Time to adopt Natural Farming

Time to adopt Natural Farming

Hirakud Dam: Boon to Development and Its Unintended Fallout

      I was born and brought up in an agriculture family in the command area of Hirakud dam in Bargarh district of Odisha. Till completion of my Graduation in 1984, I had seen slow transition of farming practices from natural to chemical. Till late seventies in my family we used to buy mainly salt and sugar as edible items from market. From rice, dal, edible oil, jaggery etc were from our farm only and without or very little fertiliser. Every family had bullocks and cows as they were used in cultivation as well as were symbol of prosperity. There were composting pits where cow dungs and other agriculture wastes were put to generate enough compost to be used in the field.

       Land holding of families were respectable and vacant lands were left in between fields where small plants and shrubs used to grow which provided shelter and homes and birds and other small animals. There used to be a lot of trees in between fields which provided a self-contained  ecosystem. All rice fields were full of small fishes and traps were used to be laid by workers in openings left  to allow water flow from one field to another in the evening and they used to collect those traps in the morning which used to full of fish. Virtually we used to have abundance of fish round the year. But now a days not a single inch  of land is left uncultivated and most of the trees are cut down. Due to increased use of pesticides all small creatures thriving in the ecosystem vanished, forget fish in rice fields.

        But by end of seventies due to increased population, land holdings decreased and large farmers became medium farmers and small farmers became marginal farmers. To increase production farmers adopted high yielding variety of rice which are less pest resistant, increased use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Mechanisation increased and life stocks became burden and they vanished. Due to plenty availability of water in canal system of Hirakud dam rice became preferred choice at the cost of other crops. Minimum support price(MSP) of rice also skewed cropping pattern in favour of rice at the cost of other crops. Pulses and oilseeds (dal, mustard, groundnut, etc.) receive less attention due to lack of procurement infrastructure and price assurance. India ends up importing large quantities of edible oil and pulses despite being an agrarian economy. India has become a rice shortage to rice surplus country since start of green revolution. Govt. warehouses are struggling with inventories and diverting rice for ethanol production.

       Now Bargarh district of Odisha has become the cancer capital of Odisha and incidence of chronic kidney disease is increasing exponentially.

        Hirakud dam brought a lot of prosperity to the area in irrigating 1.55 lakh hectares and with  359.8 MW generating capacity of power. But due to socio economic compulsion and favourable policy and condition for rice cultivation farmers are facing the negative consequences. In recent past to some way pay back to farmers fraternity to which owe everything, I interacted with farmers groups. They understand and appreciate the problems they are facing. But due to lack of awareness of various Govt. schemes , resistance to change, they are trapped in this vicious problem. They are after increasing production by increasing various inputs but they fail to appreciate productivity leading to debt traps and ultimate farmers suicide.

         During harvesting season Govt procurement machinery always comes under stress leading to chaotic situation. For last more than forty years I have been watching dharnas and road blocks by farmers during paddy procurement season.

1. Benefits of Hirakud Dam

The Hirakud Dam, built across the Mahanadi River in Odisha, is one of India’s longest earthen dams and a landmark in post-independence infrastructure development. It has delivered substantial benefits across multiple domains:

• Irrigation Support: The dam irrigates nearly 155635 hectare(Ravi) of land, greatly enhancing food grain production, particularly paddy in western Odisha and adjoining regions.

• Flood Control: It protects the delta region from seasonal floods, which once caused heavy devastation.

• Hydropower Generation: With an installed capacity of around 359.8 MW, the dam supplies electricity to several rural and urban regions.

• Water Storage: It ensures year-round water availability for domestic and industrial use.

• Economic Growth: The dam has driven agro-industrial development in the region, particularly in agriculture, rice milling, and downstream industries.

2. Negative Consequences of Excessive Paddy Cultivation and Agrochemical Use

While the dam enabled an agricultural revolution in the region, certain unsustainable practices have caused serious health and environmental consequences:

• Monocropping of Paddy:

o Encouraged by assured irrigation, farmers resorted to continuous paddy cultivation, leading to soil nutrient depletion, waterlogging, and loss of crop diversity.

o Paddy is water-intensive, leading to overuse and degradation of available water resources.

• Rampant Use of Chemical Fertilisers and Pesticides:

o Subsidies and yield pressures led to indiscriminate use of urea, DAP, and synthetic pesticides.

o Chemicals leach into groundwater and food, posing long-term health risks.

• Health Crisis:

o Districts around Hirakud have reported a rise in Cancer cases and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

o Scientific studies and anecdotal evidence increasingly point to chemical exposure through contaminated water, air, and food as a major cause.

• Environmental Degradation:

o Soil fertility decline and loss of microbial life.

o Bioaccumulation of toxins in aquatic life from agrochemical runoff.

o Reduced groundwater recharge due to crust formation and runoff.

3. Benefits of Adopting Natural Farming

In light of the growing crisis, Natural Farming (as promoted by institutions like Nisarga Foundation Trust) offers a sustainable and healthy alternative:

• Health Benefits:

o Free from chemical inputs, it produces nutrient-rich, toxin-free food, reducing the incidence of cancer, CKD, and other lifestyle diseases.

• Soil Regeneration:

o Techniques like Jeevamrit, mulching, use of compost  and crop rotation restore soil fertility, improve water retention, and enhance microbial biodiversity.

• Economic Viability:

o Reduced input costs lead to better net income for farmers, especially smallholders.

o Less dependency on market fluctuations of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

• Environmental Sustainability:

o Improves water table through better recharge.

o Reduces carbon footprint and enhances climate resilience.

• Community Well-being:

o Promotes local food systems, traditional varieties, and social cohesion around sustainable practices.

 

Conclusion

While Hirakud Dam has been a symbol of progress. The unsustainable agricultural practices have triggered a health and environmental crisis. A shift toward natural farming is not just a return to tradition, but a step toward healthier communities, safer food, and ecological balance.