Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Apr 18: Although new inventions do take place in the field of agriculture, rarely are they farmer-friendly or are effectively implemented. Mulching is a technology that has been in vogue since the last some years, but the use of mulching sheet technology stayed restricted to the cultivation of only a few vegetables like watermelon, capsicum etc. But progressive farmer from Noojady in the taluk, Manjunath Naik, has used this technology beyond the scope of its known limitations, and succeeded in harvesting bumper crop of vegetables.

Naik, who has extended this technology to grow vegetables like eggplant, okra, cucumber, lentils, maize, and ridge gourd, has found through this experiment that mulching technology brings more money than the traditional methods of cultivation. Naik, for whom agriculture is very close to the heart, grows a number of things including rubber, paddy, and vegetables.

Naik proved an agricultural extension officer wrong by using mulching technique even during the rainy season against the officer's advice. He has raised bumper crops of Mattu type of brinjal and local variety of brinjal, cucumber, long beans etc. He found that this method demands less water, less work, and less expenditure. Apart from saving water, mulching technique takes care of the problem of weeds. He bought a of mulching sheets last year, and has been reusing the sheets that are not torn. Agricultural enthusiasts from various places have visited his farm to find for themselves the benefits of this method.

Mulching technique saves about 60 percent of water. Water does not go waste, and water reaches plants at desirable quantity, as drip irrigation method is used. Drip methods saves elctrcity water, asserts Naik.

At the time of planting of seeds, manure from cattle sheds and organic manure is used. This method is very useful for growing vegetables like brinjal, ash gourd, and cucumber. It saves work as mud need not been repeatedly replaced, and weeding is not required.

Manjunath Naik stands as an outstanding example to prove that farmers can succeed by using new inventions to their benefit by making changes based on local needs and their own experiments and experiences. Other farmers too will get inspired if the government accords recognition to the achievements of this progressive farmers. The department of agriculture and agricultural research centres need to concentrate more on such rural places, see for themselves what is happening here, and recognize contributions of farmers, and spread this knowledge to others so that they too can reap the benefit.