With the help of community farming, four architects from the city are promoting use of native crop species in place of the hybrid seeds. To spread awareness on the sustainable farming practice among urban population, a rice plantation week has been organised from July 9, which will be followed by a Harvest Festival in November.
After their studies, Shardul Patil (26) and Pratik Dhanmer (27) went back to their villages Kethan and Veti Murbad in Palgarh district. There they decided to experiment with native rice crops. The main aim was to discourage the communities to use hybrid seeds, which require chemicals, damages soil fertility and the production rate of the same is higher than the revenue.
"We started with sustainable housing in villages post our architecture. While studying problem areas in villages, loss of natural crop species was identifies as one. This is when we decided that we need to educate the farmers that though hybrid seeds look fancy, the native crops will prove economical and sustainable. We selected Rice as it is the staple crop in these areas," said Patil,
With the help of two other colleagues, Anuradha Wakade (26) and Vinita Chiragia (27), 56 native species of rice have been planted this year. This is an experiment in which the crop producing maximum yield in minimum manure would be selected and given to villagers to use in their fields.
"We involved villagers in Veti Murbad to help us with sowing of the seeds. We would invite them to check the rice once it is ready to harvest. The villagers will select which species is fit for their needs, they would assure us to use it from next year," said Dhanmer, who calls this as a community farming activity.
Along with the 56 rice varieties, Patil is also studying techniques like System of Rice Intensification (SRI) – a method that increases rice yield by using organic methods. "I have planted rice saplings using both the traditional as well as the SRI method. This is to demonstrate to the farmers on the difference in the yield and quality of produce. We have had great help from doctor Ajit Gokhale in our project," informed Patil.
In the Rice Plantation week from Monday, the four will educate volunteers from the city on the benefits of organic products. "It will be a shramdaan activity, we shall send a little of the produce to the volunteers" he added.
