I was longing for a
long in the family and society”.


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I have a confidence now
Farmers from Vidarbha region have been suffering due to the agrarian crisis, which has devastated their life and lead to
suicides of many farmers. NAF in order to help them come out this crisis conducted a five day residential training pro-
gram at NAF Centre for Rural Development, for select lead farmers of Vidharbha during March 2008 and May 2008 un-
der the support of Rotary Club of Madras East and Rotary International, District 3140, Maharashtra. 20 farmers includ-
ing four women SHG members, in two batches, attended this residential training program. The vidarbha farmers now
says “I have a confidence that I know how to do farming without yielding to suicidal tendency”

We are now aware of the importance of rural development

NAF has setup Farm school project. This program offers exposure to the urban students on Agriculture and Rural Setup
in India to increase their level of understanding and decrease the existing rural-urban divide and motivate them to help
the farming/rural community. The students get a briefing on the current scenario of Indian Agriculture. Practical Expo-
sure is given to them on the farming methods, crop varieties, farm machinery, cattle breeding etc. based on their cur-
riculum at our Centre for Rural Development, Illedu. They are also exposed to the importance of soil and soil nutrients
in agriculture, significance of soil testing, food safety in the NAF Research and Development Centre. In addition to the
above, the students are also allowed to enjoy themselves by playing rural games like Uriyadi, Kabbadi etc. This year,
347 students from different schools from Chennai like Lalaji Memorial Omega International School, Sri Sankara Senior
Secondary School, Bharath Senior Secondary School, Arsha Vidya Mandir, Sri Sankara Vidyashramam, Besant Arundale
Senior Secondary School, and Swamy's Matriculation Higher Secondary School have undergone this educational pro-
gram. The city school students says “We are now aware of the importance of rural development”.


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What a phenomenal transformation that NAF has brought in, in the life of every member of the society living in
the region of Kancheepuram and Thiruvannamalai district of Tamilnadu. Many citizens had acquired the knowledge,
confidence, hope and above all increased their earning capacity due to increased employment opportunities. These
entire experience shows how the intervention of a dedicated organizations such as NAF in association with the govern-
ment, academic institutions, industry with the active support of the people living in that region had improved the qual-
ity of life of the people and also ensures sustainability of the development leading to economic prosperity of that re-
gion with improved education, healthcare and ultimately employment opportunity to the people. This entire whirlwind
tour of Dr. Kalam has brought out the multidimensional success of the villagers that is why Dr. Kalam chooses to cele-
brate the birthday with the village citizens who achieved success. By V. Ponraj

A Success story of seed cotton productivity - a role model for Vidharba farmers
Dr. Kalam visited a village called Gheri Buttar near Bhatinda in Punjab, where he met the farmers who have
successfully increased the production of seed cotton from four hundred and sixty kilogram per acre to eight
hundred and sixty kilogram per acre in the year 2005. This has been achieved through a productive partner-
ship between farmers, agricultural scientists, textile industry supervisors and the Government by following a
scientific approach to farming, provision of quality inputs, strengthening of quality in every farming step,
adopting pre-harvest and post-harvest techniques with an assured market for quality products namely seed
cotton. Most important action is to enable farmers to get quality seeds, quality fertilizers and quality pesticides
from cooperative societies. He had suggested the farmers in that village to mount a programme of second green
revolution in Cotton meaning that instead of selling the cotton produce directly in the market, they should
add value to certain quantity of cotton into yarn, cloth and apparel in the village complex itself and market it
in the national and international markets which again would need quality standards for processing, storage,
packaging and delivery. This is a model which is available in the country, which will lift the farmers from the
suicidal tendencies towards prosperity. We should replicate these successes in many cotton growing regions.


9

Circumstances Favoring Organic Agriculture
APJ Abdul Kalam
Billion Beats While addressing the oath taking ceremony by farmers of Karnataka on 26
No: 10, Rajaji Marg Jan 2009, organized by the State Organic Farming Commission (SOFC),
New Delhi - 110016
Phone: 011-23015522 which convened 50,000 farmers at Vidhana Soudha, Dr. Kalam shared his
Fax: 011-23793601 experience and celebrated the success of Indian farmers. These farmers
For publishing send E-mail with were in the city to take an oath to practice organic farming and sustainable
photos to :
billionbeats@abdulkalam.com agriculture. He also shared the circumstances favouring organic farming and
Feedback through website administered the oath to all 50,000 farmers.
THE PULSE OF INDIA
Circumstances favouring agriculture farming :
(a) A small farmer initiative: Indian agriculture is dominated by small
and marginal farmers. These marginal land areas are most suitable
www.abdulkalam.com for organic farming and improving the livelihood of the farmers.
(b) Farmers search for alternatives: There is no doubt that modern agri-
Chief Editor: culture is sustaining with high input costs and high subsidies with di-
apj@abdulkalam.com minishing returns. Profitability is gradually eroded and farmers search
Editorial board: for alternatives. Since the past few years there are emerging stories
editor@abdulkalam.com of many farmer groups and institutions (NGOs), which are successfully
ysrajan@abdulkalam.com inventing alternative ways of farming including organic farming.
rswaminathan@abdulkalam.com (c) From pesticides to no pesticides to organic: A great change is
dnmoorthi@abdulkalam.com sweeping through several states of India, namely Andhra, Sikkim, Ma-
billionbeats@abdulkalam.com harashtra, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Ker-
vponraj@abdulkalam.com ala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, where by farmer groups are
initiating efforts for minimizing the use of pesticides and fertilizers.
Sunday, February 01, 2009 (d) Growing problems of land degradation and farm abandonment: Ex-
cessive use of chemicals, over-exploitation of ground water and in-
Small Aim is a crime creasing cost of cultivation are factors responsible for farmers leaving
APJ Abdul Kalam agriculture. Under these circumstances organic farming can be one of
the ideal alternatives addressing these concerns.
(e) Shifting of agriculture towards marginal lands: Due to urbanization
and population pressure agriculture is gradually moving towards mar-
To publish into billion beats:
Send your articles, success stories,
ginal lands. All such lands are not ideal for elite crops (wheat and
innovations, cartoons, poetry into rice). Use of chemicals has also not proved very successful. Organic
billionbeats@abdulkalam.com farming can be an ideal system for increasing the productivity in such
Along with photographs and evidence areas.
documents if any (f) Emerging organic food market: Domestic organic food trade has
shown significant progress purely from health consideration. I had
seen a factory in Umbergaon (Gujarat) producing garments produced
form organic cotton for export purposes. Since 2002 it has grown
nearly six fold by end of 2006. Though it is still a nascent industry,
indications are that the Indian organic sector is growing rapidly and
has already made
inroads into the
world organic mar-
ket in certain key
sectors such as tea,
coffee, spices, fruits
and vegetables, cot-
ton, cereals such as
basmati rice, neem,
dried nuts, oil seeds
such as sesame,
pulses and sugar.

(photo source:
www.expressbuz.com)


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New Billion Beats Feb2009 Issue 5 V6