ANNAPURNA

½ acre crop model

Model Designed : Dr. D. Pari Naidu

Supported by: M. Nukam Naidu

English Translation: E. Yamini

Assisted by:
A. Padmavathi, Dr. K. Srinivasa Rao and G. Sunil Kumar

Arts : Tumbali Shivajee

Published by:
JATTU TRUST
Financed by: SERP – MKSP/NTFP
Ministry of Rural Development
Govt. of India, New Delhi
Copies : 1000
Date of Publication: May 2017
Printed at : Mamata Press
Contact Info:
JATTU Trust, Thotapalli, Garugubilli (M), Vizianagaram Dist,
Andhra Pradesh, India. Pin : 535525
Contact No: 94401 64289
 First I thank our farmer brothers and sisters working day
and night in rain or bright sun shine to provide us food.
We designed the half-acre crop model of farming named
as the Annapurna Crop Model to provide food to a family, safely
and securely in a sustainable manner all year round. We
published 1/2 Acre Annapurna Crop Model Manual to help those
farmers who have already implemented it. It also helps those
farmers interested to implement this model in future.
Secondly, in this book, along with Annapurna Crop Model,
techniques of traditional, modern and natural farming are also
From the introduced and discussed.
Founder's desk ... Annapurna Crop Model is gaining momentum throughout
the country. The reasons being not only its design and techniques
drawn are providing food security for the families but also these
techniques are eco-friendly and pro-nature. Its implementation
followed by substantiating results, is a good sign towards
maintaining Nature’s ecological balance.
A special thanks to National Rural Livelihood Mission,
Government of India and Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty
(SERP), a part of Rural Development Ministry, Andhra Pradesh.
A heartfelt thanks to Smt. E.Yamini, Farmer, Tenali, Mr. G.
Sunil Kumar, A.O., Garugubilli, Smt. A. Padmavathi, Teacher,
Bobbili and Dr. K. Srinivasa Rao, Chairman and M.D., IABT,
Hyderabad. Sri. Narendra Babu Mummaneni, Principal, NRR
Agri horticultural polytechinics, Neliparthi, Salur, Vizianagaram
Dist., Sri. Ravi Yellayi, Linguistic Expert - for their invaluable
efforts in translating this presentation from Telugu to English.
I would also like to offer an extensive thanks to the artist, Sri.
Tumbali Shivaji and Sri. M. Nukam Naidu for their extended
support in designing and layout of this book. Last but not least,
thanks to Mamata Press for their quick turnaround in printing it.
I hope this book will help you, in cultivation your crop using ‘1/
2 Acre Annapurna Crop Model’ to achieve food security and
nutritional sustenance for your family.

Truthfully Yours,

(Dr. D. Pari Naidu)

Executive Trustee
JATTU Trust

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 INDEX
S.No Topic Page No.

1 Traditional Agriculture 5-8

(Before Green Revolution)

2 Modern Agriculture 9 - 10
(After Green Revolution)

3 Natural Agricultural scientists, 11 - 16

Organizations, Governments
and Several food security models
4 Natural farming – Non-negotiables 17 - 22
5 ½ acre Annapurna food 23 - 41
security model
6 Annapurna Crop Associations 42 - 49
7 Management of pests and 50 - 54
diseases
8 Friendly and harmful insects in 55 - 56
agriculture

2
4
 1. Traditional Agriculture (Before green revolution)
Note: Before starting with new ways of cultivation, it is imperative to understood how
much our farmers know of the traditional techniques of agriculture; that our ancestors
practised. On one hand it tells us about their experience and on the other, improves our
knowledge. This book is published to serve as a mannual for both trainers and
coordinators. Therefore, it is important for us to understand, in brief, about those
traditional practices still being followed in tribal and rural areas.
Teaching Method: Collecting information about these traditional methods of farming
can be done in two ways:

• Form a big group and follow the Question and Answer method (OR)

• Form smaller groups and take the opinions of each group by discussing with their
group leaders.
Origin of Agriculture: The system of agriculture originally started off from the times of
primitive men living in forests. These primitive men started sowing seeds by observing
fruits from different plants and trees; and germination process from the fallen seeds.

5
Bush Clearance / Shifting cultivation was a part of this process. Gradually, agriculture became
the profession we know today.

What is Traditional Agriculture?

Traditional Agriculture is a type of farming that used techniques ensuring good,
sustainable yiels over time in a specific area or region. Growing plants, cultivating crops,
and rearing animals happened close to human habitation. These farming techniques were
developed over centuries.
In our country, this system of cultivating crops started in 9000 BC. These farms
were based around mixed crops complementing one another. Barely and wheat were
cultivated from 8000 BC onwards.
In those days, seeds weere sown directly without ploughing. Rotten leaves, poultry
and cattle manure, tank silts etc were used that improved soil fertility. When the crop was
ready for harvesting, a part of it was left for reproduction.
Such practices entailed: improved soil fertility, conserved water resources; causing
no harm to the atmosphere. By not using chemicals, with minimal eco-friendly inputs,
traditional farming was, and is , always a sustainable model.

6
Benefits of Traditional farming:
1. Low cost.
2. Minimal incidence of pests and diseases.
3. Balance of soil nutrients.
4. Improved soil fertility.
5. Abundance of seeds. Qualitative seeds can be produced on their own.
6. Pollution free, healthy atmosphere.
7. More net crop income.
8. Nutritional and tasty food
9. Improved infiltration of water
10. Improved water table
11. Crop diversity leads to increased production. Even of some crops are destroyed due
to natural calamities, yield in other crops may compensate the loss thus minimizing
the risk in agriculture.

Old New

Constraints of Traditional farming:

• Scarcity of food due to increasing population.
• Scarcity of organic fertilizers due to reduction in hte number of cattle.
• Reduction in agriculture labour.
• Hype around hybrid seeds.
• Implementation of mono crop systems.
• Increased interest in commercial crops for higher income.
• Illusion that chemical farming is financially beneficial.
• Breakup of joint family system

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Ask these questions.

1. What do you understand by traditional farming?

2. Are you following traditional ways of farming?

3. What benefits of traditional farming have you identified?

4. Do you believe in traditional/natural farming? If So, explain in one or two sentences.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. What crops can be grown using traditional/ nature farming techniques?

Match the following :

1. Shifting Agriculture ( ) (a) Two or more crops at a time

2. Organic matter ( ) (b) Farmers grow seed on their own

3. Traditional seed bank ( ) (c) Bush clearance done by tribal on hill terrace.

4. Cultivation of variety of crops ( ) (d) Rotten leaves and branches.

Activities:

1. Visit farmers practicing traditional / natural / organic farming techniques.

2. Showing short films on natural farming.

3. Exhibit related posters and pictures.

4. Share these experiences with farmers from other villages.

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 2. Modern Agriculture (After green revolution)
Agriculture using machines, chemical fertilisers, pesticides and weedicides; and high yielding
variety of seeds etc is called Modern Agriculture.
How Traditional farming - changed to modern agriculture:
Method: Use question and Answer method in a big group to know how much the participants
understood (OR) use group discussion method to comprehend their knowledge in smaller
groups from their group leaders.
Modern Agricultural Methods:
We have seen the benefits of traditional farming, However, due to population
explosion, farmers started searching for easier methods to increase the yield in smaller area
of land and in short period of time. This is how: high yieldingseed varieties, chemical
fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals were invented.
Norman Borlaug, an Americal agriculture scientist, was the first man to introduce
‘Freen Revolution’. It was brought to India by M.S. Swaminathan, a famous agricultural
scientist in 1968. He pioneered the production of high yielding varities of wheat. This is also
why he is popularly known as the ‘Father of Green Revolution’.
Modern agricultural techniques follow a single crop method along with applying a
high dose of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals. These techniques result
in producing high yield, but lead to heavy losses in net income per crop. In long term, these
detrimental effects outweigh the benefits.

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Drawbacks due to Modern Agriculture:
1. Reduction of soil fertility, erosion, salinity and alkalinity
2. Loss of natural earthworms and eco-balance of soil microbes
3. Depletion of ground water
4. High cost Inputs and capital
5. Global Warming
6. Ecological imbalance
7. Alteration in seasons
8. Increased Pollution
9. Increased immunity in pests and harmful insects.
10. Depletion of useful fauna and flora.
11. Increased health hazards to biosphere
12. Increased loans due to dramatic increase in agriculture inputs/investments, low
esteem and no self-reliance are pushuing marginal farmers towards suicide.
13. Destruction of biodiversity and germ plasm resulting in global food insecurity.
Ask these questions:
1. From when did the traditional farming change?
2. What are the changes that occurred in traditional farming?
3. What attracts farmers to modern agriculture methods?
4. What benefits did you observe in modern agriculture methods?
5. What demerits have you observed in modern agriculture methods?
6. Is there a chance to convert from practicing modern agricultural methods to
traditional methods? If so, how?
Match the following:
1) Mechanization of Agriculture ( ) a) Reduction in cattle
2) Scarcity of compost ( ) b) Green Revolution
3) Modern agriculture ( ) c) Use of machines in agriculture
Activities:
1) Display a short film explaining negative impact of various chemical fertilizers,
pesticides, germicides and weedicides.
2) Share the testimony of farmers who incurred losses by following modern agricultural
methods.

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 3. Natural Agricultural - Scientists, Organizations,
Governments and Several food security models
Method: Question and answer method, lecture method and Audio-Visual method.
Natural Farming:
Natural Farming means cultivation with the help of natural resources without
disturbing or harming the nature.
Important features of Natural Farming:
1) Bio-diversity
2) Soil and water conservation
3) Optimal utilization of solar energy
4) High yield with minimum water
5) Use of local / traditional seeds and crops
6) Improving soil fertility with cultivation
7) Food and nutritional security
8) Crop diversity
9) Low investment - low expenses
10) Minimum labour
11) MIxed cropping
12) Crop Rotation
Keeping in view the above features scientists of Natural farming prepared low cost
models to enrich yield. Let us learn few of those models.
1) Bhaksar Save:
Bhaskar Save was a teacher from Gujarat. He did farming using chemical fertilizers and
pesticides, achieving high yields. He was recognized as an ideal farmer of modern scientific
methods in 1952, and got the attention of Gujarat Corporation. Encouraged by these events,
he even took up an agency of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, but soon realized that he
could increase the yields but not the net income. He also realized that this system was
against Gandhian way of life. He then returned to natural farming. Bhaskar Save's 14 acres

11
of fruit garden named
"Kalpa Vruksham" is
located near Dehri village
in Valsad district on the
south coast of Gujarat.
Based on the principola
that forests grow
naturally without any
human interference,
Bhaskar save formed out
a “Model of Mixed Fruit
Garden” on a 10acre
farm. He achieved high
yields and was appreciated by Japan’s agricultuer legend “Masanobu Fukuoka”, too.
2) Professor Nanjunda Swami:
Professor Nanjunda Swami was born in Mysore of Karnataka, played a key role in social and
economic revolutions and was farmer-centric at heart. He was very close to the then socialist
leaders, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and Lok Nayak Jaya Prakash Narayan.
He organized a green army of farmers and agitated against the harmful policies of
government and multinational companies. He established "Amrutha Bhoomi", an organization
that collected local seeds, and turned it into an international centre for sustainable agriculture.
He worked hard to restore natural agriculture, by opposing the scientific and modern methods
of cultivation; and the highly selfish attitude of multinational companies that are causing
irrevocable damage to our planet earth.

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3) Subhash Palekar: He is from Maharastra and is famous for his 36 X 36 feet crop model
(seven-storied model). He proved that it is possible to grow different varieties of crops such
as vegetables, leafy vegetables and fruits, sufficient for a family, in a mere 2½ cents of land.
He said that zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) can be done using "Jeevamrutham", and
still achieve high yields and it helps to increase humus, i.e., organic matter. As a result,
natural earthworms and other micro-organisms get to multiply, there by improving the soil
fertility. In his opinion, Green Revolution is the reason for destruction of our lands. He sternly
opposed indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, hybrid and genetically modified
seeds.

4) Acharya Sripada Achyuta Dabholkar : He is also from Maharastra and developed a

‘10gunta’ natural agriculture model. According to this model: in an area of 1/4 acre divided
into 10parts - cereals, millets, pulses, oil seeds, leafy vegetables, fruits, spices, fodder, etc.
- can be grown scientifically, utilizing optimum sunlight.

13
5) Masanobu Fukuoka: He was born on February 2, 1913 in South Japan. He studied microbiology
in Gifu Agricultural College and became an expert in plant diseases. related to plants.He started
his career as an agriculture customes
inspector checking imported and
exported plants for disease spreading
germs. In 1937 he was hospitalised
with pneumonia, and while recovering,
stated that he had a profound spiritual
experience that transformed his world
view leading to question the practices
of modern (Western) agricultural
sciences. He immediately resigned from
his post as a research scientist,
returning to his family's farm on the
island of Shikoku in Southern Japan to start "Natural Farming" in their ancestral land. He believed
that the farther one goes away from Nature, the more laborious life becomes, in general,
especially in farming. From 1979, Fukuoka travelled the world extensively, gave lectures, worked
towardplanting seeds and re-vegetate areas, and received a number of awards in various
countries in recognition of his work and achievements.

6) Dr. Vandana Shiva: Vandana Shiva raised her voice in support of farmers, esp. women farmenrs
and agricultural labourers of poor countries. Throught her ‘Navadhanyam Foundation’, she is
working to help farmers to gain control over their seeds. According to vandana, “It’s a new type
of colonialism where the farmer, who feeds the world, depends on others for seeds, fertilizers
and pesticides.” She states the fact that the Seed development organizations are destroying
the lives of farmers by introducing BT, hybrid and genetically modified seeds; and calls for unity
to join her movement against this unwelcome move.

14
7) SERP: Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) is the organization established under
the Rural Development Ministry in Andhra Pradesh. During the last ten years, this organization
conducted sustainable agricultural programmes with public participation. This programme,
designed by the then C.E.O.s of SERP, Mr. T. Vijay Kumar, IAS and Mr. B. Rajasekhar, IAS, with
the co-ordination of Dr. D.V. Rayudu, IAS (Retd.).

8) JATTU Trust: Combining the experience gained in implementing different food security
models over a number of years with the experiences of a few traditional farmers, JATTU
Trust designed the "1/2 acre Annapurna Crop Model".

In this food security model, all food materials sufficient for a family can be cultivated in a ½
acre of land. This provides an opportunity to cultivate fruits, vegetables, cereals etc. Yearlong
production is possible whereever water is available. In rain fed areas, crops can be grown in
two seasons.

The founder of JATTU Trust, Dr. D. Pari Naidu, was inspired by Mr. T. Vijaya kumar, former
C.E.O. of SERP, who had helped to provide 1/2 acre land on lease to landless poor to change
their socio-economic status from agriculture labour to land owners.

Questions to ask:

1. Name some organizations and activities who are working for the propagation of natural
/ organic farming?

2. Name some traditional agricultural models that you have learnt?

3. Would you choose to cultivate in “Annapurna Model’? If so, why?

4. What kind of seeds would you collect to start practicing natural farming?

Activities:

1. Visit different models of crop.

2. Ask trainees to identify photographs of organic farming designers.

3. Show them short films about organic movement.

Match the following:

1) 36 x 36 model ( ) a) Fukuoka

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2) Kalpa Vruksha ( ) b) T. Vijay Kumar

3) 10 gunta model ( ) c) Subhash Palekar

4) Zero tillage farming ( ) d) Dabolkar

5) Annapurna Model ( ) e) Bhaskar Save

6) ½ acre POP model ( ) f) JATTU Trust

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 4. Natural farming – Non-Negotiables
In the olden days, farmers were doing traditional farming. The ancient agricultural
system was pro-nature and eco-friendly. They did not harm the nature. Over the years,
natural farming methods gave way to medern, high input based chemical farming. Today,
though the farmers are aware of the demerits of chemical farming, they continue to do so
because of being unaware of alternatives. Fortunately, those who understood the severity
of the crisis caused by modern farming opted for natural farming and are helping others
around them to do the same. Before jumping on the bandwagon of natural farming, one
must know certain aspects and follow a set ofrules in order to make natural farming methods
practically profitable. These are Non-negotiables.
Non-Negotiables:
1) Soil Fertility Management 2) Water harvesting 3) Native Seeds 4) Seed Treatment 5)
Inter Croping 6) Mixed Croping 7) Trap Crops 8) Boundary Crops 9) Mulching 10) Live
Fencing 11) Crop Rotation 12) Zero Tillage
Cropping

Soil Fertility Management:

Soil is fertile in its natural form. With
human interference, it loses its natural
qualities becoming barren. Therefore, one
should not do anything that deteriorates soil
fertility. The top layer of earth is highly fertile
and this fertility decreases as we go deeper.
Soil at the top 9 inches is considered to be
highly fertile and reduces as we go down for
every 3 inches. So, as and when the roots of
plants go deeper, availability of the nutrients
decline. Hence, there is a need to enrich the
soil by supplying nutrients externally. Another
reason for the availability of nutrients
declining is the repeated sowing of the same kind of crops.

Soil can be enriched through traditionally available FYM (Farm Yard Manure), goat, sheep,
poultry manure and tank/canal silt, rotten leaves, crop residues, green manures etc.

17
 To sustain the fertility of soil, legumes can be sown
after harvesting cereals or as inter crops in many other crops.
Inter crops are explained later in this chapter.
Seed Treatment:
Microorganisms, pests and diseases co-exist during seed
production or storage. Once the seed is sown, these will
develop alongside the seedlings and cause damage to
crop. Pests and diseases could also spread in soil
causing damage to the seed and crop. Therefore,
before sowing the seed, those micro-
organisms and pests causing diseases
should be controlled. Seed treatment
is necessary not only to prevent
air and soil borne pests and
diseases, but also seed borne
ones. It also improves the
percentage of germination and
to grow healthy and strong
seedlings. Beejamrutham, ash +
asafoetida / red soil can be used for seed
treatment. Preparation of “Beejamrutham” is explained in detail in chapter 7.

Intercroping: Short-duration crops planted in the midst of long-duration main crops

in a single plot, to effectively utilize the space, to help reduce pests and diseases and
to increase soil fertility are called Inter Crops.

Mixed Croping: Different crops planted with same duration are called Mixed Crops.
Caution should be taken to ensure these different crops are in no competition for
nutrients in the same root zones and the propagation of roots should be different.
More details of inter crops and mixed crops can be seen in chapter 5.

Local Seeds: In natural farming, traditional/local seeds must be used. When the farmer
uses hybrid and B.T seeds, expecting high yield and ease of pest management, expenses
rise along with an increase in the intensity of pests and diseases. When the framer
prepares his own seeds, he clearly knows the properties and features of them. Local
seeds naturally tolerate diseases, so higher yields are possible with no need for using
pesticides. Farmers in villages need to start their own Seed banks and Gene banks
18
and manage them collectively, so it will be helpful to
both the seed producers and consumers.
Crop Rotation: In natural farming, various types of pests
and diseases can be controlled by crop rotation to
achieve natural protection and high yield. Usually,
pathogens that cause disease to one crop may not cause
any damage to the other crop. Under such conditions,
there would not be a congenial atmosphere for the
growth of pathogens. So, its effect would not be there for the next season. Crop rotation
helps to enrich soil with nutrients. If the same crop is repeatedly sown, deficiency in the
amount of nutrients will adversely affect the yield. To pests and diseases, crop rotation
method must be practiced.

Zero Tillage Farming: Ploughing is not necessary in nature farming, and when done, physical
nature of the soil changes and beneficial bacteria that help improve soil fertility die. As long
as man combed the earth with hand tools, healthy crops grew. But with modern agriculture
done using machinery, microbial organisms and other useful fauna that do good to the soil
are getting killed.
As a result, soil does not get sufficient nutrients leading to nutrient imbalance. As this balance
is tipped, it causes negative impact on yield and immunity to resist diseases.

19
When plants grow, their roots go deep spreading wide in the soil by which the soil becomes
porous. This results in aerating the soil, balancing the nutrients supply.

Mulching: The process of safeguarding the land from all the external elements of nature
like rain fall hitting the ground directly, losing moisture due to excess heat and the top
soil getting washed away because of unchecked flowing water is called mulching.

This mulching methodology entails: increased microbial activity preventing the

soil from being exposed to the hot Sun, availing the earthworms to continue helping the
farmers by aerating the soil sufficiently, and also, more importantly retaining moisture
to the maximum possible extent. The added advantage of such a mulch is that it retains
the moisture from the atmosphere supplying the nutritional requirement of water and
elements there of, to the plant. This mulch, by virtue of itself, becomes compost eventually
working as a powerful agent to improve the fertility
of the soil for later generation of crops as well.

Mulching is of two types:

1. Live mulching
2. Dry mulching
1. Live Mulching: The process of covering empty
land with various plants / crops is called Live
Mulching. Under this category, one can get additional
financial benefits too.

2. Dry Mulching: The process of covering empty land with leaves, grass and/or
branches brought from elsewhere is called dry mulching. These days, Polythene / mulch
sheets are also being used for the same purpose. However, it is expensive and
environmentally dangerous.

Advantages of Mulching:
1) Prevents soil erosion

2) Retains moisture by reducing dissipation and improves infiltration

3) Enriches soil fertility by increasing living organisms in soil

20
4) Regulates temperature of the soil

5) Soil becomes more porous because of better aeration and deeper root penetration

Demerits of Mulching: The residual dry mulch from previous crop might be harmful to the
future crop causing an imbalance in the ratio of Carbon and Nitrogen and acting as carrier
for diseases. The imbalanced CN ratio may lead to growth of termites and ants. Most of
these issues can be resolved by live mulching, i.e., covering the land with various plants /
crops.

Live fence: - To protect the main crop, a live fence should be grown. Every year, we have to
cut many plants and trees to build a fence with dry twigs. This reduces the greenery causing
an imbalance in the environment. Instead, if we grow trees as a fence that can give fruits
and/or wood, not only it generates the income, but also reduces the expenses in the long
run. Teak, Custard Apple, Henna, Jatropa, Hill brooms, Lemon grass, Subabul, Tanner’s Cassia
can be sown for building a live fence.
Ask these questions:
1. What is your opinion on natural farming?

2. Recollect the non-negotiables in natural farming.

21
3. What can be used to make the soil naturally fertile?

4. Mention the traditional methods of seed treatment.

5. What are trap crops? Name a few trap crops that you grow.

6. What is a boundary crop? Discuss the boundary crops that can be planted for a few
popular main crops.

7. What is an inter crop? What is a mixed crop? What is the difference between these two
crops?

8. What is mulching? Discuss the merits of mulching. Do we have any demerits? If so, how
can you overcome them?

9. What trees can be grown as live fences? What are the benefits?

Activities:
1. Demonstration of mulching in one field

2. Field trips to show boundary crops, trap crops and live fence

Match the following:

1. Mulching ( ) a) Marigold

2. Boundary Crop ( ) b) Henna

3. Trap crop ( ) c) Maize

4. Live boundary ( ) d) Protection of moisture

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 5. ½ acre Annapurna Food Security Model

Method: Question and Answer method, Group Discussion and Audio - Visual presentation
and Sharing work experiences.

Context: Andhra Pradesh is known for its special place in India for food production. It used
to remind everyone of a ‘Rice Bowl’, a symbol for abundance. Once upon a time, this state
used to meet the needs of its own people and export the surplus production to other states,
even to other countries. A.P. has earned the name ‘Annapurna’ because of its food production
even in adverse weather conditions. Increasing population, reduced farming area,
unfavourable weather conditions, changes in agricultural systems are the reasons for not
producing food grains at an optimum level to meet the growing demand. To cover this
deficit, many systems, methods and models are still being formulated in agriculture.

Yet, increasing investments, inconsistent yields, unavailability of agricultural labour

are the main reasons for migration of farmers to other areas of work, in spite of their passion
towards agriculture. Farmers wish, at least their children should lead a better life by doing
taking up jobs that pay consistently. They do not want their children to toil in agricultural
fields just like them and face the danger to only end up facing the dangers of irrevocable
debt. As farming lost its charm, the educated and youth started to neglect and abandon this

23
very important field that feeds all of us. This growing attitude is pushing the whole sector
of agriculture into deep trouble. To abate this, JATTU Trust came up with a model; a noble
intention to provide food and health security for the families, using its experience gained
from implementing many food security models in the past and named it, ‘1/2 acre
Annapurna Food Security Model’.

What is Annapurna: Annapurna means complete food. One should not think that Annam
(Food) is merely boiled rice. Annam means that food, which provides essential nutrients
for a person to perform all the necessary activities. Food materials consumed by humans
should contain carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals etc. If our body gets
these required nutrients from the food we consume, only then we can say it
is “Purna Annam”, a whole meal, also known as ‘Annapurna (in Sanskrit)’.

What is the importance of Annapurna: When we look at the

experiences of farmers in the last 10 years, agriculture is not
profitable. It is impossible to depend on
agriculture, especially for the farmers cultivating within
2 acres of land. It is a pity that farmers, who feed us with all
their effort and exertion, are not in a position to feed their
own families. The main reason for this situation is the
indiscriminate use of chemicals, along with irregular

weather patterns. Low or very heavy incidence of rainfall, untimely rains, cyclones and
floods are a part of it. Storms such as Neelam, Katrina, Jal, Ice, etc, are symbols of the fury
of Nature. These cyclones and adverse weather conditions destroy varieties of crops that
could have left a bitter taste for farmers to continue with farming. Untimely arrival of
monsoons can lead to untimely sowing of seeds. In some occasions, farmers are not able
to enjoy the fruits of their labour in spite of good yield for this reason. To address this sad
state of affairs, a method is needed to tolerate drought and sustain yields. ‘Annapurna
Model’ is the answer to this dire situation meeting requirements to provide safe and
sustainable food.

24
 A family can earn more than enough to live but there is no guarantee that the food
bought from the market is safe and healthy. Also, modern occupations offer lesser
opportunities for physical exercise on a daily basis. Annapurna Crop Model provides a person
chance to exercise daily for a few hours alongside producing safer and healthier food.

Building the Annapurna Model 1 ? :

Selection of ½ acre: - A
½ acre land is enough to work
on Annapurna Crop Model as
it is primarily meant for
providing food security to a
family. It should be a levelled
land consisting of alluvial or red
soil or a combination of alluvial
soil and sand. This model can
be scaled to 1 acre and thereof
too, depending on the
availability of the land. ½ acre
is equivalent to 50 cents / 20
guntas / 21,780 sq ft. Selected
land should be ploughed to soften its texture.

Preparation of Trenches: A trench of about 1 ½ ft wide and 1 ft deep should be dug around
the ½ acre land on the inner edge in the shape of a ‘U’. While doing this, soil dug up to ½ ft
depth should be put on the farm’s inner side. Remaining ½ ft soil should be put on the bund.

Benefits of Trenches: Trenches around bunds are useful for absorbing water. As a result,
ground water level rises. And when heavy rainfall occurs or during a flood, these trenches
can act as drains to stream out excess water, preventing soil erosion. They can also be used
as channels when water needs to be supplied to raised beds.

25
Raised Beds: Raised beds should be prepared about 7 ft. wide preferably in the direction of
East ÅÆ West. If the land is elevated, raised beds must be prepared perpendicular to the
reclining slope (gradient) of the land. Soil on beds should be made smooth spreading evenly.
Mix any combination of natural fertilizers like farm yard manure, alluvial soil, vermi-
compost, tank silt, and poultry manure etc. (up to 6 inches) and spread evenly on the
raised beds.

Benefits of Raised Beds: Raised beds 1) keep the soil porous 2) Prevent plants or crops
from waterlogging 3) retain moisture 4) help the roots to penetrate deep and allow the
plants to absorb nutrients easily 5) promote crop diversity when we plant one or two crops
on each raised bed 6) simplifies the crop rotation 7) help move in the direction of no-tilling
8) reduce the chances of waterlogging 9) make sowing and harvesting easy 10) Reduces
water requirement 11) prevent soil erosion due to heavy rains and/or floods.

Furrows:

Dig a 2ft wide and 1 ft. deep channel in “V’ shape between raised beds. Prepare raised
beds and furrows in the entire area of ½ acre land.

26
Benefits of Furrows: They 1) help to infiltrate maximum amount of water in rainy season and
always retain moisture; 2) prevent soil erosion; 3) drain the excess water between the raised
beds during heavy rains and prevents loss of
vegetation; 4) prevent water wastage; 5) increases the
ground water levels; 6) make sowing, harvesting,
weeding, applying organic manure and pest
management easy; 7) convenient to convert weeds
and crop residues into manure; and 8) supply water
to the raised beds only when needed.

Farm Pond: A Farm Pond can be dug 10 ft long, 6 ft

wide and 4 ft deep in a low lying corner of the field.
And it is used 1) to store excess rain water; 2) as a fish
pond; 3) to grow Azolla - used to feed cattle and
poultry; also as an alternative to urea in paddy fields; 4) to collect the eroded fertile top soil
for reuse; 5) to rear poultry as an additional income source if the pond is covered with a
strong wire mesh; 6) to boost the yield with poultry excreta; and 8) to serve as a water source
when other sources become scarce.

Crops to sow on Raised Beds: Annapurna Model is meant for food and health security for a
family. So plan accordingly for growing multiple crops.

1. Fruit Plants:

☛ Leaving 6 ft. area from the bund, plant trees with big canopy like Mango, Cashew, Jackfruit,
Amla, Jamun etc. on 1st, 5th, 9th, 13th, 17th,
21st, 25th, 29th… raised beds in East ÅÆ West
direction. Regardless of the direction of the raised
beds, these fruit trees always need to be planted
in East Å Æ West direction.

☛ 9 ft. away from big canopy ones, plant small

canopy trees like Drumstick, Banana, Papaya,
Curry leaves.

☛ 18 ft. away from big canopy ones, plant medium

canopy trees like Guava, Lemon, Sapota, Orange, Custard Apple, Bull’s Heart, Pomegranate
etc.

27
☛ 9 ft. away from medium canopy ones, plant small canopy trees like Drumstick, Banana,
Papaya, Curry leaves

☛ 36 ft. away from the big canopy ones, plant any one of the big canopy trees like Mango,
Cashew, Jackfruit, Amla, Jamun etc. in the direction of South to North or North to South.
Do not plant small or medium canopy trees in these rows.

ADD THE SKELETON SLIDES WITH DISTANCE ETC

2. Vegetables:

☛ Tubers and leafy vegetables can be sown in crop

rotation method, in the allotted ¼ acre for
vegetables, on those raised beds where fruit
tree saplings are planted.

☛ Leafy vegetables on the 2nd raised bed

☛ And on 3rd and 4th raised beds, sow different

vegetables, like Tomato / Brinjal / Chilli / Cauli
Flower / Cabbage / Noolkol / Beans etc.

In this system, due to crop diversity, pests and diseases which could attack one crop may
not spread to another crop; pest control becomes easy. Crops should be rotated, i.e., once
harvested, the same type of plant should not be sown at the same place. This is how ¼ acre
raised soil beds are used for sowing small vegetables.

3. Cereals/Pulses/Oil Seeds:
☛ In the other ¼ acre, tubers and pulses that need
shade are to be sown on those beds where fruit
trees are already planted.
☛ On those beds where no fruit trees are planted,
millets like Ragi, Sorghum, Pearl millets etc. (OR)
oil seeds like Sesame, Groundnuts, Sunflower,
Linseeds etc. (OR) pulses like Green gram, Black
gram, Horse gram and Cow peas etc. can be sown
as a mono or multiple crops.

28
Intercrops: Crops planted in the midst of taller and longer duration crops in rows and
patterns are called intercrops. Let us learn how to sow intercrops in the Annapurna
Crop Model.
☛ In the allotted ¼ acre for vegetables, tubers like Yam, Onion, Carrot, Beetroot, Potato,
Turmeric and Ginger etc. are sown as intercrops on those beds with fruit trees; and
should be rotated with pulses at least once in a year.
☛ In the allotted ¼ acre for cereals, oil seeds, sowing pulses are mandatory along with
the plantation of Ginger, Turmeric and Pineapple on those beds fruit tree are planted.
☛ On those beds fruit trees are not planted, vegetables and crops of other variety can be
sown as intercrops as given below -

In Red gram : Corn, Groundnut, Ragi, millets, Green gram, Black gram, Horse gram, Black-
eyed beans.

In Corn : Groundnut, Ragi, millets, Green gram, Black gram, Horse gram, Black-eyed
beans.

In Millets : Groundnut, Soya, Cow pea, Green gram, Black gram.

In Okra : Noolkol, Carrot, Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Coriander, Hibiscus

cannabinus (sorrel), Amaranthus, Spinach, Onion.

In Brinjal : Leafy vegetables, Noolkol, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Onion, Garlic.

In Chilli : Leafy vegetables, Onion, Garlic.

29
In Sesame : Green gram, Black gram, Horse gram etc.
Green gram, Black gram, Horse gram etc.
Benefits of Inter crops:
1) Ground gets covered with live mulch 2) Dampness or moisture is retained 3) Soil fertility
is increased 4) In case of natural calamities, even when one crop is damaged or lost, that
loss can be compensated in other crops. 5) Additional income in favourable weather
conditions.

Mixed Crops: Different crops with similar crop durations with more or less equal
height are called mixed crops. In this model, vegetables and millets can be sown like
Tomato - Brinjal, Brinjal – Chilli, Green gram – Cowpea, Black gram – Cowpea, Millets –
Sorghum, Millets – Pearl Millets, Sunflower – Sorghum, Onion – Cabbage etc.
Benefits of Mixed Crops:
1) Time is saved as two types of crops are sown and harvested at the same time 2) Soil
erosion can be prevented 3) Solves the problem of pests and diseases 4) Nutrients required
by one crop can be supplied by the other crop and 5) Additional income.

Boundary Crops:
Crops that prevent entry of pests and diseases from external entities and
surrounding fields to protect main crop are called boundary crops. Red gram, Sorghum,
Maize, Pearl millets etc. can be
sown as boundary crops. When
using Red gram as a boundary crop,
planting Sorghum or Maize
between two Red gram plants,
income from Sorghum or Maize is
generated before the Red gram. If
beans are sown in Maize,
additional income can be
generated. Pulses mainly are used
as boundary crops. So friendly
insects multiply on these crops and
control harmful insects.

30
Benefits of Boundary Crops:
1) Stand as a barrier between the crop and harmful insects 2) provide a home for the
crop friendly insects to multiply and 3) provide additional income.

Annapurna Alternative Model

Selection of ½ acre and preparation of
Trenches are same as in the 1st model.
Preparation of the soil beds are to
be build in the following guidelines.

1st, 5th, 9th, 13th, 17th, 21st, 25th, 29th

beds where we proposed to plant fruit
plants should form beds, rest of beds need
not to form beds. See the following diagram
for better understanding.

Trap Crops: Crops planted either randomly or in a pattern within the main crop to divert the
attention of harmful insects, thereby controlling the crop damage are called trap crops.
Marigold, Castor, Chrysanthemum, Sunflower, Onion, Radish, Okra (Bhendi) can be sown as
trap crops to protect the main crop from insects and diseases. Also, viral and fungal diseases
can be controlled by growing trap crops.

31
Insects found in the crops are mainly two types -
1. Harmful Insects damaging crops
2. Beneficial Insects apart from controlling the harmful insects, they also help the crop
produce better yield.

Insects that damage the crop are attracted by the colour, smell (odour), tenderness, size
etc. So crops that attract and trap harmful insects are said to be trap crops. Trap crops
should be selected depending on the type of insect.

Benefits of Trap Crops:

1) Divert the attention of harmful insects from the main crop 2) Control insects and
diseases naturally 3) Eliminate the usage of chemical pesticides 4) reduce expenses and
gain additional income 5) help grow friendly insects; and 6) Biodiversity is ensured.

INSECTS ATTRACTED BY TRAP CROPS – PREVENTIONS

Trap Crop Insects attracted Main Crop Prevention method

Marigold American Bollworm Tomato, Chilli, Groundnut, Spray Neemastram

Helicoverpa Red Gram, Cotton, Okra and cow dung-urine
(Bhendi), Sunflower, Cab- solution alternatively
bage once in 15 days

Marigold Pink Bollworm Brinjal and all other men- ''

(Pectinophora) tioned above

Marigold Spotted Borer Okra, Cotton, Brinjal ’’

(Heliothis)

Castor Tobacco caterpillar Groundnut, Brinjal, ’’

(Spodoptera) Cotton, Okra, Cauliflower

Castor Castor Semilooper Tobacco and above ’’

32
 Trap Crop Insects attracted Main Crop Prevention method

Caster Red Hairy Caterpillar Groundnut, Cotton, Red Spray Neemastram

gram. and cow dung-urine
solution alternatively
once in 15 days
Chrysanthemum American Bollworm Tomato, Chilli, Cabbage ''

Caster Pink Bollworm, Spotted Marigold, Tomato, Chill, ''

borer Groundnut

Sunflower White fly, Mites, Leaf Red gram, Cotton, Okra, ''
folder Groundnut, Tomato

Sunflower Caster Semilooper, Red gram, cotton, Okra, ''

American Bollworm Groundnut, Tomato.

Radish Leaf Folder Tomato, Chilli ''

Onion Thrips Chilli, Cabbage ''

Okra Leaf Folder, Paddy, Groundnut, ''

Spotted Borer Sunflower

Let us discuss boundary crops for various main crops:

Main Crop Boundary Crop
Okra (Bhendi), Bottle gourd, Sorghum, Maize
Ridge gourd, Pumpkin
Beans, Ivy gourd (Gherkin) Any one of Red gram, Pearl millet, Sorghum
Groundnut, Tomato, Chilli,
Brinjal, Cabbage, Cotton etc.
Paddy Sorghum, Red gram
Maize, Sorghum Pearl millets, Gantelu (Tel)
Red gram Maize, Sorghum
Pearl millets, Gantelu Red gram, Sorghum

33
Crop diversity - Biodiversity: Annapurna Crop Model facilitates growing different types
of crops, fruits, leafy vegetables, vegetables, pulses, oil seeds, millets, which results in
crop diversity.

It gives a better chance to implement Multiple Cropping System minimising the

crop damage due to natural calamities. Loss in one crop is compensated by another one.
Variety of plants and crops provide shelter to different types of insects and living
organisms. This leads to biodiversity and environmental balance.

PRE-PLANTATION MANAGEMENT

☛ Dig pits 3 ft long X 3 ft wide X 3 ft deep, in the beds

allotted to fruit trees for Mango, Cashew and Amla
plants, to sow 36 ft away from the planted big
canopy trees like Mango.

☛ Dig pits 2 ft long X 2 ft wide X 2 ft deep, in the beds

allotted to fruit plants for Sapota, Guava, Lemon,
Pomegranate, Grape Fruit, Custard Apple. Bull’s
heart etc., to sow 18 ft away from the planted big
canopy trees like Mango.

☛ Dig pits 1 ft long X 1 ft wide X 1 ft deep, in the beds

allotted to fruit plants for Sapota, Banana, Drumsticks, Curry leaves etc., to sow 9 ft
away from the planted big canopy trees like Mango.

While digging these pits, soil that came out from the first half of the said depth is to be
laid towards one direction and the remaining half
towards the other. For example, when we dig 2 ft
pits for Guava, soil that comes out from 1 ft is to
be laid towards East and the remaining 1 ft of soil
is to be laid towards West. By doing this, fertile
and non-fertile soil is separated. As we fill damp
fertile soil in the bottom of the pit, fertility is
restored. Follow the same procedure for other
plants.

34
Solarisation of Pits: Once the pits are ready as per the given measurements, they should be
dried in the hot Sun, preferably during the months of April / May, for 20 days. By doing this,
all harmful insects irrespective of their life cycle stages, such as Egg, Larva and Pupa get killed
because of the scorching heat. So, any degree of damage that can be caused by insects and
worms in future is minimized.
In some areas, infestation of termites is high, and solarisation
is a potential remedy to this problem. If solarisation is not
done properly, pests and diseases would attack crops later
on. So to prevent these problems, proper solarisation
becomes essential.

Burning of Pits: Burning dry leaves and crop-waste in pits,

after 20 days of solarisation, gets rid of the remaining eggs,
pupa, etc. of the harmful insects that still remain on the inner
edges of those pits. If not, they cause damage to the crops.
So after solarisation, burning is essential and the ash provides potash.
Filling the Pits:

☛ Fill the pits with layers of green leaves and trample on them pressing hard so that it is
tightly packed. One or more of these leaves can be used for filling - Neem / Pongamia /
Nux Vomica / Rafter wood / Vitex (Sindhuvara) / Custard Apple / Blackberry / Bael /
Tamarind / Tanner’s Cassia / Avaram / Eucalyptus /
Ipomoea / Tephrosia / Subabul / Sunhemp etc.

☛ Soil laid towards East is mixed with ½ Kg ash, ½ Kg

Neem Powder / Pongamia Powder / Ghana
Jeevamrutham / Castor Oil Seeds Powder / Mahua
Powder / Sunflower Seeds Powder, 5 Kgs Compost
/ Vermi Compost / Sheep manure and then spread
it in layers. After spreading for 6 inches, press or
trample on them.

☛ Same procedure is to be followed for the soil laid

towards West as well.
Continue filling until it is raised one foot above the raised bed’s surface. Filling the pits with
ash, neem powder, manure, etc. is like constructing an underground reservoir of fertilizers. It

35
retains the moisture and porousness, and the nutrients necessary for the germinated
plant are reserved and supplied as the plant grows. This process is helpful for improving
tap root penetration. Taking this care prior to plantation ensures sustained yields in
future.

Plantation: Once the pits are covered, leave them untouched till two good rains . And
then the pit becomes ready for plantation during second half of June. One foot elevated
soil in the pit sinks parallel to the surface. Even when the soil sinks into the pit,
waterlogging is avoided. Dig a hole in the middle of the pit, at about the height of the
polythene bag, in which the sapling was kept. Remove the polythene bag and plant the
sapling one inch below the ground level. In order to prevent the stalk from coming in
contact either with water or soil, take proper care to avoid diseases that may deter the
growth of the plant or even worse, killing it. So these precautions are necessary.

POST-PLANTATION MANAGEMENT:

Construction of Basin: Right after plantation, it is essential to make a basin, 4 inches

around the plant. This helps to absorb more water and provides moisture to plant.

Follow up: Once in every 30 days, dig thoroughly inside the basin around the plant.
Add leaves of Rafter wood / Neem / Pongamia / Green Chiretta / Custard Apple (one
kg each), add water, and then cover these leaves with a layer of soil. Secretions of
these leaves act as poison helping prevent root damaging insects. They also taste bitter
deterring some insects. In addition, leaves decompose so plants grow strong and healthy.

36
Stacking: Grafted saplings are highly sensitive and in danger of breaking because of wind,
cattle, sheep and other animals. If the grafted part is broken, root stock of the inferior part
grows into an inferior plant. This is undesirable. If a sapling
is to be replanted or grafted, it will take more time to grow,
lags behind in yielding. If the plant bends, it cannot take
nutrients from soil properly resulting in lesser yield. If the
plant grows straight, absorbing sufficient nutrients, it results
in higher yield. So, strong sticks are to be erected one foot
away from the plant base, and on both sides, taller than the
plant’s height to properly support the stock. Bind the sticks
horizontally with the vertical ones in 2 to 3 lines just like the
rungs of a ladder, depending on the plant’s height. This ladder
supports the plant in growing straight. This ladder should
be one feet away from the plant to keep termite attacks
minimal.
Mulching: Though the pits are filled with dry leaves,
the surface around the plant base is covered with raw
leaves. This retains the moisture and preventing
wastage of water. By doing this, the plants require less
water to grow. As long as dampness prevails, problem
of termites can be drastically minimized.
Water Supply: Fruit plants need to be watered once in
2 days in summer once in 2 weeks during rainy season
depending on necessity and once a week in winter.
Fertilization: Apply decomposed manure to the fruit
plants once in every six months so that the plant grows healthier and faster. It boosts up yield
in Drumsticks, Banana, Curry leaves, Papaya etc. in a year. By spraying cow dung and urine
solution once in every 10 to 15 days, spreading of insects can be prevented. These two also
supply the essential nutrients.
Pruning: As the plant grows, so will its branches. Branches occasionally grow below the grafted
area and prevent the plant growth above the grafted area causing unnecessary growth and
reducing the yield. So, these branches need to be cut. Usually insects and diseases spread
during flowering and fruit budding stages. Gradually, they cause heavy damage to the crop in
the next year. Once the crop is harvested, tender branches need to be cut. This stops insect
borne diseases from spreading. It also reduces the shady area, which in turn can be favourable
to the other crops. When branches are cut every year, new leaves emerge and yield improves
too.

37
38
 Annapurna Crop Model - Month wise work chart
April: Selection of ½ acre land, clearing and burning waste, ploughing and levelling.

May: Dig the main trench, 1½ ft wide X 1 ft deep, in the shape of ‘U’ around the bund or up
to the brim of levelled land. Prepare raised beds 7ft wide from the trench and dig 2ft wide X
1 ft deep furrows between the raised beds. Prepare pits for fruit plants, solarise and burn
them. Enrich the soil beds with manure and tank silt. Prepare Beejamrutham during the last
week of May and be ready for seed treatment.

June: Sow the seeds of vegetables, creepers, boundary crops and millets after treating them
with Beejamrutham.

July: Nursery plants should be treated and sown to prevent diseases and insects. As a
precaution, spray cow dung-urine solution and Neemastram once in every 15 days.

August: Weeding and dig on the surface for vegetable crops, making basins around plants,
staking, mulching, water supply, spray dung - urine solution or Neemastram once in 15
days.

September: Cow Remove deposited silt in main trench and in furrows spread it on soil beds.
Spray Cow Dung – Urine / Neemastram once in every 15 days.

October: Collect sticks to construct a fence. Spray Neemastram, Cow dung – urine solution
once in every 15 days.

November: Spray cow dung – urine solution once in every 15 days on crops like Maize,
Sorghum, Raddish, Horse gram, Green gram and Black gram etc.

December: Spray cow dung – urine solution once in every 15 days on fruit plants.

January: Harvest Red gram, Horse gram. Prepare the land for the upcoming summer.

February: Watering to plants. Spray cow dung – urine, Neemastram once in 15 days.

March: Construction of basin, mulching, watering, spray dung – urine solution once in every
15 days on fruit plants.

April & May: Remove deposited silt in furrowsspread the silt and manure on soil beds.

39
 Estimation of yields in Rain fed ½ acre
Annapurna Crop fields (Upto 3years)
Month Crop Income Estimation

April - -

May - -

June Amaranthus, Raddish, Spinach, Sorrel, Okra, Beans, -

Ridge gourd, Bottle gourd, Bitter gourd, Red gram,

Sorghum, Ragi millet, Brinjal, Tomato, Maize, Rajma,

Cow pea, Barnyard millet, Little millet.

July All of the above and Leafy veggies 2000

August Amaranthus, Raddish, Maize, Foxtail millet, Beans, 4350

Okra

September Ragi, Ridge gourd, Brinjal, 6400

October Beans, Okra 4900

November Ridge gourd, Brinjal, Chilli, Bitter gourd, Bottle gourd 6300

Little millet, Rajma, Cow pea, Black gram, Green gram,

December Sorghum, Marigold, Brinjal 2700

January French beans, Brinjal, Tomato, Chilli 4000

February Red gram, Flat beans, Horse gram, Tomato 1000

March Brinjal, Tomato 500

Brinjal, Tomato 32150

Total

40
Income estimates in Rain fed Annapurna Crop Model from 1st Year to 10th year are given
in the following table:

Year Fruits Vegetables Pulses Food Total

Mango Guava Banana Leafy Tubers / Oil grains
Sapota Drumstick veg- Turmeric seeds
Lemon Papaya etables Ginger
Curry leaves

1st - - 2000 22000 - 6000 6000 36000

2nd - - 2000 22000 - 6000 6000 36000
3rd - 2000 2000 22000 - 6000 6000 38000
4th 4000 4000 2000 20000 2000 6000 6000 44000
5th 6000 6000 2000 20000 2000 6000 6000 48000
6th 10000 6000 2000 12000 8000 4000 4000 46000
20000 6000 - 6000 10000 4000 4000 50000
10th
onwards

41
 6. Annapurna Crop Groups

Cumulative benefits can be achieved by forming Annapurna Crop Groups at village, cluster
and project levels. One can attain knowledge as well as understanding of the programmes
and improve leadership skills.

Let us first discuss about village level Annapurna Crop Groups.

Structure: Women working on ‘½ acre Annapurna Crop Model’ in a village collectively,

start a group. It is called ‘Annapurna Crop Group’ or ‘Annapurna Crop Producer’s Group’.

Before selecting members for these Groups, they should discuss about the importance of
its formation in at least 2 or 3 consecutive meetings. They should also discuss about electing
their leader to lead the group in a democratic way.

Working Committee:
President, Vice President, Treasurer should be elected amongst Annapurna Crop Group
through direct election. These three office bearers should open a bank account in the
nearest bank.

42
Goals: 1. Train the members of Annapurna Crop Group to improve their output 2) try to get
a profitable price for their produce.
Roles and Responsibilities:

1. A meeting should be convened with Annapurna Crop Group members at least once in a
week.

2. Discussions need to be encouraged to increase awareness about insects, diseases worms

and prevent their spreading to achieve higher yield etc.

3) Implement the slogan “our seed, the best seed”.

4) Encourage women farmers of Annapurna Crop Group by rewarding them.

5) Earn extra income for the same produce by collective buying and selling.

6) Instead of selling the produce directly, improve its earning potential by conducting value
adding addition schemes/ programmes, thereby enhancing the number of working days for
women farmers so that they can earn more.

For Example: Grading, packing and selling in vegetables. Removing husk, packing and selling
millets. Grinding into powder, packing and selling in Turmeric etc.

Records to be maintained:

1) Minutes of The Meeting Book: Record the details of special or weekly meetings. Agenda of
the meeting, important decisions taken, reviews on progress, and resolutions are to be
recorded.

2) Cash Book: Income and expenditure of groups should be recorded every day in the Cash
Book. Balance in Bank Pass Book and Cash Book are to be cross-checked. Treasurer is responsible
for all these important financial decisions / transactions.

3) Individual Pass Book: Earned income / funds received by every woman farmer are to be
recorded. Daily yields of Annapurna Crop Models are to be recorded also, year long.

43
Village level Annapurna Crop Groups – Marketing Linkage:
Marketing Linkage at Village Level is illustrated as below:

Remaining produce after the woman farmer uses for her own family is

handed over to Annapurna Crop Group.

Annapurna Cluster Group

Village group selling directly to Residential Schools,

Hotels and local weekly markets, Rythu bazaar.
Remaining produce is handed over to cluster group.
Note: Annapurna Crop Group is free to sell their produce / store their produce wherever
they get high price.

44
 Cluster Federation of Annapurna Crop Groups

So far, we have learnt about village level Annapurna Crop Groups. Crop Groups of 10 to 15
villages formed the Cluster Federation of Annapurna Group.

Structure: Cluster Federation of Annapurna Crop Group elects a working committee from the
Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers of those 10 to 15 village level Annapurna Crop Groups
that belong a/the cluster. The elected President, Secretary and Treasurer should open a cluster
level bank account in a local bank. Village level Group Presidents and Treasurers become the
members of cluster working committee.

Rules and Responsibilities: 1) Conducts village level meeting for the working committees of
Annapurna Crop Groups. 2) Reviews the work of village level groups. 3) Encourages the
marketing of Annapurna Products. 4) Selects proper market and tries to get higher returns.

Aims: By expanding the operational area group from village to cluster level, following collective
aims can be achieved.

1) Activities, Experiences, Success stories of different village groups can be shared with others
to gain knowledge, develop skills and holistic understanding of Annapurna Crop Model.

2) Easy solutions can be found by sharing different problems faced by farmers, like in the areas
of insects, diseases and marketing.

45
3) Stocks with village groups can be sold collectively to gain profits. This gives protection
to their products providing reasonable returns.

4) Providing value added products at cluster level. Example: Millet husking mill

Marketing Linkage:

Cluster Level Annapurna Crop Federation

Directly to Residential Schools / Hostels Storing and selling produce in Annapurna

Crop Group MACS in vegetable markets,
Rythu bazaars and also in Private markets.

46
 Annapurna Crop Group MACS
So far, we have learnt about village level Annapurna Crop Groups of 10 to 15 villages formed
the Annapurna Cluster Federation.

Structure : Annapurna Cluster Federations elects a working committee from the Presidents,
Secretaries and Treasurers of Cluster Federation. The elected President, Secretary and Treasurer
should open MACS level bank account in a local bank.

Roles and Responsibilities:

1) Conducts village level meeting for the working committees of Annapurna Crop Groups. 2)
Reviews the work of village level groups. 3) Encourages the marketing of Annapurna Products.
4) Selects proper market and tries to get higher returns.

Aims : : By expanding the operational area group from village to cluster level, following
collective aims can be achieved.

1) Activities, Experiences, Success stories of different village groups can be shared with others
to gain knowledge, develop skills and holistic understanding of Annapurna Crop Model.

47
2) Easy Solutions can be found by sharing different problems faced by farmers, like in the
areas of insects, diseases and marketing.

3) Stocks from with village groups can be sold collectively to gain profits. This gives protection
to their products providing reasonable returns.

4) Providing value-added products at cluster level. Example: Millet husking mill

Marketing linkage:

Annapurna Cluster Federation

Annapurna MACS:

Value Addition Ready-to-consume Marketing / welfare

production centres programmes

48
 Income Sources to Village Level to MACS Level
Income Sources

Annapurna Crop Annapurna Crop Groups Annapurna MACS

Group Cluster Federations

Through village level Groups 30% of MACS surplus Remaining 50% of

1. 10% of total sale MACS surplus
2. 20% from cluster surplus,
3. 20% from MACS surplus

Welfare programmes

49
 7. Management of Pests and Diseases
Management of Pests and Diseases in Natural Methods:

One must follow these illustrated methods below in Annapurna Model to effectively control
and manage variety of pests and diseases, in natural farming.

1. Seed Treatment
An ancient proverb says: ‘you reap what you sow’. To harvest a better crop, you must sow
good seeds. Though the farmer prepares good and healthy seeds, unfavourable climatic
conditions, implements used etc., can spread the sources of diseases which develop a synergy
with the sown seeds. While sowing a seed, sources of soil borne diseases spread and develop
within the seed and damage the crop. So seeds need to be treated using traditionally used
materials like cow urine and dung, ash, milk, etc. Using ‘Beejamrutham’, we can effectively
prevent pests and diseases.

Preparation of Beejamrutham :

50
Ingredients of Beejamrutham(for ½ acre crop):

Cow Dung 2.5 Kgs

Urine 2.5 lts
Lime Powder 25 gms
Water 10 lts
Procedure:

Put the cow dung in a cloth and tie it up. Pour water, cow urine and lime powder in a
container and stir them thoroughly. Hang the tied dung so that it is immersed half way
into the stirred solution. Ferment for 24 hrs in shade. During the fermentation phase, stir
the liquid twice a day in clock-wise direction slowly and thoroughly. After 24 hours, stir it
thoroughly again and rinse the dung filtrate into the container and then filter the solution.
Beejamrutham is now ready to use.

How to use?:

Treatment is necessary before sowing seeds or transplanting the nursery plants.

Beejamrutham can be used for all seed / plant treatment of all varieties of crops except
Groundnuts, Soya Beans. Soak the seeds in Beejamrutham for 10 minutes and dry them
in shade for 4 hours. The seeds are now ready for sowing. Nursery plants are to be dipped
in Beejamrutham and then they are ready to be transplanted. All crops including vegetables,
tubers, Banana suckers, Sugarcane, Turmeric etc., can be treated using Beejamrutham.

Benefits:

1) Seeds germinate faster and the germination percentage increases. 2) Air, soil and seed
borne pests are prevented. 3) Immunity in plants increases. 4) Seedlings and nursery plants
grow healthy. 5) By treating seeds with Beejamrutham, both micro and macro nutrients
are supplied to the seedlings.

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 2. Cattle Dung-Urine solution

There are different types of insects that affect crops. Some are beneficial and friendly, yet others
are harmful to crops.Cow Dung-Urine solution is used to cut down crop losses and improve the
yield by reducing incidence of harmful insects.

Preparation of the Cow Dung - Urine Solution:

Ingredients (for ½ Acre crops):

Dung 2.5 Kgs

Urine 2.5 lts

Lime Powder 50 gms

Water 2.5 lts

Procedure:

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Pour cow dung slurry and urine into a container and mix it well. Cover it with a cloth and
leave it to ferment for 4 days in shade. Remove the cover and stir the solution 3 times a day
in clockwise direction slowly and thoroughly and cover it. On the 5th day, filter the contents
using a mesh first, followed by a cloth. Collect the solution and add 50gms of lime powder to
it. This reduces the acidic nature of cow dung and urine in the resulting solution.

How to use?:

After adding 50 lts of water to the filtered solution, spray on all crops from the onset of 10
days. Add 75 gms of asafoetida powder and then spray to prevent Blast Disease.

Benefits:

1) While fermenting cow dung and urine, several micro-organisms develop, supply
nutrients to crops preventing diseases.

2) Strong odour of this solution repels / stops the insects from laying eggs on the crops.

3) Immunity of the crop increases.

4) Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potash, and the micro-nutrients are supplied.

5) Improves tolerance to drought conditions.

6) Microbes and earth warms increase in soil improving its fertility.

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 3. Neemastram
Neemastram can be used to prevent pests and diseases from eating the crop, and insects from
sucking the sap from plants.

Preparation of Neemastram:

Ingredients (for 1/2 acre crops):

Cow urine 5 lts

Cow Dung 1 Kg

Neem paste 5 Kgs

Water 100 lts

Procedure: Grind Neem leaves into a paste. Fill a drum with 100 lts of water and mix the
cow dung thoroughly. Followed by mixing it with cow urine. Add neem paste to it and cover
with a cloth. Keep it in shade. Leave it to ferment for 2 days. Using a stick, stir it slowly and
thoroughly twice a day in clockwise direction. After 2 days, Neemastram is ready for use. It
can be stored for 30 days.

How to use?: Once Neemastram is ready, filter using a cloth and spray on the crop directly.

Benefits:

1) In fermentation process of cow dung and urine, several micro-organisms develop

and supply nutrients to crops.

2) Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potash are supplied.

3) Azadirachtin, the chemical compound of neem works as an insecticide and ovicide.

4) When sprayed on insects and their eggs, Neemastram makes them impotent.

5) All kinds of insects and worms can be controlled.

6) Controls diseases.

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 8. Friendly Insects and harmful
Insects in Agriculture
There are a lot of changes that took place in traditional agriculture. Due to indiscriminate
use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, natural activities of living organisms are not
occurring in nature and such organisms are eventually becoming extinct. It is important to
know that insects are an integral part of agricultural environment. 75% of natural life is
insects, out of which only 10-15 % are harmful to crops. Remaining 60% are beneficial insects.
If we preserve Parasites and Predators, they would control 15% of harmful insects. The
insects that help the crops are friendly insects and those that cause damage are harmful
insects.
Friendly insects that are helpful to crops are also dying due to high usage of toxic
chemical pesticides in modern agriculture. Harmful insects are becoming stronger day by
day improving tolerance to pesticides and increasing their population. As a result, farmers
are incurring great losses due to decreased yield. By cultivating in natural / traditional methods,
and by not using chemical pesticides, friendly insects can be saved. Investments can be
lowered there by leading to healthier and friendlier ecosphere.

Let us discuss about the friendly insects in nature to control harmful insects.

Friendly insects can be divided into two categories -

1. Parasites 2. Predators

1. Parasites:
Parasites belong to the hornet or fly family. Hornets possess a thorn at the rear end of their
bodies. And using this thorn, hornets inject poison and insert eggs into the bodies of harmful
insects. These harmful insects become unconscious and/or die.

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Hornet eggs are incubated in the
bodies of harmful insects and
complete their life cycle (Egg Æ Larva
Æ Pupa Æ Adult) inside the bodies
of new hosts. They come out by
tearing the bodies of harmful insects.

While eating leaves, eggs of these

flies enter into the stomach of harmful insects,
incubate there, and start eating the body of enemy
insects from inside. They complete their life cycle
inside the body of harmful insect and come out
killing their host.

2. Predators: Friendly insects that belong to

Cimicidae (bug) family, live by sucking the
fluids from bodies of harmful insects. Friendly
insects like some kinds of beetles eat the eggs,
larva, and pupa of harmful insects by biting
into them. In addition to insects, friendly
spiders catch the harmful insects in their
cobwebs and draw the fluids from their body
eventually killing them. Some carnivorous
birds also catch harmful insects while flying
and eat them.
Also, diseases in harmful insects help the
farmer in controlling their population.
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