Download Agriculture in Odisha - Issues, Challenges Policies and Potential

Agriculture in Odisha - Issues, Challenges Policies and Potentials
Dr. Akshay Kumar Sahu
Directorate of Agriculture, Odisha
ABSTRACT
Odisha is predominantly an agrarian state with agriculture and animal husbandry,
contributing 17.2% (2012-13 advance estimates, Economic survey Report, 2012-13) to the
Gross State Domestic Product. It Provides employment and sustenance, directly or
indirectly, to more than 60% of the populace, and forms the single largest employment
sector of the state. Thus, development in the field of Agriculture holds the key to the
economic development of the state.
Some basic issues in the sector are agriculture the mainstay of the majority of populace,
rural poverty, agriculture diversification, diversion of food grains to bioflues, population
growth, Slowing agriculture production growth, irrigation water.
Strategic Interventions for Growth of Horticulture in Odisha.
Dr. S.K. Chadha
Director of Horticulture, Govt. of Odisha, Bhubaneswar
ABSTRACT
Horticulture invariably improves the economic status of the farmers of Odisha. The Earlier
seasonal availability of fruits and vegetables has now extended to all the year round,
increasing per capital consumption of fruits and vegetables. It has also paid a significant role
in women empowerment, providing employment opportunities through mushroom
cultivation, floriculture, processing, nursery raising, vegetables seed production etc.
The Directorate of Horticulture carries out an array of activities promoting production of
Horticulture crops like Fruits, Vegetable, Spices, Flowers & PHM. Several schemes like
national horticulture Mission, MGNREGA, RKVY & other state plan schemes are being
implemented. Several other strategic interventions (CBD, Micro Irrigation) in horticulture
are supported by state plan to exploit potential for horticultural development in the state.
Agricultural Economy, Incentive Structure and Environmental Sustainability
Dr. Padmaja Mishra
Professor, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
ABSTRACT
Agriculture-as a major land use –has profound effects on natural environment. Soils are
living. dynamic systems and the main underpinnings of agricultural ecosystem that provide
the interface between agriculture and environment. Agricultural activities impact natural
environment Agricultural activities impact natural environment in various ways via soil
quality (texture, erodabilty, nutrient depletion, moisture balances, salinity etc.). Besides,
agricultural practices also affect water quality (surface and ground water pollution and
depletion), air quality (green house gas emission), bio-diversity, wildlife habitat and
ecosystem as a whole. Agriculture pollution constitute both the biotic and abiotic
byproducts generated from the act farming. However, the exact link between agriculture
and natural environment is complex.
Agriculture economy being the basic livelihood provider to masses has to be understood not
only in terms of its productivity but also in terms of its sustainability. Production in
perpetuity and livelihood security are the most impending challenges faced by modern
agricultural economies. There are three angels to sustainability in agriculture: ecological,
economic and social. Shaped the culture and socio-economic condition of vast rural
population in India. Therefore, integrating environmental concerns with agriculture policies
to reduce environmental degradation and enhancing the sustainability of agro systems is a
major policy challenge.
Shifting Farming and its Impact on the Ecosystem
Dr. S.N. Patro
Working President, Orissa Environmental Society, Bhubaneswar
ABSTRACT
Traditionally the Indian economy is forest and agriculture based. Centuries back the
primitive man discovered that seeds of certain grasses and plants could be eaten. He tried
to grow them close to his abode for easy availability .He resorted to slash and burn
agriculture a piece of virgin forest land is chosen and the standing vegetation is slashed
down. The slashed material is left over the same land for same days to be sun-dried. The
dried matter is then burnt to ashes as the source of nutrients. Over the ash rich soil bed
seeds of hill paddy, millets, pulses and certain other corps are sown in drills made with a
dibble. The plough or animal is never used, and even the modern fertilizer or pesticides are
not applied. The crop yield is generally good for initial one or two years because of the
presence of nutrients in the ash, and thereafter declines due to soil erosion and
rehabilitates itself with natural growth of vegetation and becomes available for a similar
onslaught. As the farming is shifted from place to place this practice this practice is coined
as “Shifting Farming” or Shifting cultivation”. As years rolled by ,the people who settled in
the river valleys resorted to permanent agriculture and adopted modern practices where as
isolated communities living in the remote areas continued the practice of shifting farming.
Therefore, the practice is viewed as a transitional stage in the evolution of modern land
husbandry practices.
Youth in Agriculture : A question of uncertainty for tomorrow
Dr. C. Satapathy
Director, Amity Humanity Foundation, Bhubaneswar
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
Shortage of man power to man the Agriculture is the recent problem in Odisha.
Diversification of people from farming to non-farming sector is alarming to sustain
production and productivity. Since last two decades, the farmers are realizing the
uneconomic characters of agriculture. The problem is acute as youths are in search of nonfarming profession. Those who reside and live on farming realize the incoming of dark
future of farming, old age security and social recognition. Such discussion has far reaching
on the youth impact on the youth in rural areas.
Recently the Government of Odisha has come up with YOUTH POLICY 2013 having nothing
for youths in agriculture. The value of planning for youths remain with the core feeling of
(i)dignity of youth (ii)youth of assets (iii)responsible role and force to promote development.
The principles adopted in youth policy have stressed on (i)accessibility to resources
(ii)holistic in approach (iii)diversity in back ground (iv)non-discrimination (v)inclusive
participation (vi)social protection (vii) transparency and accountability (viii)sustainability
and( ix)Youths in institutional care. The principle elaborated in policy is urban oriented and
has little to do with youth in agriculture.
Sustainable Development of Indian Agriculture: An overview
Dr. Shrinibas Jena, Bibhu Santosh Behera and Prof. Anama Charan Behera
ABSTRACT
As the bed rock of India’s Economy, agriculture and its allied activities have remained the
focal point of the India’s planned economic development. In fact, two-thirds of the country’s
workforce deriving there livelihood from agriculture and allied activities, the performance of
the sector still holds the key to improvements in real incomes and living standards of the
bulk of the India’s population. Despite phenomenal diversification of the country’s
economy, this sector even now constitutes the largest contribution to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP). Thus, there can be no sustained growth of Indian economy without broad
based progress of our agriculture.
Agriculture produces 51 major crops, provides raw materials to country’s agro-based
industries and fetches approximately one sixth of total export earnings. India is a rich
endowment of nature. India has diverse agro-climatic region, large arable land, suitable
fertile soil qualities, abundant sunlight, and spread of monsoon rains comparative
advantage in global markets and a receptive and resurgent farming community. Our
climate, being moderate, enable s us to grow two to three crops a year, whereas in most
parts of the world, due to severe winters only one crop can be grown a year.
Growth of Agriculture in Odisha
Prashanta Chand Panda and Sudhakar Panda
Associate Professor of Economics, School of Liberal Arts, DD Petroleum University
Former Professor of Economics, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
ABSTRACT
Development of agriculture in Odisha holds tremendous opportunities for the economic
welfare of its people. But for a variety of reasons the farm sector has been
underperforming. Its growth potentials which could have contributed substantially to
development and poverty reduction remain under exploited and even untapped in some
areas. A systematic reduction in poverty s possible through a broad based development of
agriculture and the allied activities. But policies pursued so far for its development have
been less productive than hoped for because of institutional and technological reasons.
Some of the basic challenges which agriculture faces remain unsolved despite the best
intentions of the state. The preponderance of small and marginal farms has not
been that helpful in facilitating the transfer of information and knowledge for the scientific
and technological breakthroughs in agriculture.
Growth in agriculture is also linked to the other sectors of the economy. We have not been
that successful in building the strategic and functional relationships between agriculture and
the other key areas to achieve a successful transformation of agriculture from a traditional
agriculture to a modern and commercial agriculture. This is evident from the absence of
agro and food processing industries in the state. Production of jute, sugarcane & mustard
would have expanded considerably had we succeeded in building up the functional linkages
between agriculture and agro industries. Sometimes we lament the low productivity of
agriculture in the state compared the developed states like Punjab, Haryana
and Tamil Nadu, Yet we have not been able to take care of what has been produced and the
farmers instead of feeling proud suffer from a sense of insecurity.
Climate Smart Agriculture: A Key for Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
A.K. Sahoo and P. Das
ABSTRACT
Meeting the food demand of rapidly growing global population in the context of climate
change are now the major problems of many countries of the world. By 2050 approximately
70% more food will have to be produced to feed growing populations .Particularly in
developing countries (UN 2009, FAO 2011).Agriculture is already causing increased
conversion of lands and placing greater pressure on biological diversities and natural
resource functions than ever before(MEA 2005 and IAASTD 2009).As Climate change
temperatures to rise and precipitation patterns to change, more weather extremes will
potentially reduce global food production (Nelson et.al. 2010, WEF 2010).
Agriculture is rapidly evolving to address these drivers of change, for instance through
irrigation, fertilizers and the provision of better germ plasm for higher productivity
and improved products (Henao et.al. 2006). In many less developed parts of the world,
Increased production has occurred through the intensification and extensification are
currently having a significant negative effect on the environment; depleting the natural
resource base upon which we rely (MEA 2005 and IAASTD 2009).The need to reduce the
environmental impacts while increasing productivity requires a significant change in the way
agriculture currently operates.
Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture
Shri Bhagirathi Behera
Ex-Director, Environment-cum-Special Secretary,
Forest & Environment Department, Govt. of Odisha.
ABSTRACT
Though India occupies only 2.4% of Earth’s surface area, it has 17.5% of the world’s
population. In the decade between 2001 and 2011 India has added 181 million people to the
world population. The most recent national census projects that by 2025 India will surpass
China to become the world’s most populous nation and that by 2050. India’s population will
reach 1.6 billion. India has emerged as a rapidly growing economy with annual growth 9% in
2009.The composition of the economy has changed considerably in the past 50 years: In
1950, 55%of its gross domestic product (GDP) came from agriculture while in 2009 its is
18.5%.Interstingly livestock contributes about one-quarter of India’s agriculture GDP. Even
Today 60% of India’s population is directly dependent on agriculture despites the rapid
strides in globalization and industrialization and emergence of the ancillary sectors.
India is faced with the challenge of sustaining its rapid economic growth while dealing with
the global threat of climate change. This threat emanates from the accumulated green
house gas emissions in the atmosphere, anthropogenic ally generated through long term
and intensive industrial growth and high consumption lifestyle in developed countries. India
is now among the world largest global producer of milk, poultry, meat & eggs. It has the
world’s biggest dairy herd, 300 million strong, comprised of cows and the buffalo milk. It is
also the world’s biggest dairy herd, 300 million strong, comprised of cow’s milk and first in
buffalo milk. It is also the world’s top national milk consumer and demand for milk and
other diary products is growing by 7 to 8% per year. This country is also the world’s fourth
largest producer of eggs and fifth largest producer of poultry meat, principally from chicken.
Climate Change, its impact on Food Grain Production and Food Security in Odisha
Prof. B.Bhuyan and Ms. Anuradha Mishra
Director R & D,
Faculty, Centre for Agri management, Dept. of Business Admin, Utkal University, BBSR
ABSTRACT
Climate is the measure of average pattern of variation in temperature, humidity,
precipitation and other meteorological variables in a given region for a period of atleast 30
years. Odisha climate has undergone a considerable change due to various factors. The old
six seasons of the year has turned into practically two i.e. summer and rain. The variation in
day temperature and annual rainfall is now mostly confined to 4 months, in a year and
number of rain days has gone down from 120 to 90,besides being erratic. In some years
there is 2 to 3 times of the normal rainfall. Similarly the mean temperature is rising and
even to the extent of 50 C in some areas in south and north regions of the state. Minimum
Temperature has increased about 25% such change is resulting infrequent floods, Cyclone
and droughts, though number of drought years exceeds those of other calamites. Such
climate cha related calamities is affecting adversely productivity and production of food
grains.
Adaptation of Agriculture to Disaster and Climate Change in Odisha
Dr. Sailabala Padhi
Director, Centre for Environmental studies, Forest & Environment Department,
Government of Odisha.
ABSTRACT
The current Global scenario firmly emphasizes the need to adopt eco-friendly agricultural
practices agriculture practices for sustainable agriculture. The domination and exploitations
agricultural of flora And fauna by humans in the past and deviation from a natural life style
in the present have resulted in forced imbalances in the natural elements of the ecosystem
.This in turn has made an adverse impact on human health and well being. The "Health
care" of soil, plants and the micro and micro organisms has deteriorated over time.
Chemical Agriculture has further worsened the scenario and exponentially increased the
incidence of health hazards. It has been widely accepted that organic farming alone could
serve as a holistic approach towards achieving sustainable agriculture as organic farming is
nature-based, environment friendly and sustainable ensusing not only the requirement of
the present but also the conservation of resources for nature. Organic agriculture is known
under various names such as ‘green culture’, ‘natural farming’, ‘do-nothing farming’ etc. The
high demand for organic produce by the present day health conscious society gave further
movement and eventually sporadic attempts have been made by farmers all over the world
to detoxify the land, dispense with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides
and grow crops organically. In recent years, organic farming has developed very rapidly.
Organic manure replaced chemical fertilizers while herbal extracts replaced pesticides and
fungicides. Crops cultivated under agriculture systems produce significantly higher yields
than those raised under agriculture systems produce significantly higher yields than those
raised under agriculture systems produce significantly higher yields than those raised under
conventional agriculture systems.
Role of Integrated Watershed Development programme in Agriculture Development
Bijayaram Das
Retd. Director, Soil Conservation, Odisha
ABSTRACT
The green revolution bypassed the rainfed agriculture over 143 million hectares and
emphasized mostly on 53 million hectare of irrigated agriculture. Thus the agriculture
development became lop sided. We faced a situation that 55% of food grain came from 35
million hectares of irrigated agriculture where as balance 45% came from 143 million
hectare of rainfed agriculture. This implied very low level productivity of the rainfed area
where the resources are highly degraded. This resulted in severe regional imbalance. It is
estimated, even if maximum of irrigation is done, 60 million hectares will continue to remain
rainfed. Country‘s large proportion of corp land must not be allowed to languish at very low
productive level for its major adverse implication for poverty eradication and equity. Major
2/3 of arable lands in rainfed condition continue to be neglected. Financial flow went to the
irrigated area neglecting the rainfed areas. About 8,000 crores of rupees were released as
subsidy for fertilizer and procurement of grains produced by subsidized fertilizer. The
benefits went to the rich farmers of the rich farmers of the irrigated area while regional
imbalance was created in the vast rainfed agriculture area.
Common Property Water Resource Management in Odisha - Some Case Studies
Pravakar Nanda, S Ghosh P.S.B Anand and R.C. Srivastav
ABSTRACT
Common Property Resources (CPR) management has become focal point in community
based management of natural resources under various development schemes for
villages . The economic benefit to the community from the access to the common
property is substantial .Absence of regulatory mechanism at the village level for use of
common property is substantial. Absence of regulatory mechanism at the village level for
use of common properties has led to free access and over exploitation of these resources
beyond sustainable limit. The traditional water bodies like village ponds ,wetlands and the
drainage lines have been issues for conflicts due to cash of interest of users at different
points .Which arises because of competitive exploitation of CPR to maximise private profit.
The traditional management mechanism and property right issues got blurred under
commercial interest linked to these resources .The emerging scenario of participatory
irrigation management in minor irrigation sector along with watershed development
programmes put the issues of common property management and community action at the
centre stage.
Performance of Sprinkler and Furrow Irrigation Methods in Summer Groundnut
N. Sahoo and M.K Ghosal
College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Odisha University of
Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar-751003
ABSTRACT
Entire harnessable surface and ground water of our country can bring only about 50% of
total cultivable area under irrigation water. The only way to increase irrigated area is to go
for efficient use of irrigation water .Sprinkler irrigation method is reported to be about 20%
more efficient than conventional irrigation method . In some crops water saving of 30-50%
has been achieved by using sprinkler irrigation system.
Sprinkler irrigation is more popular in closely spaced crops like groundnut, millet and
sugarcane. The factor s like land levelling of undulated topography, labour scarcity,
reduction of water loss due to percolation, conveyance loss in the distribution system and
increased water use efficiency have convinced farmers to go for sprinkler irrigation method.
The specific objective of the study was to compare different parameters of specific objective
of sprinkler irrigation with that of conventional furrow irrigation for summer groundnut
crop.
Brief overview of Inland Fisheries Sector in Odisha
Dr. P. Jayasankar
Director, Centre Institute of freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar
ABSTRACT
The total fishermen population in Odisha State is about 10.15 lakhs of which 4.5 lakhs are
marine and about 1,89,000 inland fisherman. The population density is 202/ sq.km. The
literacy is 48.65% of which male literacy is 62.37% and female literacy is 34.4%. The number
of fisherman villages is 3878 of which 641 are marine and 3237 inland. The active
fisherman cooperatives in the state is 638(78 marine and 560 inland)with a total
membership of 99294(19651 marine and 79643 inland). Most of the fisherman villages lack
basic amenities like communication, housing, electricity, drinking water, health and sanitary
facilities.
An important component of human well-being is employment, which in aquaculture has
grown rapidly in the last three decades .More than 100 million people now depend on the
sector for a living ,either as employees in the producing and support sectors or as their
dependants. In many Places , these employment opportunities have enabled young people
to stay in their communities and have strengthened the economic viability of isolated areas,
often enhancing the status of women in developing countries, where more than 80 percent
of aquaculture output occurs. Aquaculture has been heavily promoted in several countries
with fiscal and monetary incentives and this has improved accessibility to food for many
households and increased aquaculture’s contribution towards the Millennium Development
Goals(MDGs). However, the sector has developed at a time of growing scrutiny from the
public, improved communications and vociferous opposition groups. Although opposition
groups can act as environmental and social watch dogs, putting pressure on businesses to
increase transparency and improve working conditions, It is also important to consider the
benefits accruing from the sector including those related to employment. Unfair
employment practices in aquaculture, including exploitation of local labour, gender
discrimination and child employment , can undermine trust threaten the credibility of
policy-makers and jeopardise markets for farmed seafood. Most countries have legislation
to protect workers but compliance therewith can deter enterprises, with some opting to
operate in countries with lower labour and social standards where they can gain a
competitive advantage.
Community Based Biodiversity Management: An Approach for Building Community
Resilience in the face of Climate Change
Dr. Saujanendra Swain
Principal scientist
M.S. Swaminathan Research foundation, Jaypore, Odisha
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
Climate change poses severe risks to food security; it threatens in particular food security of
small scale (subsistence)farmers located in marginal production conditions. The green
revolution has boosted global food production; at local level however, small-scale farmers
benefited only to a limited extend. We need to learn our lessons and look for
complementary pathways working with those farmers facing climate change .Rather than
following the known pathways that only focus on research and development, innovative
processes need to be designed that enforce the capacities of small-scale farmers’
communities using genetic diversity in their struggle adapting to change.
A striking issue is that the small scale farmers unreached by the green revolution are
targeted with the conservation strategy referred to as 'on-farm management in agricultural
production systems'. The continued use of genetic diversity may turn an obstacle for
adaptation. A major challenge is therefore to merge apparently contradictory priorities to
strengthen capacities in on–farm management with 66 enhancing capabilities required to
adapt. Before dealing with adaptation, it is relevant reflect upon the efforts to realize onfarm management.
Mainstreaming Urban Farming in Bhubaneswar City Planning
Dr. Piyush Ranjan Rout
Urban Planner-cum-Co-Founder of Local Governance Network, Odisha
ABSTRACT
Every year 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted; same time; same tio to bedme,1 in every 7
people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of 5 die
daily from hunger. Perhaps something that no one would like read or listen but that’s
reality as per various studies .However, such situation may never arise if we transform our
cities in line with farming and agricultures. With seven billion mouths to feed, human
agriculture exerts a tremendous toll on the planet, from water drawn to pollution and from
organic agriculture to integrated pest management to feed the growing community. More
cities around the world looking at urban farming, which offers to make our food as "local"
foot prints" associated with long –distance transportation. We also get freshest produce
and we are encouraged to eat more seasonal vegetables than important ones.
The most striking feature of urban farming, which distinguishes it from rural agriculture, is
that it is integrated into the urban economic and ecological system: urban farming is
embedded in and interacting with the urban ecosystem. Such Linkages include the use of
urban residents as labourers, use of typical urban resources like organic waste as compost
and urban wastewater for irrigation, direct links with urban consumers, direct impacts on
urban functions, being influenced by urban policies and plans, etc. Urban farming is not a
relict of the past that will not fade away nor brought to the city by rural immigrants that will
loose their rural habits over time. It is an integral part of the urban system.
Food Sovereignty and Promotion of traditional variety of Rice and Minor Millets: An
initiative of Jagruti, Daringbadi, kandhamal
Prakash Nayak
Team Leader, C4D Institute, Bhubaneswar,Ex-Int’l. Communication Expert, FAO of the
United Nations, South Asia-Kathamandu, Nepal
[email protected]&[email protected]
8763790311
ABSTRACT
Under–nutrition is one of India’s most serious problems -43 percent of children
under five are underweight,48 percent are stunted,20 percent are wasted,70 percent
are anaemic, and 57 percent are vitamin A deficient. Due to inadequate nutrition among
adolescent girls and pregnant women, about one- third of children are born underweight,
with diminished chances of survival(The World Bank). The problem of food and nutrition
security remains a great threat to a large number of poor and vulnerable people in the
kandhamal, Odisha. This situation is even worse Kandhamal and Prevails here even after
a number of entitlement schemes related to health and nutrition being implemented by
the Government, which is not being accessed by the community to the optimum levels...
Since time immemorial, there was a symbolic relationship between man and the plants.
Man utilizes plant for several purposes such as food, fodder, shelter, medicine. Scared use
and many other applications that’s his knowledge permits. On the other hand, due to
economic growth and outreach mechanism of market force up to the last households,
people are delineating from traditional food. A gap has already been created among the
community over the available food and the traditional food.
Grass Root Innovations and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge System for Mentoring
Tribal Youths of Mentoring Tribal Youths of Odisha for Sustainable Livestock
Development
Dr. Balaram Sahu
Science and Technology Communicator, Bhubaneswar.
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
India has the largest youth population in the world, Which is poised to increase further in
the coming decades.70% of india’s population is below the age of 35 years and it holds true
for the state like Odisha. In Odisha, Tribal population and its 70% is the total population and
its 70% is the tribal youth.
This large pool of tribal youth population needs to be engaged in the mainstream
development odisha and India at large. With the increase in connectivity and education
system, tribal youths are now more interested in urban jobs. Many tribal youth, even semi
educated and not formally educated ones leave villages for better livelihood earning n
towns .Although some educated not youths get service in urban area, many of them
ultimately land up in the loop of labour contractors, who engage them in pretty jobs of
quarrying ,masonry, soil digging, brick works at very low wage and also send them to other
states as DADAN to work in dangerous works like Brick kilns etc. Trival youths in early stage
are the more vulnerable ones, although they have inherent capabilities of earning better
livelihood in their own village with management of natural resources like domestic animals
and plants. These educated /semi educated tribal youths need to be mentored ,trained and
provided with scope and skill of better income generation in their home land.
There is need of the mechanism of mentoring the scattered and disconnected, semi
educated tribal youths. The philosophy of mentoring may be operated through the
Excellence, equity, Environment, Efficiency, Ethics, Empathy, and Education.
Organic Farming, Pest management and Food Preservation
Natbar Sarangi
ABSTRACT
The history of Agriculture in India is more than 10 thousand years old. Indian Farmer
invented seeds of different crops and made implements from stone and in later years iron
to till the soil and grow crops. Bullock plough was his greatest invention. He domesticated
cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep and pigs. Castration of bulls to bulls to get bullocks was the
first step in bio-engineering known to the prehistoric man. Such castration enabled
peasants to yoke the bullocks to plough shares, bullock carts are used to transport food
grain to urban places. Organic manure made from cow-dung, cow urine, farmyard wastes,
corp residue were used to increase fertility of the soil and bring more production and
increased productivity on the unit measure of law.
Women farmers invented Rice between 6719 BC to 5010 BC. Carbon test of rice fossils from
Allahbad proves the birth of Rice in India. Modern Rice is an invention through trial and
error method from wild rice. Jeypore in Orissa is claimed to be the birth place of rice.
Organic foods own food retainability. Oru country women own innovative ideas to store
food for longer duration. They make improvised water use practices to store cooked for
24hrs. Making dry foods from rice, pulses and wheat with or without jiggery or sugar can
be stored for 15 days. A few Neem leaves and dry chillies keep pulses for a year without
pest attack. So also we can store rice in a bag at least for six months fresh and free from
insects. We know the dangers of cooling devises we use to keep vegetables and cooked food
for more gas they emit contributes to global warming, organic vegetables can be storely on
the vegetable baskets for week without being rotten. We need to throw away dogma on
chemical farming. Demand organic food from the market, Eat healthy organic food.
Livelong, save environment. Save life.