I belong to the Dolariya tehsil of Narmadapuram, MP where farmers have the best possible resources i.e. they have Black cotton soil, Canal water supply twice every year (in Rabi for wheat and summers for 3rd crop of Moong; yes, we take 3 crops), Access to cheap capital through Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Scientific advisory, Farm machinery and what not... Productivity? We produce 18-20 quintal wheat per acre.
We have a western district of Mandsaur which has Gravelly soil and farmers buy some top soil from neighbouring Jhalawar district, face water scarcity; so much so that they draw a narrow stream of underground water, store it in a well and then irrigate the field with it in small patches. Productivity? They have a wheat Productivity of 30 - 32 quintals per acre.
How come a resource scarce region is drawing more than 150% productivity? Senior agri expert of Mandsaur region Mr Dasrath Nandan Pandey says, "Pulses and Oilseeds in Kharif, Crop diversification in Rabi, Wheat is the only cereal crop we take in the year, long low temperature of Malwa, high availability of potash in the land are the main reasons. Sowing at the right time (early sowing due to lack of water gives less production) is another factor."
Here in Narmadapuram, we do monocultures of cereal (wheat and paddy) season after season; year after year, no focus on diversification or organic carbon.
If we have resources in abundance, we don't value them!
Building a Sustainable Farming Ecosystem
