kothapallywatershedday5: Dr .L.S. Jangawad (center), watershed coordinator from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), explains the watershed project at Kothapally that ICRISAT and their partners have been developing with farmers in the village since 1999. Farmers have been able to substantially improve yields in grain, Bt cotton and vegetables, and raise the standard of living for the entire village by harvesting and conserving rainwater, managing cropping systems, and cooperatively planning and marketing. [McCandless]
kothcottongandeaday5: Mr Gandea, a cotton farmer in Kothapally, talks to the Ag Systems group about the economics of growing Bt cotton in Kothapally under a managed water system. Yields are high and pesticide applications are down. [McCandless]
kothvillagewomanday5: A Kothapally village woman on her way out of town. [McCandless]
lundquistkothschoolday5: Fourth graders from the Kothapally school perform for us. [Lundquist]
kothsorghmday5: This Kothapally villager separates sorghum seed from the chaff. [McCandless]
Day 5:
“Today, the Ag Systems group ventured into the countryside to taste, see, hear, touch and smell Indian agriculture. A 45-minute bus ride brought us to Kothapally, a village of 2200 residents and 220 farmers that has attracted agriculturists from around the world to see their unique and successful methods for managing rainfall and groundwater systems in this arid climate. Taking a long walk through the village and surrounding farms, we were able to visit with farmers, see the water management systems, and observe the farming operations. Since 1999, the residents of Kothapally have instituted a series of dams and recharging basins that has revitalized the areas’s agriculture. The farmers are growing a wide variety of crops including chickpea, pigeonpea, wheat, maize, safflower, cotton, and chrysanthemums. In one interplanted vegetable field, we saw tomatoes, cilantro, onions, fennel, chili peppers, and okra. One of the farmers we visited with today explained that he has been using Bt cotton the past two years and has been happy with the results, since his pesticide applications have been reduced from 10-12/year to about 2/year.
A full day in rural India has left us all exhausted. We’ll find some rest before tomorrow’s exciting day at Monsanto.
Peter Lundquist
Animal Sciences
Date – 5 Jan
Student –Anya Solodow
Our day began at the Kothapally Village, where we spoke with the technician at a small milk processing station, which collects milk from 30-40 local dairy farmers. We spoke with an artificial insemination specialist who serves 10 villages (60-80 inseminations per month) at a charge of 30 Rupees per visit. We also spoke with the owner of a farmer’s group shop, which provides associate farmers with affordable fertilizer, insecticide, pesticide and seed at low interest rate.
We then meandered through the village, speaking with local farmers, playing with their livestock (goats, cattle, water buffalo). We also played with the local children, who loved to have their pictures taken, visited the school, were invited in to a local home.
We visited the crops and observed their water collection technique. We met Saraswathi (Meaning- Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge), an elderly women who patrols the crops for intruders.
Finally, we returned home to observe the birds of ICRISAT lake, after which many of us went poolside for a swim.
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Value addition group
The value addition group today visited the village of Kothapally and the Adarsha Water Shed. This is an active community that has received government assistance for the construction of approximately 250 water conservation structures in order to retain the water that is concentrated on only few months. The community has become a major success and we interviewed with several of this successful individuals. Progressive farmers sell have started to provide services such as selling agricultural inputs and consolidation of the cotton harvest from the villagers in order to get a better price. Other farmers are now in charge of the milk collection from the members of the cooperative in order to sell it to a major retailer. The government also has founded NGOs so that they provide artificial insemination to the local villagers. We also saw and talked with several farmers in the fields while they where planting or harvesting and got to listen from them the about their worries and situation. We also visited with a major organizer of self help groups and learned about their creation, current status and how these organizations have empowered woman and contributed to great extent to the well being of the village.
Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural developmemt Group
Today we visited “Navajeevan’s Children’s village for children” in Chinguru, India. Navajeevan’s is a rescue, re-orientation and rehabilitation center for children in exceptionally difficult conditions. Run by Father P. Ignatius, the mission is to rescue and protect street and working children (between 5 and 15 years old) to work for the promotion of their rights, their holistic development and integration into the mainstream society as responsible citizens.
My experience in this village was very special. These children touched our emotions and awareness in a very particular way when they welcomed us with a big smile and a very enthusiastic approach. They were full of energy.
They were interacting with all of us calling us “Sister” or “Brother”.
Their eyes reflected their past and their lack of attention from their parents and families. However, they were full of hope and ready to share pictures and hugs with all of us.
Thanks to this center, which receives funding from around the world through people’s donations (including 7,500 rupee’s spontaneously donated by our group), these children are rescued and protected from the street’s exposure, turning them into prosperous and socially integrated individuals.
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