First Woman Farmer to Experiment Sustainable Agriculture

Mrs. Hira Devi is wife of a progressive farmer. She is well aware of the declining productivity of land and increasing cost of agriculture production. Need for adoption of new technique is demand of time. Mrs. Hira Devi got the idea of “sustainable agriculture system” from GPSVS. It appealed her.

“Labour is becoming day by day costlier. Due to excessive use of fertilizer upper layer of soil is loosing its fertility. This is why we bought power trailer to dig field deeper. We have to use more and more fertilizer is every season of agriculture. Agriculture is proving costlier day-to day”. She said.

She further said “GPSVS launched sustainable agriculture system programme. It solves many problems of farmer simultaneously. With the use of Vermi compost productivity of land increases. Use of smokeless stove reduces the need of fuel (wood) by half. Agriculture (nursery) will solve the problem of fuel & fodder. It appealed me. I and my husband decided to experiment this neo technique of agriculture”.

Experiment

Mr. Arun singh and Mr. Pawan from GPSVS assisted Mrs. Hira Devi in preparation of “Vermi compost”. First she made it in cemented pot and used it on vegetable plants which had almost dried. Effect was surprising. That plant of “chilly” got life back and day by day became greener and greener. Being encouraged by this experiment now she is preparing wormy compost on large scale to use it for main crops. She is using “smokeless stove”. She is popularizing it among groups of women. Demand for smokeless stove is increasing. Mrs. Hira Devi convinces other also about the importance of this ‘chullha’ (stove). “This smokeless stove will prove boon for the women. Smoke is very dangerous for reproductive system and respiratory system of women. It is not only cost effective but good for the health of women”. She said.

She also collects the urine of buffalo. For the collection of urine she got her cattle house repaired and improved. She has planned to use it for main crops. This will work as ‘urea’. “I have experimented it on vegetable plant. It is very effective and has no cost”. Was her comment.

A small nursery of (NF 21, Subabul and other plants is being also developed. It is time taming process so its effect will be seen is future. Following the experiment of Mrs. Hira Devi. Two more farmers Mr. Yoganand are also preparing ‘wormy compost’. More women are making demand for smokeless stove Mr. Pawan will assist them and train them to make ‘chulha’.

Mrs. Hira Devi is motivating women to adopt the system of sustainable agriculture. “Being this is a new concept, it will take time to make people aware about this”. We are making effort is this direction”.