JOIN USFarmers reap rich harvest from fallow land
Three farmers at Annappady in Manjalpade of Sajipamunnur, Bantwal taluk, have reaped a rich harvest on six acres of fallow land.
The initiative of cultivating on fallow land was taken up with the support of Tulunadu Krishikranthi, Thumbe Vented Dam Evacuee Farmers’ Horata Samithi and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha Hasiru Sene. The six-acre land belongs to Ravi Manjalpade, Purandara Manjalpade and Yashodar Kottary.
Manohar Shetty, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene district unit organising secretary, told DH the farmers have reaped 60 quintal of rice on 4.5-acre land and 1.5 quintal of green gram on 1.5-acre land.
“The families have given 1 quintal of rice and 25 coconuts from the total harvest to Nooran Yathimkhana, a shelter home for children at Kumpala near Ullal. Another quintal of rice was given to Sadashiva Temple at Manjalpade where meals are distributed to the devotees on every Monday. The Raitha Sangha has also decided to keep aside at least 25 quintal of rice for poor families who are suffering from life-threatening diseases and do not have any source of livelihood. The poor families may write to the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, seeking rice,” he added.
Shetty said the three farmers can sell the remaining harvest and use the money to take up cultivation in monsoon instead of leaving the land fallow. “The association had given them organic manure and ganjala (cow’s urine) to nurture the paddy and green gram. The rice is fetching Rs 2,000 per quintal in the market.”
Rajesh Nayak Ulipadiguthu, Tulunadu Krishikranthi leader, has been promoting cultivation on fallow land. He has promised to support cultivation on at least 100-acre fallow land at Manjalpade and Sajipamunnur.
“Fertile land should be cultivated and not left fallow, as it is from this land that we get the food. There are several acres of paddy fields left fallow by farmers who fear submergence of land following the increase in the height of Thumbe vented dam.”