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Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Procurement of organic wheat begins in Himachal
The Himachal government on Friday started the procurement of organic wheat from Bilaspur district, said officials. The move comes after the hike in minimum support prices (MSP) for naturally cultivated crops by the chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government. The purchase began at centres in Ghumarwin and Bilaspur and the government procured over 22 quintals from 17 farmers. Approximately 7.8 metric tonnes wheat is likely to be procured this season in Bilaspur district. The procurement comes under the agriculture department's Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) project, in collaboration with Himachal Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation. Bilaspur deputy commissioner Rahul Kumar visited the local purchase centre to inspect the arrangements and interacted with farmers at the site. He listened to the farmers' experiences and urged them to encourage others to adopt natural farming methods. He instructed officials to provide training and awareness campaigns for the farmers who have made progress in this field. The DC said the Himachal government is striving to promote natural farming and over 8,000 farmers in the district have adopted natural farming so far. Of these, 4,800 farmers have registered on the Centre's Star Portal and comply with natural farming standards, he added. The DC said that more than 100 farmers have registered this year to sell their organic wheat. Recently, the state government hiked MSP for naturally cultivated wheat from ₹40 to ₹60 per kg.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Farmers and their traditional harvests keep Goa's culinary heritage alive
Panaji: From the fields of Agasaim, Xavier Gracias tends to his patchwork of seasonal crops. Among them, one leafy jewel stands tallest—the red amaranthus, or tambdi bhaji, as it is fondly known in Goan homes. The burgundy pigmented plant is known for its nutritional wealth—rich in iron, calcium, and essential vitamins. Xavier smiles as he shares its secret, 'It thrives in our soil, matures in just under two months, and is always in demand,' he says. A mosaic of farmers—young and old, traditional and new—are sowing seeds of sustainability, heritage, and hope in Goa, with each furrow in the soil holding more than just a crop. In Taleigao, Madhavi Gawas, once a humble kitchen gardener, blossomed into a full-fledged farmer. Her garden is a vibrant chorus of brinjals, radishes, tomatoes, and okra. But her pride lies in the unique 'saathsheero bhendo'—the seven-ridged okra. Long and sculpted with seven distinct ridges, the okra, unlike any other lady finger in the world, remains succulent even after growing past a foot in length. 'The demand speaks for itself,' Gawas says. 'They fetch a good price, and I never have to market them aggressively. I merely pluck them in the morning, and by noon, they are all sold out.' In Saligao, Anjali Gad-Kerkar, a senior citizen and a woman farmer, nurtures the gavti mirsang—local Goan chillies known for their pungency and aroma that grow well in Pernem, Mapusa, and Canacona. Though age keeps her from physically visiting the marketplace every day, the chillies, alsando (cowpeas), pumpkins, and brinjals from her farm find their way to homes across Goa through govt horticulture outlets. 'Each chilli carries the essence of the land where it grew,' she says with pride. In Bicholim, Umesh Raut takes pride in his organic mission. His fields are fed by jeevamrut, a concoction made from cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, and soil. 'My crops were once under siege by pests, but applying jeevamrut allows me to grow chemical-free crops that are resilient and rich,' he said. At Cumbharjua, farmer Prasad Naik tends a lesser-known treasure—gavti kandem, Goa's indigenous onions. Though the sight of these onions is increasingly declining in markets, they flourish quietly at Naik's farm, destined for simmering pots and aromatic gravies that define Goan kitchens. These stories, scattered across talukas, reflect the deep-rooted respect for the Goan land, according to the Agriculture Technology Management Agency. 'These farmers have a lot of potential and traditional knowledge. We are giving them demonstrations and training in various agricultural aspects, and the results that are yielded are evident,' said Prasad Parab, project director, ATMA-North Goa.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Goan organic farmer's self-sufficient paradise blooms in remote nook of Pernem
Panaji: Organic farmer Shekhar Parastekar lives at Paraste village on the Goa-Maharashtra border, about 5km from Pernem. Despite being away from urban amenities, he rarely needs to venture out of his Shangri-La-esque home to get supplies, nor does he require more than two gas cylinders a year for cooking. Parastekar's self-sufficiency bloomed from his integrated approach that transformed his land into a thriving farm, cultivating crops, running a dairy and a gobar-gas unit, and producing vermicompost. 'Right from making the organic fertiliser from scratch, to building the vermicompost unit by hand, everything at the farm is sustainable,' he told TOI . Supported by the department of agriculture (Pernem zonal agriculture office) and Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) North Goa, Parastekar embraced modern machinery, enhancing both productivity and sustainability. He primarily grows cashews, areca nuts, coconuts, and black pepper, which bring in a substantial income, while six buffaloes provide milk to his family and the village. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo 'I do not let the buffaloes out of the cattle shed so that we can collect all the dung. We have four machines that convert this waste into gobar-gas,' he said. 'This gas not only powers the cooking unit at our home but also that of the labourers who live and work at the farm.' Parastekar added, 'The slurry from the dung is added to the vermicompost, and we sell this nutrient-rich vermicompost for a nominal price of Rs 15 per kg.' The farm is located very close to a stream of the Terekhol river, giving access to fresh water 24/7 to run the irrigation system. 'The river water is our lifeline. We do not need to treat this water with added chemicals due to its cleanliness. The evidence of its purity is seen in our crops since we never encountered wilting in the pepper crop,' Parastekar told TOI . 'Everything grown at the farm is therefore fully organic.' Parastekar's achievements led him to become a proud recipient of the Fr Inacio Almeida Memorial Special Award for Organic Farming in 2022. 'Parastekar is a passionate and dedicated farmer whose life revolves around the soil,' ATMA North Goa said. 'With a strong commitment to integrated and sustainable farming, he transformed his land into a thriving model farm… his farm exemplifies self-sufficiency and innovation.'
