Azolla - essential nutrients for plant and animal

A Friend in Need… is a Friend indeed…!!

Introduction

Azolla is a floating pteridophyte of Azollaceae family, forms a symbiotic relationship with the cyanobacterium Anabaena Blue Green Algae, which fixes atmospheric nitrogen, giving the plant access to the essential nutrients.

This has led to the plant being dubbed a "super-plant", as it can readily colonise areas of freshwater, and grow at great speed - doubling its biomass every two to three days.

Important Charactaristic

C It is particular to increase the efficiency of nitrogen fixation (2-3 Kgs/ha/day) replacing Urea almost within two years and concomitantly to reduce water pollution, by changing strategies of mineral use and by integrating organic fertilizers in the rice production system.

C Due to its ability to fix nitrogen Azolla used as a bio-fertilizer for wetland paddy - either incorporated into the soil before rice transplanting or grown as a dual crop along with rice. When rice paddies are flooded, they can be inoculated with Azolla: -

ü Quickly multiplies to cover the water,

ü Suppressing weeds.

ü Rotting plant material releases nitrogen to the rice plants,

ü Fixing Nitrogen about 150 – 200 Kgs/ha/year

C Significant role to control ecology support system for its strong photosyntheic oxygen releasing capacity.

C Azolla having higher crude protein contain, almost 25-35% on dry weight basis.

C It is also found to contain essential minerals like Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorous, Copper, Manganese etc. apart from appreciable quantities of Vitamins A and Vitamin B12.

C The above mentioned bio-chemical constituents along with the rapid multiplication rate makes Azolla an ideal organic feed substitute for livestock, apart from its utility as a bio-fertilizer for wetland paddy.

C Feeding azolla to dairy cattle, pigs, ducks, and chickens, with reported increases in milk production, weight of broiler chickens and egg production of layers, as compared to conventional feed.

Looking to the above facts and benefit, we conducted an on-farm orientation cum demonstration training program at Orbenga villege with farmers at the backyard of Mr. Prabal, shared the importance of Azolla in Paddy Cultivation and its various aspects. Farmers are highly motivated and determined to have one Azolla tank each at their backyard based on the above facts and benefit.

Input Cost for Azolla – Rs. 400.00 (LS) one time investment.

Appendix: At Orbenga Village

Newly constructed wells in the village of Palkot block, community are now able to take the benefit of it

Increase in water availability in the target areas, accessible to all community members.

The annual meeting with Caritas India became an eye opening of all project staff towards the systematic and efficient work of land based activities with best satisfactory output. The observation of Caritas India during the annual field visit: ·         Location problems, Guard-wall needs to be formed ·         Steps on the pond for proper use/ animators lacking regular structural visit ·         Water resource already existing around constructed water bodies ·         Very close monitoring with regard to structure is very poor ·         Did not follow the created strategies Thus before following the guideline for the third year of the agrarian prosperity programme the land based activities started to ensure that construction of new well and renovation is completed before the start of the monsoon. Moreover, the project team discussed and tried to sort out the issue of local contribution (LC) payment since the project team experienced continues constrain and difficulties during second year of the programme.  The community has no understanding of the  do the concept of local contribution therefore there will be full payment of wage as per the government declaration. However, the project team have adopted the different strategies for LC. The beneficiaries of the each structure will work in the construction work without the wage. The process will rotate until the well is complete. Likewise in other land based activities (SCT, farm field bunding, pond etc) the square feet of digging to be increased. The site identification of 3 WHS (Orbenga, Sundridih, Rokedega), 3 irrigation (Pithartoli, Orbenga,Rokedega), 1 drinking well (Sundridih), 4 community ponds (Kurum, Orbenga, Pithertoli & Tetertoli) and 1 lift irrigation (Rokedega) site completed. Having identified and verified the sites of irrigation wells the construction of 3 irrigation wells and 1 drinking well in full swing. Status of irrigation wells Sl No. Village Depth (') Purpose 1 Orbenga 10' Irrigation 2 Pithertoli 9' " 3 Rokedega 5' " 4 Sundridih 13' Drinking Similarly, the renovation of old community tank in Orbenga started. The community has started emptying the remaining water so that work is carrying out soon.

Pithertoli is one of the village comes under Dahupani  panchayat, Palkot block, Gumla district of Jharkhand state. The village is surrounded by forest and mountains. The mountain is like wall for the villagers. Due to the forest and mountain inhabitants of the village feel morally secured from outside attacks. Since the area is fully covered by forest the physical structure of land is not plain. Everywhere village lands are up and down. There are several streams without bridge. Villagers have to find their own way to reach their desired place.

However, with collective efforts with villagers and panchayat leaders village got the scheme of bridge. The bridge is under construction.  In order to complete the bridge the Monsi (the supervisor) cut 500 hundred trees from the forest without the permission of villagers. The villager knew about cutting of the 500 hundred trees. Villagers directly enquired about the cutting of the 500 hundred trees but the Monsi (supervisor) denied and said he had not cut any trees from the nearest forest.

After few days the villagers summoned the Gram Sabha meeting to find out the person who had cut the trees. In the meeting the supervisor said that he was asked to do so by the contractor to cut down the trees. When the villagers asked the contractor, the contractor also denied and said that he neither ordered to cut the trees nor knew anything on the matter.

The Gram Sabha gave the responsibility to supervisor to protect the 500 hundred cut woods and when the villagers need woods the supervisor should give to the villagers. After a month villagers needed some wood and requested supervisor to present the wood to villagers.  But supervisor said that the woods had been stolen. But the reality was that supervisor had hidden all the woods in the river under the sand. The villager filed the case against the supervisor and handed over to the forest department.  Once the FIR was done, the supervisor accepted that he had cut the 500 hundred trees without the permission of any responsible groups or person. The case against supervisor is still on the process.

If the villagers had not taken any action against the supervisor then he would have sold all the woods and got benefited but the Gram Sabha did not leave any space to miss use the community good for individual gain.  

Rokedega is one of the village comes under Dahupani  panchayat, Palkot block, Gumla district, Jharkhand. The women of the village are limited to their own household and agriculture activities. The active participation of women seen in both indoor and outdoor activities but  all the decisions are taken by male head of the family. Though women like to be associated with those activities where money and status could be earned but due to men suppression women were left behind.  Likewise, in meetings women cannot express their thoughts due to the lack of opportunities and ignorance. There are some religious taboos which do not permit women to get them involved actively. Above all it could be said that various circumstance force and deprive women from their rights duties and practices in the society.

 However, after the entry and constant efforts of Naya Sawera Vikas Kendra villagers have been mobilized and united.  Women have formed SHG and discussing on the several development issues. One of the women’s decision making in the family has been seen and experienced.

Chindrika Devi is the wife of Shyam Sunder (Rokedega) and the animator of Rokedega. She is the mother of three children.

Since 4 to 5 years the family was fully in disarray due to her husband’s lack of proper cooperation. There was neither systematic function nor peace in the family. There was misunderstanding and quarrels in the family. Frequently husband used to come home after drinking and create dispute atmosphere in the family. Head of the family had right to take decision in all types of activities. He neither respected nor considered his wife’s ideas and suggestion nor listened his children’s views. Husband never worried about children education. Above all, the male dominated in family’s affair. 

However, once she became the member of SHG groups and shared her problems with members, the members of SHG group gave moral support. The moral support helped her to be strong in the family despite of quarrel and dispute. Within few meetings with SHG members she started to put the other village level issues in the meeting and discuses taking the leading role in the SHG groups. Looking at her performance in the SHG meetings, the members of SHG’s and villagers proposed her to take the leading role in the village as village point person and wrote an application to the project coordinator to give her an opportunity to serve community as an animator of Rokedega. 

The participation of both husband and wife at village and block level gender training brought drastic changes in the family atmosphere. Husband changed his drinking habits and started to go for work and earn money for the family. Today the husband reduced drinking habits, respects her, and helps her in indoor and outdoor activities. All the decisions are taken together and children are sent to school for education. Moreover she is the one who took decision to practice SRI method of cultivation. Today family live together happily and peacefully.

Lotwa village is situated 7 km from its Palkot Block and 32 km far away from its Districts headquarter. Village is surrounded by other villages which are somehow connected with each other. The village is spread 2 k/m north side and 2 and half K/m east. There are about 166 families with 830 populations who live together as per the village norms and conditions. Village Lotwa consists of 5 hamlets namely: Jogimatt, Dugdugi, Karilkocha, Nawatoli and Lotwa itself. The practice of primitive culture and tradition still prevails.

The inhabitants of the project targeted villages have been deprived from their right, due to the lack of awareness, mobilization and literacy.  People have been practicing the very outdated and traditional method in the agriculture sector. Though the modernization and industrialization have been rapidly heading towards rural parts of India changing the life style of the people but still it has not been able to reach the interior project targeted villages and change the primitive mindset of the people.

However, after the intervention of the project the primitive thinking of the people is being altered and changed which has been seen and experienced in the village. 

Narayan the supervisor comes from very poor family and Hindu family who have very negative thinking towards the piglets.   He is married and has two children. However after participating in several workshop and training programmes on livestock management and SRI, drastically changed his pessimistic mind set of piglets and agriculture pattern in the village and started piggery as a business. Today he has 3 piglets, 1 male and 2 female. Both females have given birth to 6 piglets each.

Further, under the guidance of Naya Sawera he also practiced the SRI and got the best output. He not only started the piggery and practiced the SRI but guided and motivated others to practice the SRI during last cultivation season. Till date he became one of the successful farmer as well as the project staff.

In month of December 2011 the project team linked Mr. Narayan Singh with Nehru Youva Kendra. Taking the livestock management and practice of SRI method of cultivation Mr. Narayan Singh participated in the youth agriculture programme at district level. The 72 participants participated from the all over the villages of Gumla district where already other organisations are actively involved. Leaving behind all the 71 participants Mr. Narayan Singh became one of the best youth agriculturist of Gumla district for which he was award rupees of 5000 and the certificate of the best youth in agriculture.

Mitigating drought with SRI

Previous few years there was no rain throughout the state of Jharkhand. The farmers could not cultivate and harvest good crops thus the villagers faced severe drought. The cultivation could not be done properly. Farmers migrated to another state in search of employment. 

Continuously, 3 to 4 years the villagers faced the drought situation hence farmers could not cultivate and harvest good harvest. However, this season at least there is good rain till now. Therefore farmers are using their all the possible methods in the cultivation so that they can harvest maximum crops this year.

At the entry of Naya Sawera and introduction of SRI method of cultivation seemed ridiculous to farmers.  Implementation of SRI methods of cultivation became the very risky factor in the agriculture sector. It is mainly because the farmers had not harvested the crops for 3 to 4 years. Entry and introduction of SRI method of cultivation become one of the most risky for farmers. If farmers do not harvest good crops this time then the farmers will have to face scarcity in the following years. Therefore, the farmers found it very difficult   to believe that in SRI method of cultivation they will have good harvest. Practicing SRI method of cultivation at this time is very risky for the farmers (male) and thus hesitating to practice the SRI method in the paddy cultivation.

However, the strong hope and conviction of women could not be stop. At this risky situation women of Lowta, Rokedega and Pithertoli had taken risk and practiced the SRI method of cultivation in the field. There are 8 farmers of Lotwa, 3 farmers of Rokedega and 4 farmers of Pithertoli who have done SRI practice according to the decision of their wives.