Farmers from Jalna in the drought-stricken Marathwada region have got 13-14 quintal/acre of cotton this year when Maharashtra’s average was 6-7 quintal/acre. Soyabean cultivation was a similar success story. The yield of the Jalna farmers is much higher than the average this year. They have got 15 quintal/acre, while at other places it is merely 2 quintal/acre. When hundreds of farmers are committing suicides in the region, the gut sheti (group farming) initiated by over 2,000 farmers has not only given them hope to live, but also made farming profitable.
About 19 villages in Jalna have come together for group farming, sharing resources and using simple techniques. Jan Jagruti Pratishtan set up by Dr Bhagawanrao Kapse in Jalna has brought the farmers together in the last few years and made sustainable farming possible. Dr Kapse was a director at M.S. Agricultural Marketing Board.
“We have taught them modern technology like how to grow crops with less water, how to use less fertilisers. This has helped them in reducing their initial cost of farming. We have also brought awareness among the farmers on crop patterns, how to keep fertility of land etc,” Mr Kapse said. The farmers in Jalna use drip irrigation or sprinklers for irrigation saving 50-60 per cent of water. Fertilisers are given through drip giving savings of 25-30 per cent. “These small techniques also save manpower. With less efforts, the farmers can get good yield,” Mr Kapse added.
The first attempt at such a practice was made in Jiradgaon village where farmers successfully built a kesar mango plantation on 1,000 acres. In the second phase, fruits like pomegranate, sweet lime, amla and custard apple were grown. “We encouraged farmers to share resources like water, seeds, fertilisers and techniques. However, ownership of the land remained with the original owners. By adopting this technique, not only did their yield per acre grow but their income was also doubled,” said Dr Kapse.
He has also provided a stage for farmers to share their experiences and interact with others in the community. A scientist or an expert in agriculture is invited to these meetings to share their knowledge with the farmers. The meeting is organised on a field where all the farmers of the village are involved in a group farming meet and discuss the technologies adopted, share experiences, and listen to the experts. The meeting is concluded with a community lunch.
