The NSS unit of Govt. Model V&HSS Vellanad had selected Valiyara as the participating village for the academic year 2013-14.
While interacting with the people in the village, we realised that a huge area of land which was used for paddy cultivation in previous years, was now lying idle. We started analysing the possibilities of starting paddy cultivation in a small area therein. We were encouraged to start farming by a group of local enthusiasts who had formed a 'Padashekhara Samithy'.
It was they who suggested the Palekar Model of farming.
The energetic volunteers of NSS immediately started the farming activities by learning 'on the job', and named the programme ‘Nel Paadam, Nalla
Paadam’.
Zero budget farming
advocated by Subash Palekar from Maharashtra is popular in different states of
India. This method basically talks about mulching using agriculture waste
generated from farms, mixed cropping with importance on leguminous
crops and also applying a set of preparations based on cow dung and urine of
traditional Indian cow.
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This is
called as Zero budget farming since all the required things can be found in the farm
itself; hence no inputs has to be brought from outside. .jpg)
Thus the
NSS unit of Govt. Model V&HSS and the Padashekhara Samithy jointly launched
Palekar Model Farming in small plots amounting to about 50 cents of land, from October 2013.
The entire 100 students of the NSS unit took part
in the preparation of the field, preparation of the bio-fertilizer, transplanting of
the seedlings etc.
The students visit the paddy field after their daily class and during holidays. They have now developed a new respect for the food they eat and have grown an appreciation for the efforts put in by the farmers of our country.
