Women script success story through multi-layer farming
Allahabad :
After a hard work of three months, a group of women succeeded in carving a niche for themselves by yielding multi-layers vegetable and fruit production in Narwal Patti village of Muratganj block of Kaushambi.
The group of women led by Momi Dey, who sowed seeds of various crops in February this year through multi-layer organic farming technique, are now set to earn Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh annually.
Women used vermi-compost as fertilisers in around one beegha of land while sowing seeds. They yielded prodution of ginger, spinach (palak), bottle gourd (lauki), ridged gourd (torai), green potato (parwal), bitter gourd (karela), lady fingers (bhindi), papaya etc.
Momi Dey, who spearheaded the initiative and formed the group of 12 women told TOI, “We have been successful in growing different varieties of vegetables and fruit in four layer of organic farming”. She further added that, “We have produced crop of ginger in first layer, green potato, bottle guard, ridged gourd, and bitter gourd in second layer, papaya in third layer and spinach on ground level. The crop of bottle gourd, ridged gourd and green potato was produced through machan (platform) cultivation.
Dey further said, “We have used only vermi-compost to maintain the taste of vegetable and fruits. Multi-layer farming is the best way for utilisation of field to grow many crops in a limited space”.
Vandana Gautam, another volunteer said, “More and more women have come forward to learn the basics about multi-layer farming in Kaushambi and Allahabad villages.” She further added that this was the first time when local women in the district had used the multi-layer organic farming technique.
The women focussed on the quality of the crops and vegetables and for that, seeds were sown on different heights in the same field. Dey, meanwhile, said under multi-layer farming different crops of varying heights and rooting pattern are cultivated together. She has also been imparting training to other farmers of the block briefing them about advantages of the techniques.
Dey had learnt about multi-layer crop production while training agricultural-expert Akash Chaurasia in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. Chaurasia is one of the experts who is credited with introducing multi-layer farming in the country.
City based Agro experts, however, said, “The objective of multi-layer farming is to utilise the vertical, horizontal and underground space more effectively. In this method, the tallest components have foliage of strong light and high evaporative demand. The shorter components with foliage require lesser shade and or relatively high humidity.”
Currently, majority of farmers opt for multi-layer farming using only cow urine and dung as manure. More importantly, “The income of farmers have increased substantially. Besides, the multi-layer technique also ensured a steady supply of farm products throughout the year.’
Multi-layer farming helps maximise the use of land and all growing space is used as crops are planted together vertically, horizontally and underground,” said an agricultural official adding, that it also enriches the fertility of the soil and adds organic nutrients to soil.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Allahabad News / by Kapil Dixit / TNN / May 22nd, 2018
28
27
26
25
New finding turns sweet potato tastier
Lucknow :
There’s sweet news for India. Scientists at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, claim that sweet potato plant originated in India and not the United States.
They claim to have discovered a 57 million-year-old sweet potato fossil from the East Garo hill district of Meghalaya, adding that it is older than the last recorded 40-million-old sweet potato fossil found in Colorado, US.
Their premise is based on an 18-year study conducted by a team of three scientists — BSIP’s Rakesh C Mehrotra and Gaurav Srivastava, and David L Dilcher from Indiana University, US.
The sweet potato fossil found in Meghalaya is the oldest in the world, say BSIP scientists.
The study has been published in the international scientific journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”.
The fossil of some leaves were collected by the two BSIP scientists in 1996 from Meghalaya. After the initial fossil identification study, they found that the leaves were of sweet potato. A detailed research work began in 2000.
“The discovery of a plant fossil is rare because plants’ soft structure is not easily preserved in the rocks,” said senior scientist Rakesh C Mehrotra.
He said that 17 specimens of the fossil of leaves discovered were made to study the pattern of veins in the blade of a leaf and secretory ducts (cells). The study showed that the leaves were of sweet potato and belonged to the ‘morning glory’ family, Mehrotra added. The research was conducted at three herbariums in the country — National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow; Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, and Central National Herbarium, Howrah.
Mehrotra said the sediment where the fossil was extracted was found to be 57 million years old, hence the fossil was also considered to be of the same date.
BSIP director Sunil Bajpai said it’s a landmark discovery.
“The study will help in understanding the evolutionary origins and the existing concepts of sweet potatoes. It will also help in understanding the climatic conditions and related factors that prevailed millions of years ago.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Mohita Tewari / TNN / May 24th, 2018
Body to study genetic profile of Sitapur dogs
Lucknow :
Another canine attack was reported from Sitapur on Tuesday, this time a 10-year-old boy seriously injured by a pack of five dogs. The incident took place at Akbarpur village in Hargaon police station area.
Intrigued by the unconventional canine attacks in Sitapur, which have resulted in the deaths of 14 children and injuries to 51 in the last seven months, scientists at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have decided to study the genetic profile of the dogs in the district.
City magistrate Harsh Deo Pandey said the victim, Satyam Pandey, had gone to a mango orchard a few metres from his house at around 7 pm where he was attacked by a pack of five dogs.
Police rushed Satyam to the community health centre in Hargaon where he is undergoing treatment. The boy has sustained injuries to his arms and lower back.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Lucknow News / by Pathikrit Chakraborty / TNN / May 23rd, 2018
With steely resolve, they clinch gold
Stories of grit, determination and dreams coming true filled the atmosphere with positivity at Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University on Saturday. At its fourth convocation, chief minister Yogi Adityanath awarded medals to meritorious students. Rehabilitation professional and social worker Uma Tuli was the chief guest at the occasion where governor Ram Naik was also present. TOI spoke to the top three medal winners.
Inspired by differently abled, he emerges as winner
It was peer pressure which forced him to join a master’s course. He chose SMNRU for an MSc in applied statistics in 2015 because the university was close to his place. Two years hence, Vipin Yadav stands as a topper with the chancellor’s gold medal, awarded for his score of 87.7%, the highest among all students.
The turning point of Vipin’s life was seeing differently abled students: the visually impaired, hearing-impaired and physically handicapped, struggling each day to study. “They made efforts to use laptops and typewriters. I thought when they, who had 100 reasons to not come to college, are working so hard, why can’t I? They inspired me,” Vipin said.
So moved was Vipin with their dedication that he is now pursuing research in the area upliftment of the differently abled.
Mother of two conquers disability
Age and disability are no barriers to education. Anju Kumari, 42, not only decided to pursue education after a gap of 19 years but also scored the highest marks among differently abled students in PG.
An accident at the age of 10 years had totally damaged her right hand but not her determination. For one year, she practised writing with her left hand and never took a scribe. She says her husband and young children were very supportive. Anju was awarded for securing 79.6% in MA Hindi. Now, she has joined MA in Bhojpuri. “No knowledge is waste. I had always wanted to learn languages,” said Anju.
Lost eyes but not vision
She has lost 80% vision but used the remaining 20% to excel in studies. The daughter of a small farmer in Basti, Jyoti Mishra has emerged as a winner among all differently abled students enrolled in UG courses. Overall, she has scored the third highest marks—71.4% in BA.
Despite her odds, she decided to not study in Braille.
“I used my mobile phone camera to enlarge the words and then read. With the help of mobile recordings, I learnt my lessons and then reproduced it to my writer in exams,” Jyoti said.
Purusing BEd now from SMNRU, Jyoti wants to become a teacher. “It’s difficult for my family to make ends meet. Before sending me to Lucknow, my father told me to study hard. The medals are for him. He will be very happy when he comes to know about my success.” she said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City News> Lucknow News> Schools & Colleges / TNN / May 20th, 2018