Training programme on natural farming

Rampachodavaram (East Godavari): A training camp in nature farming was held at Ootla village under the aegis of Agriculture department on Sunday. Village sarpanch Panda Venkateswara Rao Dora presided over the camp. Agriculture officer K Prabhakar demonstrated how to prepare ‘Nadepu compost’, which is richer in nutrients.

• Agriculture officer K Prabhakar says natural farming is the best agricultural practice
• States that in natural farming, farmers need not invest on fertilisers and pesticides and the produce fetches higher price

A compost pit measuring 10 feet long, 6 feet wide and 3 feet deep should be built using bricks. There should be six inches space between one brick and other brick. The pit should be filled with agriculture waste, dung, soil, water to form the first layer. The first layer should be sprinkled with water mixed with dung. It should be topped with a soil layer. In this fashion, six layers should be formed.

After 15 to 30 days, the compost sinks by half a foot, it should be filled with agriculture waste, dung, soil and other matter. Water should be sprinkled on every six or 10 days. After 90 to 120 days, 2.5 tonnes of compost will be ready which is more effective than normal fertiliser. It provides one percent more nitrogen, 0.5 percent more phosphorus and 1.2 percent potash to the soil.

The pit should be built at an elevated place under a shade. Mandal Parishad extension officer Siddhartha, ATMA official K Veerendra Babu and others took part in the training programme.