In some tribal houses at Similiguda, harvested groundnut is spread at the front portion for drying.
But the secnario in Pangi Chinnayya’s house is different. At the front of his house is a drum and on the small verandah some bags. He is one of the few tribal people who have taken to making bio-fertilizer/pesticide called ‘Jeevamrutam’.
Taking it up under the State government’s Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), he sells it at ₹5 a litre. The solid form is priced at ₹200 a bag. The DAP chemical fertilizer costs up to ₹1,250.
He has been making ‘Jeevamrutam’ for a year now and his supply covers just 38 acres.
Farmers have to order it from him. At the time of taking the order, Chinnayya asks for advance in the form of jaggery and Bengal-gram flour. His supply caters to all crops, including paddy and ragi.
Taking a cue from him, Bantu Tulasamma of Ontipaka and a few others have begun making the bio-fertilizer this year.
Under the ZBNF, the government provides an assistance of ₹12,000 to construct cattlesheds and collect cow urine and dung that are the main ingredients.
Humble beginning
They have undergone training imparted by the government in Tirupati and Kakinada under the expert guidance natural farming expert Subhash Palekar.
But it is only a humble beginning as the four mandals of Anantagiri, Araku, Dumbriguda, and Hukumpeta account for around 5,000 farmers cultivating vegetables.
Of them, 524 are members of the Tribal Vegetable Growers’ Society and sell vegetables at the 12 rythu bazaars in the city.
Only in Hukumpeta and Anantagiri, the ‘Jeevamrutam’ clusters have started functioning. There are 13 varieties of organic inputs. Besides, individual farmers are encouraged to make ‘Jeevamrutam’ by providing assistance.
“In the four mandals, only 15 persons make ‘Jeevamrutam’. Their number should increase so as to make cultivation totally organic so that vegetables that come to the market are organic,” says P. Devullu, secretary of Sanjeevani, an NGO that works with the vegetable growers.
The four mandals have 22 panchayats and unless three to four persons per panchayat take up making ‘Jeevamrutam’, it is not possible to cater to the needs of the vegetable growers, says Mr. Devullu.
Besides, concentration is on other crops and more efforts should be made to focus on vegetables.
In Rangasila panchayat alone, where Chinnaiah makes ‘Jeevamrutham’, vegetables are grown in 25 acres.
A survey conducted three years ago found that tribal farmers bring vegetables worth ₹5.8 lakh to the rythu bazaars.
Five years ago, to encourage organic farming, the price of organic vegetables was pegged at Re.1 higher than those for traditional farming.
Mr. Devullu says that the price should be increased again to encourage the growers.
