Farmer the Brand is a Krishijagran Initiative. #ftb happens in all almost all regional languages on Sunday 11 AM. Jagadeesh Reddy from Chitoor, Andra Pradesh was among the first who presented himself with his Natural farming products in the Agriculture World Platform for #ftb and again in the Krishijagran Main page. Nature Farming is a holistic method in which farmers are discouraged to buy market based inputs like chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides for growing plants and are encouraged to grow healthy soil with earth friendly earthworms and thereby healthier plants. #ftb Jagadeesh Reddy practices methods which combine the scientific knowledge of ecology and modern technology with traditional farming practices based on naturally occurring biological processes.
Natural farmers are careful in their cultivation practices like crop rotation, usage of green manures, legumes and compost, biological pest control and selection of plants. Legumes are planted to fix nitrogen into the soil, natural insect predators are encouraged, crops are rotated to confuse pests and renew soil and natural materials such as potassium bicarbonate and mulches are used to control disease and weeds.
While speaking to the Editor, Agriculture World, Dr Lakshmi Unnithan, Jagadeesh Reddy says he has Total Land Area (Ha): 15 Ha and his Area under organic certification is 3 acres. Jagadeesh Reddy besides being a Natural farmer, also supports fellow farmers as a freelance consultant on teaching, helping, establishing and cultivating Natural farming practices with in surrounding areas of Bangarupalem, Chittoor, Hyderabad. He is practicing natural farming for the last 7 years. His Agriculture land has been brought into natural farming through ZBNF methods (Zero Budge Natural farming) where he cultivates Paddy, Groundnut, Sugarcane and Mango.
Agriculture through natural farming methods has made his life easier says Jagadeesh Reddy. Until 7 years back, he used to execute the chemical farming methods in his ancestral farm. He reiterates that those practices have always cornered him into financial crisis as the input cost on the farming was very high and the future of the harvests were uncertain on Common Minimum Price and dynamic weather situations. 7 years back having attended a meeting on traditional natural farming methods changed his life principles and the way he does his farming. Under these natural farming methodologies, one can cultivate around 20 acres with the help of an indigenous cow (considering the fact that an indigenous cow lets out 3-4lts of cow urine and 7-10 KG of cow dung, a day)
The cultivation practices for Paddy cultivation ranges from Ploughing, Flooding with water, Adding green manure and Adding Ghanajeevamruth. Broadcast seeds of Sunhemp. Let it grow upto 40-45 days. Plough it into the soil. This provides the required micronutrients for the upcoming crop. The Ingredients for Ghanjeevamruth are Desi cow urine : 10 litre, Jaggery : 2 kg, Horsegram powder : 2 kg, A handful of soil. Mix the above ingredients in 200 kg dry desi cow dung and shade dry. Ghanajeevamruth can be stored for 6 months. Seedlings are immersed in Beejamruth before replanting for good growth. Leaves from nine plants (that are not eaten by cows) soaked in water for 30 days. Stir morning and evening, Dilute in the ratio 1:50 and spray twice / crop. Nine-leaf kashaya is used for providing micronutrients to the growing crop. Neemastra is used as precautionary method for protection against pests.
Marketing
He sells perishable produce in the nearby agricultural market. Being acquainted with up to date
Technology and having created a WhatsApp group for his customers who can place their order directly with him. He also helps his fellow farmers to ship products to his customers in case he runs short of stock says, Jagadeesh Reddy.
His Customers have a hundred percent satisfaction about his food products because there are no pesticides or chemical fertilisers. Before signing off he concluded by saying that When one does farming with love and commitment and no harm to the environment , profits are sure to follow.