Role of Patanjali Organic Research Institute in making farmers self-reliant

The Indian farmers have been prosperous in the world for thousands of years. They have been ranking top in the world as far as crop production is concerned. In India, traditional farming has been in the practice since vedic period. They have been producing thousands of types of food grains, fruits, sag, vegetables, herbs, spinaches, medicines, etc. The farmers have been playing an important role in maintaining soil fertility. But in the current period, unfortunately we were put under day dreaming by terming our scientific and fertilizer-based farming as green revolution. It provided enough food grains to feed the people but at the same time, they fell sick due to unhealthy diets. Truly, lakhs of countrymen are suffering from fatal diseases due to chemical-based farming. The farmers continued to become poorer due to costly fertilizers and chemicals which made climate, soil and fodder polluted and toxic. That’s why, a large number of people are suffering from fatal diseases like cancer.

Given this situation, under the sheer guidance of Param Pujya Swami Ramdev Jee Maharaj and Param Shradheya Acharya Balkrishna Jee Maharaj, it was promised to make motherland toxic-free and bring back organic farming in the country through Patanjali Krishak Samridhi Karyakram. So that farmers can produce traditional food grains. They can be imparted proper training in traditional farming to boost their income. Under this process, the countrymen will get pure, aesthetic and nutritious diet and get rid of diseases.

Patanjali Krishak Samridhi Karyakram began as a programme at Haridwar on October 1, 2018. This programme is being implemented by Patanjali Organic Research Institute in 19 states in the country under Prime Minister Skill Development Plan, Skill India, National Skill Development Corporation and Agriculture Skill Council of India. The programme consists of two parts. The farmers are imparted training in organic farming and group farming in the first part and second part respectively. In the first part, farmers are trained in various types of organic fertilizer, crop cycle, selection of seeds and seed treatment in organic farming, management of nutrients, irrigation management, weedicide management, integrated worm management under organic farming, disease management, harvesting organic proof new and quality assurance, organic farming trade and digital education, etc. In the second part, the farmers are given training of group farming. This programme is being run under Skill India. There is a process for this. The interested farmers are groomed so that they can become trainers. They can be competent enough that they can talk in local language. The trainers evaluate the farmers. Those trainer farmers who succeed in this evaluation are given certificates by Skill India. During the training, those trainers who performed excellently are provided with a complete package of organic fertilizer and soil testing kit for an acre of farm land. So that they can compare between traditional farming and organic farming.

The trainee farmers are also undergone with this process in which they are also evaluated. After getting success, they are provided with organic trainee certificates, booklet, job role kit by Skill India.

Under this programme so far, 73, 632 farmers of 19 states have been organized. Out of which 64, 780 farmers were imparted with training. Out of which, 44, 301 farmers have succeeded in organic farming and group farming training.

States selected under Patanjali Krishak Smridhi Karyakram

In the Indian agricultural system, 85 percent farmers are small and middle farmer class cultivating below two acres of land. They do farming on 1.15 acre of land on an average. During the last five decades, agricultural production grew by 2.5-3 percent. Being an unorganized sector, these farmers have been failing in getting better profit of their produce. Their economic condition is comparatively bad. Apart from higher cost, they are facing the problem of absence of proper marketing system. If the small farmers are organized, they will face challenge of bearing higher farming cost. They can be associated with farmer producer group to get rid of this problem.

According to a report, agriculture and its related industries contribute 17 percent in the country’s GDP. Around 65 percent population of the country depends on agriculture and its related jobs. On the one hand, agriculture-based industries continue to grow, on the other, deteriorating condition of the farmers puts a question mark. Despite rising industrial sector, farmers are reeling under financial crisis. What should be done for farmer empowerment.

It has been seen that the manpower engaged in the agriculture sector are unskilled. If they are skilled, it makes great impact on their intellectual power. The industry sector will prosper. If we apply this model in the agriculture sector and provide training to the farmers, their financial condition will get improved. It will play an important role in making the country self-reliant.

Organic farming for healthy India

Organic farming is a process in which the farmers use organic resources instead of dangerous chemicals to yield better crop. In this process, the farmers use micro bacteria in the farm land to increase fertility. It makes natural system and soil healthy.

Under Krishak Smridhi Karyakram, farmers are made aware how to use these micro bacteria with locally available materials to divide them. These materials are used for the animals too. They are imparted training through various practical how to prepare it in the house. So that the farmers can utilize home made organic fertilizer instead of costly ones. They can cut farming cost. The case study of some of the successful farmers is given below-

Integrated farming model

Dayalpur Sadalpura Village of Chandauli District in Uttar Pradesh based farmer Shri Anil Singh has adopted the integrated farming model after getting organic farming training. His income grew. Apart from organic farming, he has started fish farming, goat farming, hen farming, peacock farming, agricultural forestry, medicinal plant farming, planting fruitful trees, seed production, etc to get extra profit.     

Organic farming model

Daridih Village of Bhojpur in Bihar based farmer Shri Bindeshwar Tiwari started to prepare organic fertilizer, jivamrit, vijamrit dhan, jivamrit panchgamya, etc and use them in the farm land. So that their farming cost lowered down, increasing their income. He has already made aware 120 farmers of organic farming. Likhi Village of Palwal District in Haryana based progressive farmer Shri Khemchand Jee is preparing homemade organic fertilizer. He uses this organic fertilizer in his vegetable plants. He sells his produces in the posh colonies of Faridabad and Delhi in the name of toxic-free vegetables. Therefore, his income grew.

Imparting training to the farmers is a unique work. It has been a challenging task. The farmers remain associated with us through digital literacy in the corona period. The trainer farmers remain in contact with farmers through webinars. It’s the result of digital literacy. It has been seen that farmers’ association with their trainers is the root cause of success of this ambitious programme. The farmers share their problems in the webinars organized by them and get solution to it. Currently, the farmers discussed about newly passed Farmers Bill in the Parliament and shared information about its benefit through webinar.

Let’s take pledge to make India a healthy, prosperous and peaceful country and proceed with slogan of ‘organic farming’ ‘prosper farmer’ ‘healthy country’.