Cultivate with Old Methods, Even Without Irrigation
By Rupesh Maravi, Farmer · Mandla
Responds to
water scarcity, soil degradation
We still rely on our traditional seeds, like Kodo, Kutki, Maize, Sorghum, Kulthi, and Arhar. We sow them using old methods, and even without irrigation facilities, our crops ripen. We've always cultivated summer crops this way, and yes, we even manage a second crop on unirrigated land, though it yields just enough for our home.
It takes great effort to sow without irrigation, cultivating crops by plowing with oxen and a plow. But we save these seeds for many years, and they always come in handy. My elders taught us to add organic fertilizer to our fields to maintain soil fertility; it's a practice that's vital, especially compared to the chemical fertilizers that seem to bring more diseases today. This way, even when faced with lack of soil moisture, we ensure our food. It's how we've always done it, and it's how we adapt.
The recipe
Sow traditional, drought-resistant seeds using old methods, relying on organic soil fertility rather than irrigation or chemicals.
Traditional farmingDryland cropsSeed savingOrganic methodsFood securityResilience