Prof. (Dr) R.D. Gupta
After acquiring professional trainings in mushroom cultivation, beekeeping and rearing of silk worms, poultry farming the farmers and farm women should always start their own independent units for income generation.
Agricultural University (Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural sciences and Technology, Jammu) in collaboration with Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Sericulture must organize training programmes like Mushroom Cultivation, Beekeeping, Fruit preservation, Live/Stock rearing , Poultry farming and Rearing of silk worms for unemployed rural youths both boys and girls vis-a-vis dropouts as well as farmers and farm women.
Farm women are required to be fully trained in the latest agricultural technology. It is because farm women play a key role in agriculture development and allied disciplines. Recently it has been found that 74 percent of the entire female working force is employed in agricultural operations i.e., 28% as cultivators and 48 per cent as agricultural laborers. As for example, possession of livestock is a symbol of progress and prosperity of family in rural areas including Kandi Belt of Jammu, is in general considered as a job of farm women. Hence, an appropriate and feasible technology which can be acceptable to the women and even to the marginal and landless farmers, must be imparted. The farm women also help in managing crop diversification methods such as crop rotation, mixed cropping and multiple cropping. The main benefits of diversified agriculture include to check soil erosion, improvement in soil fertility and enhancement of crop yield (Gupta 2002, Gupta 2006, Gupta 2009). Hence, farm women must be involved in various agricultural/horticultural activities as well as in others. It is because, “When Women Move Forward, The Family Moves, The Village Moves and The Nation Moves”.
As food processing has a tremendous marketing potential, so main fruits grown in the Kandi Belt of Jammu like Mango, Amla, Guava and Phalsa can be processed for various food preserves like mango and amla pickles, murabas and juices. The juices of Jaman and Phalsa are extremely soothing and have a cooling effect and function as digestive system. Thus, after imparting trainings in various aspects of fruit preservation to the women and unemployed youths, they can start their own units on preparation of various types of fruit products and can earn a lot of money.
Strawberry cultivation a very remunerative innovation:
As the climate of the dry land farming of Jammu region ,especialy of Kandi belt is subtropical which fully suits for cultivation of strawberry. Hence some areas of this belt can be suitable for cultivation of strawberry. As for example strawberry has been successfully cultivated in Vijaypur area of Samba district and that of Akhnoor in Jammu district where source of pond irrigation is available .
As the fruit perishes easily so efforts should be made to sell the maximum quantity immediately if it requires. The best strawberry is what the person picks himself. Farm fresh strawberries are hours old with little or no handling and no transportation. Enjoying the flavour and the fragrance of the fresh fruit is the best; the customers have to be organized so that they can get the fruit daily by visiting the orchard or by employing personnel to serve them. It would be much better if the young boys are employed on daily basis so that they are able to sell major portion of the day’s crop. This is a great opportunity for the small farmers. Central Government has already given permission for market Intervention scheme (MIS) for apple and pears. The same should be done for strawberry also. This would be a good proposition for finding employment to a large number of young people of the villages of Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts.
Cultivation of flowers:
Gardens and flower beds laden with blooms surely add a lot of warmth to the chilly air. The bright and glossy colours of flowers make even a simple stroll in a park a memorable experience. Of late, the exchange of flowers and bouquets has increased and these are now in much demand.
As, women take lot of interest in cultivation of flowers, so they are required to be imparted trainings in respect of marigold and other flowers cultivation by the Floriculture Department. In Kandi belt of Jammu the seedlings of marigold are raised in July-August or June-July for production of flowers during festival season of Navratre, Dusshera and Diwali as well as Bhai Duj.
Herbal Garden in Balcony
Shrinking space has led garden in enthusiasts turn to container gardens instead of elaborate kitchen gardens. Growing herbs in containers is not an easy way to keep one’s “green finguers” busy but also to ensure regular supply of fresh garnishes for foreign countries. Herbs are grown successfully in a kitchen garden and also in pots. Seeds are first sown in the nursery bed and later on transplanted to pots for containers. It is very easy to grow medicinal herbs like flowers and other garden plants. A few of these plants grow well in the climatic conditions of sub mountainous Siwaliks with minimum maintenance. These also add greenery and herbal value to one’s kitchen garden. Some of these herbs that can be grown in containers and pots are:-
* Ajwain (Tachysper- mum ammi) : It is a commonly used herb in the seed form in Indian cuisine. Ajwain Patta, a different herb whose leaves give the same taste and aromatic flavour to a dish as “Ajwain seeds” can be easily grown in pots. It is a wonderful nutritious herb popular in culinary as well as medicinal herb.
* Curry leaves (Murraya koenigii): Curry leaves are available round the year. The plant sustains well in pots also. Train it into a compact bush and it hardly requires any care except during extreme winters when the pots should be moved to a warmer and moist place.
* Sweet Basil Tulsi (Ocimum bacillum): Its leaves and shoot tops are used for seasoning dishes and for garnishing salads. It has so many medicinal uses that it has been established and venerated (Gupta et al. 2016). It has strengthening effect on the kidney. In case of renal stone the juice of basil leaves and honey if taken regularly for 6 months it will expel them via the Urinary tract. It has beneficial effect in cardiac diseases and weakness resulting from them. Basil leaves are regarded as an adaptogen or antistress agent. It purifies blood and helps to prevent several commom elements. Sweet Basil leaves and shoot tops are, infact used for seasoning dishes and for garnishing salads. Sow the seeds in nursery beds and transplant them 30 cm apart in the soil bed or grow them in pots.
Agroforestry: Innovation in agro forestry systems can solve numerous problems presently being confronted by the Indian farmers, especially dwelling in rain fed areas. Increasing human, livestock population and shrinking of agricultural holdings are the dual problems causing concern to the planners.
Agro forestry systems yield numerous products like food, fodder, fuel, fruit and fertilizer. At the same time, it effectively conserves soil and moisture, protects the crops by serving as wind breaks/ shelter belts. It also provides shade, fencing and protection of the environment. For food grain production agri-silviculture and agri-horticulture are the two important agro forestry systems tested successfully both under on farm and on station trials, where tree is the dominant component (Grill, 1998).
The main purpose and objective is to green the degraded farms and villages, so as to bring in a natural environment and a balanced ecology. The vacant places be clothed.
( The author is former Associate Dean-cum-cum Chief Scientist KVK, SKUAST-J)
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