From Thursday, a fortnightly educational event Kisan Pakhwada for farmers is being organized in several districts of Chhattisgarh under the state's agricultural department to educate farmers about innovative techniques of cultivating other cash crops instead of paddy.
Farmers are being made aware of harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and encouraged to use technology.
Pakhwada has already begun in Kanker, village Bade Kapasi of Pankhajur tehsil, and village Korar of Bhanupratappur tehsil to raise farmer awareness about new crops, seeds, vermin compost, and agricultural practices.
Farmers were informed about the application procedure for state government schemes such as the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojna and the Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna, both of which seek to offer financial assistance to farmers. Farmers were also educated on alternative crop rotations, as well as the cultivation of fragrant paddy hybrid varieties that sell at a higher price.
Crop rotation, according to agriculture officials, will provide farmers with immediate benefits such as increased revenue, improved soil quality, increased water holding capacity, improvement in the quality of land, increase in water holding capacity, environmental improvement and reduction in the cost of cultivation.
Farmers are advised to produce additional profitable crops such as aromatic paddy, fortified paddy, pulses, oilseeds, maize, ragi, Kodo, kutki, and vegetables, as well as use organic vermi compost manure prepared by women self-help organizations in their fields, to keep the land fertile.
Biresh Thakur, a member of the Bastar Development Authority, told the Krishi Pakhwada camp that farmers and youth should start commercial farming with advanced modern technology, and he encouraged educated youth to start their farming businesses by taking advantage of various government-run schemes.
