Dynamics Of Land Use And Sustainable Agriculture With Transfer Of Biotechnology By Below
Poverty Line (BPL) Farmers In Madhya Pradesh, State of India
by
Arvind Kumar Mudgal 1 & G.S Chauhan2
1 Govt.
College Aron, GUNA ( Madhya Pradesh ) India. Email: arvindmudgal.aron@gmail.com
2 CRO
, UGC, Bhopal, ( Madhya Pradesh ) India. Email: chauhanugc@gmail.com
Abstract
Land is one of the most dynamic and unique natural asset whose sustainable management is
important to sustain life of all human beings. Fertile suitable land is always a great resource for
human and livestock population and to operate different kinds of agricultural activities on its top
soil layers. The top six inches of soil provides all essential nutrients for food production needed
by biotic and abiotic activities on the earth. Thus the maintenance of this top cover of soil is
very much essential for farming communities. Thus the need of hour is to develop a sustainable
and stable system of land use. There are some important aspects to be considered, like
preventing the use of chemicals in agriculture sector, secondly to provide an alternate nutrient
and biological control system and third is to utilize wasteland that too with a sustainable mode.
All these considerations led to the idea of a transfer. This was transfer of biotechnology as a tool
for sustainable development with special reference to agriculture which holds the key of our
national development. Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, Pesticides, dependence on rain,
low holdings are inhibitory factors of agricultural growth. Thus a programme was envisaged to
use biotechnology for rural and agricultural development in Madhya Pradesh state of India. In a
model research project at Guna in Madhya Pradesh state has been selected as study region
particularly the transfer of biotechnology as a key instrument for agricultural development that
too with eco-friendly mode was conducted . Majority of Below Povert Line ( BPL) population in
district Guna is dependent on agriculture directly or indirectly and face terrible economic and
social pressures. This clearly indicates that transfer of sustainable technology not only uplifts the
economy but also protects the environment particularly optimum use of land and conversion of
wasteland into fruitful one. In this experiments vermi-composting, Bio-compost production by
the use of microbes and dry dairy led to the production of good quality biofertilizers . This
improved the land cover of the tribal belts in M.P. There was increase in crop yield and it was
an income generation activity for poor farmers. The over all benefit to these farmers was to the
extent of Rs 16 crore. Proper use of indigenous livestock and local plants was also appreciated
in this project. The organic waste in the form of heaps in villages could be well converted into
useful compost. Another important aspect was the landless farmers could associate themselves
with production and marketing of compost and earn some money. All activities were so designed
that local women could do it all and create their own self-help groups. Biological control was a
boon for forest villages specially for the conservation of biodiversity and micro-flora of top soil.
Key words: Vermi-compost, Bio-compost, Dry dairy, Sustainable, Soil fertility & Land Use
Introduction: The uneven progress in bringing the benefits of modern science and technology
particularly in area of agricultural biotechnology has led to increasing divides between rich and
the poor .To control environmental degradation, population exploitation, poverty and gender
injustice, a pro-nature , pro-poor and pro-woman model of economic growth is needed. People
are poor not because they don’t have land , livestock and houses but it seems that they are not
properly educated to use the available resources . Thus a transition is needed to convert this
unskilled man power into a technically advanced community ( Segal, 1992, Pretty, 2003 &
Kassie, 2008) . Another important factor in country like India is land use. Land is one of the
most dynamic and unique natural asset whose sustainable management is important to sustain
life of all human beings. Land use and land cover changes is an important driver of global
change. It is recognized that it has impact on biogeochemical cycles such as carbon, nitrogen,
water and biodiversity( Goldewikj, 2004) Fertile suitable land is always a great resource for
human and livestock population and to operate different kinds of agricultural activities on its top
soil layers . Human activities induce spatial and temporal changes in land use and land cover , is
a critical factor influencing the global change( Sarmah, 2011). The top 6 inches of soil provides
all essential nutrients for food production needed by biotic & abiotic activities on the earth .Thus
maintenance of this top cover of soil is very much essential for farming communities .The land
use and its management is keystone for our society particularly the farmers because it regulates
food supply ,water retention, living environment and health of both human and livestock . The
present paper explains one such research projects envisaged to provide up-liftment for below
poverty line( BPL) farmers in Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India as shown in map 1.
Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state in India. In MP the population of poor families is
69.5% contributing 8.5% of the total poverty of country. District Guna of MP where this pilot
project was launched had 53% BPL families in rural areas. Considering the situations like
poverty, biodiversity conservation &
need of economic growth, the idea of transfer of
biotechnology with special reference to agriculture development, a model research project at
Guna in MP was initiated. Later from here it was transferred to other districts of MP and also to
Chhattisgarh another tribal dominant state of India. The impact of the project was so encouraging
that it led to not only eco-friendly sustainable agricultural but also it enlightened BPL and tribal
farmers to join mainstream of development. Now there was sufficient biofertilizers for farmers
with better crop yield leading to better income and savings through SHGs(self help groups) with
hundreds of socio- economic transitions which could be seen amongst the BPL families. The
best example was that in one of the tribal villages “kilampur” ( Photo 8) of district Guna for the
repair of the government school, the tribal farmers were ready to contribute 50% of the money so
that children of that village could study. This project very clearly indicated that transfer of
biotechnology not only uplifts the economy but also protects the environment particularly
optimal use of land and conversion of waste land into fruitful one.
Aims and Objectives: a) To provide organic fertilizers, biological control measures for
agriculture. b) Optimal utilization of biological resources of the rural area. c) Sustainable use of
land. d) Conversion of wasteland into useful land. e) Conservation of Biodiversity f) Socioeconomic up-liftment of BPL families in their own environment
Methodology: For the production of organic fertilizer three methods were used, Vermicomposting, bio-compost and dry dairy
In vermi-composting physiochemical properties
of the vermi-compost, potential of earth worms to establish organic waste with low capital
cost and sustainable nature has been shown by many workers (Edwards, 1997 Bhawalkar,
1999, Gosh, 1999 , Snel,1999 & Mudgal 2006) . In the present project earthworm used was
Perionyx excavatus about 100- 180 mm in size, deeply pigmented, phytophagus, prefers soil
pH 6.4 -7.4. The organic waste used was local village weeds and cow dung . Weeds were cut
into small pieces of 3-4 inches around 0.7 ton material was shifted into vermi-composting
pit of size 10 x10 feet( Photo 1 & 2) . Material was moistened regularly and 0 .3 ton of cow
dung was added , pit was loaded with 10,000 mature earthworms , after 20 days top 3-4
inches layers was collected as fine vermi-compost . The complete material was converted
into compost in 45 days . To provide this organic compost to the BPL farmers special
project was launched in Madhya Pradesh . The villages were selected where water shed
development programme was going on. The following parameters were taken , collection of
basic information of agriculture, soil profile , crop production and socio-economic status .
Initially 2000 pits were produced, later on to strengthen the tribal farmers of Madhya Pradesh
,the landless farmers were given the waste land. With around 10,000 such farmers were
supported by vermicomposting project in which by using local waste material the land
fertility was upgraded . The vermicompost harvested by the farmers was also marketed
fetching them good income . Bio-compost from heaps of organic wastes in the villages was
another process to produce local compost. The selected sites mainly containing organic
waste were treated with decomposition and enrichment kit developed in lab containing
mixture of microbes. One such unit was about 20 -25 quintals of organic waste available in
the form of a waste heap. First of all the organic waste was selected with the size 20 quintals
in all selected villages, initially 6000 organic waste sites in BPL rich belts of M.P were
treated ( Photo 3 & 4). Another method to provide locally available biocompost was a novel
experiment which was named ‘ Dry Dairy’( Photo 5) . The local non-descript cattle was used
in a group of 100 which could provide 7 quintalsl of cow dung per day and monthly of
around 200 quintals . This cow dung was converted into a good quality biocompost by a
microbial treatment in one unit ( Gasser,1985) . Around 15 quintals of cow dung was mixed
with common weed like waste of Eichhornia , Parthinium , Cassia tora , leaves of Tactona
grandis, Butea monosperma, etc. Method includes anaerobic decomposition by natural
microbes for 20 days and later with a microbial treatment . The nutritive value of biocompost
was analysed by standard method( Jonhn, 2003). After adding the kit wait for 7-8 days for
bio-compost to get ready. To avoid the use of pesticides and to control ill effects on human
health , livestock and bio diversity biological methods were used to take care of pest
management.
Locally available plants were used namely Eucalyptus , Azadirachta and Ipomea leaves were
boiled in water and a concentrated solution was used(Govindachyra1992, Singh, 1996,
Girish,2008). To use organic compost for improvement of waste land and land covers
following methodology was used . Government of M.P. had given waste land to BPL
families .A programme was envisaged to provide bio- compost to these families, number of
farmers were given training of vermi-composting and bio-composting and financial input
was given by DRDA(District rural development agency) to start a vermipit and to purchase a
decompositiont kit( Photo 9).. Bio-compost was collected and used in the various agricultural
crop production and significantly extra compost produced was marketed by self help groups
fetching poor BPL families extra income ( Photo 6) . For the upliftment of biodiversity
conservation 600 forest villages were selected and in each village bio-compost was produced
and farmers avoided use of chemical fertilizers . From the selected villages where soil
samples were brought before the use of bio-compost and soil analysis was done . Samples
were brought to the lab, processed for physiochemical analysis. Soil samples were analyzed
for pH, conductivity, N,P and K. For pH standard method using pH meter with 1:2 ratio
dilution . Electric conduction was measured with conductivity meter .Organic carbon was
measured by Walkey and Black method .Nitrogen was analyzed by micro-Kjeldahl method
,whereas phosphorus was done by Bray and Olsen method .Potassium was analyzed by
flame photo meter . Then vermicompost and bio-compost was used in the fields and again
soil parameters were analyzed , finally soil fertility index was constituted for handy use of
the farmers. Chemical composition analysis of vermicompost and biocompost was done by
methods of Jonhn Peters, ( 2003). Socio- economic status and crop yield was studied before
and after the treatment with above mentioned sustainable agricultural methods.
Result and Discussion : The survey of marginal BPL farmers clearly indicated that land
given to them was not fertile with poor irrigation facilities and mono crop agriculture practice
.The major crop of these farmers was maize ( Zea mays) and Jowar ( Sorghum vulgare)
whereas some marginal farmers were growing soyabean ( Glycine max) .The productivity
level of these crops was very low. Farmers had no idea or very poor idea about soil fertility
and they were not aware of and organic farming and had never used vermi-composting.
The status of land cover before the use of vermicompost and later is shown in Table1. This
clearly indicates change in pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potash contents. The effect on the
quality of land could be understood by the analysis of chemical properties of vermicompost
full of nutrients and micronutrients as shown in Table 3.The socio economic status was not
healthy as majority of them were laborers . For fertilizers they were totally dependent on
subsidy and loans and even when fertilizer was available they didn’t know its proper dose. A
fully loaded vermi pit was yielding 8-10 quintals of a good quality vermicompost in 45-60
days .Thus yielded 50-60 quintals of vermicompost every year. The compost was utilized by
the farmers to replace the chemical
fertilizers .
The biomass response and use of
earthworms for sustainable development has been shown by(Gupta, 2003 & Tripathi, 2005).
The dose given per hectare was 1.25 ton. Vermicompost produced by the farmers was about
100,000 Quintals / annum which could cover 8000 hectare of land. . The overall benefits of
vermicomposting is indicated in Table 5, which shows that with 5 tons of vermicompost
produced from one pit the total compost produced was 10,000 tons from 2000 vermipits and
half of this was used for fertility improvement of land by the farmers worth Rs 2.5 crore and
rest was marketed by the poor farmers fetching them another Rs 2.5 crore. The direct results
from vermicompost treatment was increase in the yield up to 50%, increase in water holding
capacity , better germination and above all the produce was without the effect of chemical
fertilizers .Another important result was increase in the biomass of earthworms to the extent
of 3 crore which was later distributed to 25 districts of M.P. and similar exercise was done
there also. In the villages of M.P the heaps of organic waste full of cow dung and other
agricultural waste were not only useless but were source of unhealthy environment and
infections in these villages. Such 6000 heaps were treated with decomposition kit and from a
single unit good quality compost was recovered. The Physiochemical properties of this
biocompost is shown in Table.4 and its effect on soil properties is shown in Table 2. This
Compost had shown very good results when mixed with seeds and basal dose increasing the
crop yield while for poor farmers it was a direct source of income as they could sell it
through government agencies. The economics of Biocompost is shown in Table 6. One unit
produces 1.5 tons of compost thus from 6000 units, 9000 tons of biocompost was produced .
Out of this 4000 ton was utilized for quality improvement of 2500 hectres land while 5000
ton of worth Rs 2.5 crore was sold by farmers. If we see the combine effect of these two
activities on the agriculture and development of BPL farmers it can be well understood by
Table 7 showing economy in terms of crop yield. This is a revolutionary economic growth
for BPL families.
Dry dairy was very significant of the project particularly in the tribal belts where the number
of non descript cattle is very high . In the present study it was shown that it led to economic
boom for poor farmers as the farmers earned lakhs of rupees selling bio-compost of dry
dairy to forest department, water shed development scheme and DRDA. The quality and
quantity of this compost was appreciated by government of M.P. in such a way through a rate
contract offer from state co-operative marketing federation. This was a turning point and a
road to the economic and social prosperity of poor BPL families by optimal utilization of
cow dung under dry dairy programme . Normally cattle goes to the forest and grazes there,
farmers get little amount of cow dung but in a unit of dry dairy of 100 cattle cow dung
available is 250 tons which gives 150 tons of compost after treatment with microbial kit. It
provided worth Rs 7.5 lakhs per unit. The expenses of such one unit is about 1.5 lakh. Thus
one dry dairy in a village is worth Rs 6 lakh/ year. Such more than 50 dry dairy units were
established in tribal belts of M.P. Composting is the transformation of organic material
through decomposition into a soil like material called compost. Invertebrates and microorganism help in transforming the material in compost as in today’s scenario chemical
fertilizers being added are not optimally taken by the plants and productivity is also low with
adverse effect on physiochemical properties of the soil. It was converted into a good quality
compost with CN ratio 16:1 Nitrogen 3.64%, phosphorus 0.85% , Potassium 1.72%. This
method was useful for landless and poor farmers. This activity was taken up in more than 20
district of M.P specially by the BPL woman.
Farmers in M.P like elsewhere in India were using lots of pesticides which were increasing
their input and in certain cases creating a financial burden which was difficult to recover.
The case is still worst for BPL farmers who are still not using any pesticide due to poor
economic conditions so in the tribal belts of M.P
farmers using pesticides are facing
deterioration in the form of physiochemical properties of soil, micro-organisms of soils and
human health. The poor farmers who are not using pesticides are facing 50% of their crop
loss. With the use of biological control measures in the form of bio-pesticides produced the
significant effects were almost no cost and more production , better soil health and above all
biodiversity conservation at the micro level. Land use changes directly effect the exchange
of green house gases between the ecosystems and it shows significant on agricultural
systems(Kaechele, 2009). The cost cut of pesticide expenditure was about 3000 Rs/hectare .
This biological control was used in more than 5000 hectares of land .The soil fertility index
of these villages shown very clearly that the top soil with better microbial count in the case of
areas with biological control in comparison to those with chemical control, thus about 5000
hectare area in tribal belt had shown an improved biological community in the soil and better
soil cover .
Biodiversity conservation in the three hundred selected forest
villages
which were
inhabiting lot of biodiversity in water , soil, and air had shown improvement . As in all of
these villages farmers were using chemical fertilizers and pesticides before this project was
launched .It was inhibiting the growth of biodiversity. Thus with transfer of biotechnology
and sustainable agricultural practices had shown a prosper and green path to BPL farmers in
Madhya Pradesh. The need of the hour is to disseminate this technology transfer experiment
to the different parts of the country and the world, as sustainable technology is the right path
of development.
References :
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waste management. APH publishers, New Delhi.
TABLES, PHOTOGRAPHS & MAPS
Tables
Table 1: Effect of Vermi-compost on soil
properties of wasteland.
Table 2: Effect ofBio-compost on soil properties
of wasteland.
Parameter
Parameter
Before
treatment
pH
Total
Nitrogen
Kg/Ha
K2O Kg/Ha
Total P2O2/Ha
8.3
210
With
vermi
compost
7.2
330
110
16
170
28
pH
Total
Kg/Ha
Nitrogen
K2O Kg/Ha
Total P2O2/Ha
*Values are average of 1200 samples analyzed.
Before
treatment
With Bio
compost
8.3
210
7.3
320
110
16
195
31
Table 3: Chemical Properties of Vermi-compost
Table 4: Chemical Properties of Bio-compost
Parameter
Parameter
Value
Value
pH
E.C.(mmho/cm)
C:N Ratio
6.65
6.8
15.8:1
pH
E.C.
C:N Ratio
6.84
6.2
16.5:1
K2O(%)
Total phosphorous (%)
Available phosphorous
Nitrate (ppm)
Organic Matter
Organic Carbon
Moisture content
Sodium (%)
Potassium (%)
Calcium (%)
Magnesium (%)
Total Nitrogen (%)
Manganese (ppm)
Zinc (ppm)
Copper (ppm)
Iron (%)
Boron (ppm)
0.524
0.71
0.22
600
29.18
16.93
85.84
0.26
1.2
2.84
0.75
2.8
14.4
118.46
97.24
0.18
16.5
K2O(%)
Total phosphorous (%)
Available phosphorous
Nitrate (ppm)
Organic Matter
Organic Carbon
Moisture content
Sodium (%)
Potassium (%)
Calcium (%)
Magnesium (%)
Total Nitrogen (%)
Manganese (ppm)
Zinc (ppm)
Copper (ppm)
Iron (%)
Boron (ppm)
0.482
0.85
0.26
860
28.71
50.85
71.3
0.425
1.72
3.042
0.67
3.64
25.68
133.1
103.4
0.25
45.4
Table 5: Economics of Vermi-composting
Table 6: Economics ofBiocompost
Parameters
Compost
produced
(Ton
/annum/)
Total number of units
Total compost produced (Ton)
Land cover Improved
Money earned by marketing
Parameters
Value
Compost
produced
(Ton
1.5
/Cycle)
Total number of units
6000
Total compost produced (Ton)
9000
Land cover Improved
2500Ha
Value
5
2000
10000
4000Ha.
2.5 Crore
Money earned by marketing
Table 7: Economic gain in terms of Increased crop yield
Parameter
Name of the
crop
Production
before the use of
compost Kg/Ha
Production after
the
use
of
compost Kg/Ha
Net increase in
production
Kg/Ha
Total economic
gain Rs/Ha
Crop
Maize
Crop
Jowar
Crop
Soyabean
1000
1000
1000
2500
2400
2200
1500
1400
1200
18000
16800
36000
*Total profitability in 8000 Ha @ Rs 20000/ Ha is Rs 16 crore.
2.5 Crore
Photographs
Photo 1
A Traditional Vermi-pit of a Tribal Farmer
Photo 2
A Vermi-pit of a SHG
Photo 3
Photo 4
Preparing organic waste for Bio-compost
Heaps of Bio-compost Units
Photo 5
Photo 6
Dry Dairy
Ready Compost for Marketing
Photo 7
Photo 8
Crop at Treated Wasteland
Tribal Farmers of Kilampur
Photo 9
Photo 10
Training Session
Farmer Using Bio-pesticide
Dist. GUNA ( Study
Area)
Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Map 1