NAFSO's ecological Agriculture Training Center, Blue Green Garden which is situated at Neela Bamma Development project at Karuwalagaswewa, Puttlam face various difficulties time to time. Once it was a drought in the area and all of our cultivation was dried up.
Next, our farm was attacked by Elephants. Almost all the cultivations, including coconut trees were destroyed by the elephants. Our enthusiasm was decreased to the work but continue with the paddy farm with organic agriculture practices.
Next time, we cultivated ground nut which was grown very well and we had lot of hopes to cover the expenses. But, this was our bad luck and wild boars were attacked the cultivation and uprooted all the ground nut plantations. What a disappointment? But, we were not disturbed too much and continue our education work with the farmers in the area and also with the agricultural members at the partner organizations.
The center was renovated and two cabanas were constructed. Farmers in the area were helped voluntarily and did an excellent work for the BGG.
What a surprize? The farmer of adjacent land was fired his land which spread upto our land and burnt our cultivation, two cabanas, one summer house,water motor, and the other properties inside the cabans. The damage when we estimated, it was around one million loss to NAFSO. ut, we did not get any compensation for the properties we lost.
We had to think what has happened to the land and why this difficulties all the time?????
At the management committee, the farmers decided to construct one cabana with their own labour and contributions, which gave us lot of hopes and high energy to continue the work among ecological agriculture towards sustainable future.
During the last season, farmers completed the construction and we were able to cultivate the paddy land again. There were 13 farmers got 400 Kg of seed paddy from Praja Shakthi Development Foundation, our parnter organization work in the area and the care taker of the BGG. Also, they have cultivated the land and collected 40 Buschells of traditional paddy [2000 Kg] call Muppamgam.
This time, the BOM of BGG met again and planned out how to develop the BGG for sustenance of the work. The main focus was to have an income which will allow NAFSO movement to continue the work even in the future.
There were Five suggestions and consensus at the BOM:
1. Cultivate traditional paddy varieties in BGG for one acre land by mid May.
2. Plant coconut as a major crop to have some sort of income to run the BGG.
3. Organize a paddy buying system at BGG, from the traditional rice farmers who cultivate local paddy varieties. NAFSO need to explore to invest some money for the same practice.
4. Organize a system for selling the paddy among the partner organizations of NAFSO.
5. Explore the possible cultivations parallel to coconut in the BGG.
So, we expect the team will work for the achieve these goals by coming months of the Yala Season.
Herman Kumara,
12.04.10
No comments:
Post a Comment