Crusader of Organic Farming Samir Ranjan Bordoloi who was a normal little known agri-graduate two years back. Today he is well known in Upper Assam for his initiatives in the area of sustainable agriculture and environmental protection through his ACAB Centre located at Jorhat in upper Assam. After completing his education from Assam Agricultural University, he got employment in Rallis India Ltd. As part of his job he started visiting farming communities in the villages of Upper Assam and these visits exposed him to the reality about indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in cultivation of paddy, vegetables, etc, and by the small tea growers as well. The realisation disturbed him a lot. idea to assist the farmers for adopting good agricultural practices started here. While working with Tata group he also got exposed to the concept of Tata Kisan Centre and was impressed with the concept. Samir took the crucial decision of leaving the lucrative job to set-up an Agri Clinic and Agri Business Centre in the year 2003. He, in association with his wife, also an agricultural graduate, established M/s. S. S. Botanicals. Farmers’ betterment and success has been the priority of M/s. S.S. Botanicals since inception. To attract farmers to avail the services of his ACAB Centre, Samir devised a system of membership card for the farmers called Krishok Bandhu Help Card (KBHC), through which the card holder enjoys free consultancy services and supply of inputs at subsidised rates. In spite of all his good intentions and sincere efforts, Samir found himself limited to a small area only. With the aim of expansion and diversification of the agriculture extension services, he joined the ACABC program at ISAP-Guwahti in 2010. The training gave him better insight on expansion. Samir, with the help of a group of young educated farmers formed a NGO called ‘Prakriti - Save Nature’ which has been duly registered. After the formation of the NGO the extension activities were strengthened further and now it covers the whole of Upper Assam. Samir, provides the following services 1. Providing quality agricultural extension services mainly in the field of organic farming, plant protection, soil testing, marketing of farmers’ produce, providing quality organic inputs and seeds. 2. Motivating the mono cropping farmers to take up organic farming with season specific cropping pattern and methods of intercropping. 3. A unit for producing enriched vermicompost was established in a village called Meleng Kathgaon which is producing about 10,000 kg of vermicompost per month made from water hyacinth and enriched with Azotobacter, Trichoderma, and neem cake, and the same is being sold under the brand name Green Gold. More than 50 farmers are producing vermicompost which is sold through the ACAB Centre. Prices are kept at very reasonable levels in the interest of creating awareness about the need for better soil health by using organic inputs. About 2500 (KBHC) card holders take benefit of this product. 4. In 2011 more than 150 school students were taught to produce vermicompost in thermocol boxes used by fish vendors under the brand name Chitralekha vermicompost. 5. Recently, another programme was initiated under the name Parivartan-Janani where the mothers are joining their children in producing vermicompost in thermocol boxes. The future plan is to make a Producers’ Federation to manage future production of vermicompost, marketing of products and extension education on organic agriculture. 6. Many training programmes for the farmers were conducted during the last few years in different locations of upper Assam. Samir is one of the pioneers in Assam in encouraging ‘URBAN & PERI AGRICULTURE; The crowning glory of Samirs achievement is the establishment of Institute of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (ISARD) in 2011 at Lahowal in district Dibrugarh in partnership with Lahowal College. The institute was established on October 30, 2011 and a 6 months vocational course on Sustainable Agricultural Practices was started for the undergraduate rural students of the college. A model organic farm has been developed in the campus. As an integrated approach a poultry, dairy and a fishery unit have also been added where the students receive practical learning. Presently, 60 students are studying the course. Samir is generating income from its various eco-friendly Agri-clinic and extension activities. His annual turnover from all his activities is around ` 1.00 crore. Around 300 people are getting employment directly and indirectly. Samir Ranjan Bordoloi (ASS 0527) can be reached at mobile number 9854049583 and email id: prakritiassam@gmail
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 12:16:46 +0000
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