Mr. Mani Kottekkad is a progressive dairy farmer from Kottekkad village of Palakkad district in Kerala. Till 2012, he was doing dairying with crossbred cattle. Spiralling costs...
Leading a flock of sheep: An inspiring account of Veerakempanna
Sheep are the gift to dryland farmers by nature which can yield returns within 1.5 years of investment, says Veerakempanna. Veerakempanna of Anoor village in Chikkabalapur...
Agriculture is for our life
“Agriculture is for our life and going to school and college is to improve our knowledge” are the words of my father which inspired me to stay in agriculture. I have finished my...
Recalling biodiversity – Farming the Agnihotra way
Farmers Diary > Though I am not a farmer by birth, my journey as a farmer, rather as a sericulturist began in the year 1996. We had bought a 2 acre farm, not to do farming,...
Farmers Diary – Natural capital holds the key
During 1970’s, as a small boy I was witnessing my father’s interaction with the share croppers. They were cultivating finger millet as a mixed crop in the upstream land area and...
Farmer’s Diary : Organic cultivation of Bydagi Chilli – A heritage crop of North Karnataka
Shanmukha M. Dyamakkanavar is a progressive chilli farmer following organic cultivation methods. His knowledge is based on experience inherited from his father and the technical...
Farmer’s Diary – The Living soils
Madhu.Ramakrishnan Directly or indirectly all food comes from soil. If it is not a living system, it can't continuously produce. Just as any other living thing, soil possesses...
Farmers diary – Ecological Pest Management
Madhu Ramakrisnan The nature is ours, but not ours alone. If there is a way to protect his agricultural produces from pests, no farmer will like to kill the pests. Fukoka (The...
Green manuring- the best way to improve soil health
Conditions were not very encouraging when I started farming in the year 1998 – water shortage, pest and disease attack, rising costs of cultivation and decreasing yields and...