Sukumar Mandal
At the PBKSKS office, all Community Resource Persons (CRPs) supported by the Keystone Foundation gathered for a two-day training session on the 23rd and 24th of October 2024. The training, led by Mr. Dipak Mahato, an expert in agriculture, focused on using bio-pesticides, bio fertilizers, and setting up kitchen gardens. The goal was to teach everyone how to grow healthy food naturally.
On the 1st day, Mr. Deepak Mahato started by explaining the idea of a kitchen garden. He said it’s a small garden at home where families can grow fresh vegetables. This helps them save money, eat healthier, and be less dependent on market vegetables, especially when prices go up.
Next, he talked about bio pesticides and bio fertilizers, which are made from natural things. These are safe for the environment and help keep plants healthy. He compared them to chemical fertilizers, which can cause health problems and harm the environment. Mr. Mahato explained how using too many chemicals can pollute water and damage the soil.
Mr. Mahato then discussed soil testing and its importance. He explained how to test the soil to see what it needs, like nutrients or a better pH balance. He also taught how to improve soil using natural compost and biofertilizers.
The session also covered common plant diseases and how to spot them. Mr. Mahato explained how to recognize problems like spots on leaves or plants not growing well. He shared easy ways to make home remedies, like sprays made from neem leaves or garlic, to keep plants healthy.
Finally, Mr. Mahato talked about collecting and saving seeds. He explained that saving seeds from healthy plants helps farmers grow good crops year after year. He showed how to dry, and store seeds properly.
On the second day, Mr. Mahato taught about mix cropping, which means growing different types of plants together. This method helps keep the soil healthy and reduces pests. He gave examples of crops that grow well together, like beans and maize or mustard and lentils. Mix cropping also helps the soil stay rich in nutrients. Mr. Mahato explained how different plants use and give back different nutrients, keeping the soil balanced. This makes easier to grow healthy crops year after year.
