Demonstration
of Organic Farming Technologies
Demonstration of
organic cultivation technology is comparatively regarded as a different issue.
Because, leaving except some products (Biofertilzer etc.) and some procedures,
all the inputs and technologies in organic package of practices, everything is
much easier as well as easily available to the farmers when compared to
conventional ones. Written by Rudrajit Sarkar
No technology in agriculture is marked as successful until it
reaches to the hand of the poorest. Therefore good demonstration of the
usefulness of the technology is a prerequisite to the whole knowledge system.
Demonstration generally indicates showing by doing. The conception of ‘Seeing
is believing’ and ‘learning by doing is accomplished through demonstrations
which help in technology integration of agriculture extension system. Consequently,
this process arouses interest and improves the adoption. Technology demonstration
is the most operational way to show how a thing works, how to do the work,
principles involved in an operation and to show the end results of the
methodology/technology adopted.
Demonstration of organic cultivation technology is comparatively
regarded as a different issue. Because, leaving except some products
(Biofertilzer etc.) and some procedures, all the inputs and technologies in
organic package of practices, everything is much easier as well as easily
available to the farmers when compared to conventional ones. During the last
two decades, there has been a significant sensitization of the global community
on environmental conservation and safe food. It is now becoming the mainstream
in all over the world. Now it has environmental sustainability at its core in
addition to the concerns for healthy soil and healthy food. Therefore,
agricultural scientists as well as environmentalists are far ahead in the
global movement. So the need of the hour is to sensitize the farmers about the
benefit of organic agriculture and make them the strongest pillar of the
movement.
Organic agriculture is one among the broad spectrum of production
methods that are supportive of the environment. It offers the possibility of
sustaining crop yields and maintenance of soil health. Organic farming has emerged as an important priority area globally
in view of the growing demand for safe and healthy food and concerns on
environmental pollution associated with the indiscriminate use of
agro-chemicals. Though the use of chemical inputs in agriculture is inevitable
to meet the growing demand for food in India, there are opportunities in
selected crops and niche areas where organic production could be encouraged to
tap the domestic and export markets (Venkateswarlu et al., 2008). The various
bodies like IFOAM sets particular standards which distinguish organic from
high-input farming based on their distinctively different agriculture
practices. Organic Agriculture emphasizes the use of management practices in preference
to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions
require locally adapted systems (FAO, 1999). Being a holistic food production
management system, organic agriculture is always free to adopt new inclusive
techniques with on farm inputs and synergic notion. In this regard farmers
practicing their own study (With less systematic way but more heartfelt
observation) based on their knowledge acquired over generations, plays a key
role in developing and disseminating new crop management skills. This
ultimately helps to build that sense of ownership over the technological
knowledge which becomes core to accomplishment of the goals of agricultural
extension education system. Therefore, alike all government and non-government
schemes and programmes, sense of ownership should be made in this extension of
organic production technologies also. Because, knowledge ownership is more
sensitive matter than material ownership.
Basically, inattention over understanding of community always leads
to the failure of extension education. In these cases, the type, time, target
group and topic of demonstration is selected without participatory consultancy
with the community. Due to this, farmers responds to the call of extension
worker in first phase, but finds no interest to continue the technology in
real. They don’t find that sense of ownership there. So, some points need to be
pondered if one needs to carry out a successful demonstration.
a.
On the basis of purpose for which
technology demonstration is conducted it is classified into (i) method
demonstration and (ii) result demonstration. A method demonstration is
conducted to explain how to carry out a particular operation according to its
principles so that it is carried out systematically and yields better result.
On the other hand, result demonstration shows the end product or outcome in comparison
with the existing practice. (Venkatasubramanian et al., 2009).
b.
The basic philosophy of extension
includes the concept of self-help and cooperative effort. It considers people
as the greatest resource. Therefore before initiating a demonstration programme
in a village, it is compulsory to understand the need and relevance of a
particular technology. If required, a community survey and assessment of group
dynamics can be conducted prior to the selection of technique. An economically
and technologically sound community and less educated community practicing
traditional farming will not be suitable for being demonstrating a particular
agricultural technique.
c.
The felt need of technology should
be assumed on intensity and frequency of a particular problem against which a
demonstration technology is going to be addressed. For instance, the
preparation and spraying of virus damanam will have no effect over a
community if there is no such problem of virus attack. A particular group of
people dedicates themselves in skill development, when they find full interest
on this.
d.
Local language should always be
preferred to use as a tool. If it is not possible to use the technological
terms in local dialects, at least easily understandable state language should
be used. Especially during use of audio visual aids, the specific terms puts a
long lasting impression on viewers’ mind. It is a notable fact that, organic
farming deals with a lot of terms related to ecology, environment conservation,
sustainability and environment pollution. If these are not made clear in first
stage, diffusion of information will not be smooth.
e.
During the community study, the
perception level should be judged carefully. People in different parts of world
have their different perception and unit of measurement. Some measure area in acre,
some in bigha; some measure grain weight in kg, some in paila.
Therefore, the demonstration workers should prepare their presentations accordingly.
The perception and knowledge of average mass public ensures primary mental
imprint.
f.
Ensuring of participation should be
the primary focus. Study of rural sociology and psychology helps to understand
individual and group behaviour and interaction. Approach towards group
participants should be designed accordingly. Example- If farmers in a large
group are not participating in discussion and are gossiping instead, separate
groups should be formed to confirm involvement.
g.
Organic farming is a holistic
approach which indicates that consultation should come out from each section of
the mass. Not only the experience of fellow farmers practicing organic from
earlier years leaves permanent impact, but also their own perception on safe
food and dream of bright, pollution free future and sustainable development of
the state leads the farmers to understand the principles and objectives of
organic agriculture in simple ways. Apart from expert opinion, revision of
demonstration improves skill among farmers.
It is a well-known fact that organic farming do not show immediate
profit in the first several years when compared with conventional chemical
farmers. Rather, it leads to slow but steady growth. The front line
demonstrations conducted by government and non-government agencies are very
helpful in organic farming as complete package of practice should be practiced
to obtain the real results of organic farming. Besides, most technological
demonstrations fail to retain the impact over mass due to leaving the practice
suddenly. Therefore, it requires follow up and hand holding support whenever
necessary. They need information reinforcement, timely supply of inputs or on
the spot guidance. Group approach in follow-up will give better results. Group
motivation is more necessary also as group farming helps to procure inputs and
sell outputs easily (Venkatasubramanian et al., 2009). It is better to
link follow-up programmes with the local institutions like Farmers Club,
Farmers Cooperative Society and Village Panchayat etc. Successful
demonstrations will have a multiplier effect on adoption and diffusion of
frontier technologies on organic agriculture thus abetting sustainable development
in the country.
References
Venkateswarlu, B.; Balloli, S.S. and Ramakrishna, Y.S. (2008).
Organic Farming in Rainfed Agriculture: Opportunities and Constraints, Central
Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad. pp. 185.
FAO, 1999. Guidelines for the production, processing, labeling and
marketing of organically produced foods. Joint FAO/ WHO Food Standards Program
Codex Alimentarius Commission, Rome, CAC/GL 32, 49 p.
Venkatasubramanian, V., Sanjeev, M.V., & Singha, A. (2009).
Technology Demonstration. In Concepts, Approaches and Methodologies for Technology
Application and Transfer - A resource book for KVKs (2nd ed.). The Zonal
Project Director, Zonal Project Directorate, Zone – III, Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, Umiam, Meghalaya - 793103
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